The Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) is a voluntary conservation
program under the 2008 Farm Bill available only in approved watersheds across
the country. In New Jersey, a partnership between the
North Jersey Resource
Conservation & Development Council (RC&D), the
New Jersey Water Supply Authority (NJWSA)
and NRCS was
approved in 2009 to provide financial and technical assistance to owners and
operators of agricultural lands in the Raritan River basin to protect water
quality.
News Releases about AWEP in New Jersey
National 2009 Program Announcement:
USDA ANNOUNCES $58 MILLION TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY IN
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION - Program Will Provide Funding for 63 Water
Conservation Projects in 21 states
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the
North Jersey Resource Conservation &
Development (RC&D) Council announcement -
News Release: $400,000
AVAILABLE FOR CONSERVATION ON AGRICULTURAL LAND IN RARITAN BASIN
WATERSHED.
NRCS
and RC&D
professionals work with producers to develop a conservation
plan for their operation, design conservation practices, and provide
guidance to help implement the plan. The New Jersey Water Supply Authority may provide additional financial
assistance for certain practices and projects, to further reduce the
cost to participants.
These documents require
Adobe Acrobat.
2010 New Jersey
Fact Sheet (214 kb) - content included on this page
2010 Program Details
(34
kb) -
also available in html
format
National
Agricultural Water Enhancement Program website
Who is Eligible?
Applicants must have an interest in an agricultural operation that is
predominantly located within one of three designated sub-watersheds of
the Raritan River basin:
- Spruce Run/Mulhockaway Creek
- Neshanic
River, or
- South Branch/Long Valley.
Applicants must be compliant with the conservation provisions of the
2008 farm bill with current crop and producer records on file with
USDA’s Farm Service Agency. They must own or control the land, and agree
to implement conservation practices according to the contract schedule.
Land is not eligible for EQIP if it is currently enrolled in another
USDA Farm Bill conservation program, such as the Conservation Reserve
Program (CRP) or the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP). Land is also
ineligible if it is used for mitigation purposes, or if it is publically owned, unless the publically owned land is part on an eligible
landowners operation and is not the only land offered for enrollment in EQIP.
What Practices Receive Funding?
The Raritan River AWEP
project was approved as a water quality project. Eligible conservation
practices are those that will have a positive impact on the quality of
water leaving the farm through runoff or infiltration into groundwater.
The specific list of practices is updated annually, and available here
or at the local NRCS
or RC&D
office. The same list will display which of these practices is eligible for
additional funding from NJWSA. A separate contract must be entered into
with NJWSA to receive the supplemental funding
Document requires
Adobe Acrobat.
AWEP Practices and Payment
Information (83 kb)
AWEP Ranking (coming soon)
Applications for federal AWEP contracts are accepted at any time. A
contract offer is developed with NRCS and approved by the applicant
based on the conservation plan for the farm. Ranking points are awarded
under four categories, with National, State and Local priority issues
and a practice cost-efficiency calculation each contributing 25% of the
total score. Applications will be ranked and contracts approved each month
starting in November, until the available funds for the federal fiscal
year are exhausted.
What is the Contract Period?
Federal AWEP contracts have a minimum term that ends one year after
the implementation of the last scheduled practice and a maximum term of
ten years. Contracts provide pre-determined program payments to the
producer for the implementation of the planned practices according to a
schedule developed with the producer.
The schedule lists the conservation practice extent (amount), date to
be installed, and payment. The practices must meet NRCS
technical standards. Any deviation from the contract schedule is
considered a contract violation unless approved in advance.
What are the Payment Rates and Terms?
AWEP contract holders receive federal payments based on rates of
between 45 and 75% of the typical cost of implementing the practice, as
determined by the State Technical Committee. If the applicant is a
beginning farmer, socially disadvantaged or limited resource producer,
the rates are 25% higher, up to a maximum of 90%. Payments are made
after conservation practices are implemented to the standards agreed to
in advance.
Payment for grazing and animal waste control practices will be based
on the livestock that have been housed or grazed on land under the
operator’s control for at least 12 of the previous 36 months, with an
allowance for normal variations in animal numbers. The contract holder
may increase the size or extent of a contracted practice at their own
expense. Waivers can be requested in writing to the State
Conservationist.
Supplemental payments may be available from NJWSA for certain
practices. Information on payment rates and contract terms for these
supplemental contracts is available from the RC&D
or NJWSA offices.
About Us
Back to Top