Program Guidance 2003 New Jersey EQIP Program

The Current Application Period Closed Friday, December 12, 2003.
November 18, 2003 Press Release

For the New Jersey Environmental Quality Incentives Program, a farmer can apply for cost-sharing and/or incentive payment assistance for any practice that will be included in the approved Conservation Plan for the farm. Each practice, however, can only contribute toward one incentive payment. Additionally, each practice must –

1. meet the applicable FOTG Section IV Standard and Specification, and
2. have a positive effect as shown in the FOTG Section V Conservation Practice Physical Effects worksheets for the identified resource concern, and
3. support one or more of the following systems:

1. Integrated Cop Management
2. Soil Enhancement System
3. Prescribed Grazing Systems on Pastureland
4. Erosion Control Systems
5. Permanent Vegetation Establishment
6. Agricultural Chemical Handling Facility
7. Animal Waste System
8. Water Conservation System

Practice List and Cost Share Rates (coming soon)

1. Integrated Crop Management (ICM) System

ICM consists of integrated pest management and nutrient management. Pest scouting, soil testing, and manure analysis (if applicable) are primary components. Drainage, if required for the control of phytophthera, is included. Nutrient Management is eligible as a stand-alone practice on any cropland. Pest Management is approved as a stand-alone practice only on land where a CNMP incentive payment for manure application is in effect.

Incentive payments are authorized at the following levels:

• ICM on fruit, vegetables, nursery or sod $ 30/acre
• ICM on grains and forages $ 24/acre
• ICM on greenhouse operations $150/acre
• Nutrient Management on any cropland $ 10/acre
• Pest Management on CNMP/ vegetables or sod $ 20/acre
• Pest Management on CNMP/ grain or forage $ 14/acre
   
• Cost Share is authorized as follows:
  • Phytophthera control 50% of NTE

2. Soil Enhancement System (SES)

A combination of practices designed to increase the efficiency of nutrient and moisture holding capacity by maintaining or improving soil structure in all soil horizons. Applies to annually tilled cropland, or hayland and pasture in rotation with annual crops. No component practice under this system will be authorized for payment as an individual practice.

A Soil Enhancement system includes at least 3 of the following 5 conservation practices: Cover and Green Manure Crop, Residue Management, Stripcropping, Conservation Crop Rotation, and Alley Cropping. Additionally, rotations that include vegetable crops must also include a legume crop at least once while under contract. Other recommendations and requirements are included in the NJ interim standard.

Incentive payments are authorized at the following levels:

• SES on fruit or vegetables $ 68/acre
• SES on grains and forages $ 23/acre

3. Prescribed Grazing System on Pasturelands

Prescribed grazing consists of proper stocking rates, pasture rotation schedules, control of access to streams and other water bodies, watering facilities, proper vegetation selection and management, or other practice needed to meet the prescribed grazing standard. The combination of incentive payments and cost share shall not exceed $900 per acre for the contract period.

Incentive payments are authorized at the following levels:

• Prescribed Grazing System $ 20/acre
   
• Cost Share is authorized as follows:
  • Required engineering practices 75% of NTE

4. Erosion Control System

Management practices that, in combination, control sheet and rill erosion to the tolerable level (T), or if T cannot be achieved, to reduce current erosion rates by 50% or greater. No component practice under this system will be authorized for payment as an individual practice.

Structural measures used to control gullies and ephemeral erosion problems on specific areas are independently eligible for cost-share.

Incentive payments are authorized at the following levels:

• Management practices for sheet & rill erosion $ 10/acre
   
• Cost Share is authorized as follows:
  • Structural measures to control gullies 75% of NTE

5. Permanent Vegetation Establishment

Vegetation (grass, shrubs, and/or trees) can be used to reduce wind damage to crops, decrease erosion from cropland, and increase diversity and wildlife habitat. Practices include wind strips, wind breaks, conversion of cropland eroding at >=2T, vegetative filter strips, field borders, riparian buffers, and vegetative measures on eroding banks of ditches, streams, and water bodies. Any planned practice can be contracted.

• Cost Share is authorized as follows:
  • 50% of NTE

6. Agricultural Chemical Handling (ACH) facility

ACH facilities provide a safe location for agri-chemical storage as well as mixing and loading. Security and location of the facility are important considerations.

• Cost Share is authorized as follows:
  • 50% of NTE

7. Animal Waste System

Animal waste systems reduce pollution potential and can conserve more nutrients for land application and plant utilization. Includes storage and/or composting of livestock waste and livestock yards management needed to implement a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP).

Incentive payments are authorized at the following levels:

• Implementation of a CNMP $ 10 /AU or $30/acres (Landowner discretion)
   
• Cost Share is authorized as follows:
  • 75% of NTE

8. Water Conservation System, including

A. Irrigation Water Management (IWM) – the proper application of irrigation water to match the crop need at various growth stages, and the soil infiltration and water holding capacities. Requires the development of an IWM plan, soil moisture monitoring, and water application record keeping.

Incentive payments are authorized at the following levels:

• IWM on fruit, vegetables, nursery or sod $ 60/acre
• IWM on other crops $ 40/acre
   
• Cost Share is authorized as follows:
  • IWM hardware 75% of NTE

B. Tailwater Recovery System – permanently installed system to collect, store and transport irrigation tailwater and designed to NRCS standards and specifications. Full IWM implementation is required.

• Cost Share is authorized as follows:
  • 50% of NTE

C. Irrigation System – Permanently installed upgrades to an existing irrigation system where system will be 80% efficient upon completion. Full IWM implementation is required for all systems. Cost share is authorized for required submersible pumps associated with these systems. Cost share is not available to develop or enhance water supplies.

• Cost Share is authorized as follows:
  • 50% of NTE

NOTES:

NTE: means the actual cost, based on bills submitted and items authorized for payment, not to exceed the average cost for the practice as per the approved average cost table in effect at the time the contract is approved.

 

Practice length: Any practice receiving an incentive payment must be successfully implemented for three years.

 

Drainage: No drainage practice is eligible as a stand-alone practice under any system for the purpose of lowering the water table.

 

Irrigation: Cost-share is only available on lands that have been irrigated three out of the past five years.

Limited Resource and/or Beginning Farmers and Ranchers: Incentive payments for these applicants will be at the same rate as listed above. However, eligibility for cost-share rates will be as follows:

         Systems listed above at 50% cost share 75% of NTE
         Systems listed above at 75% cost share 90% of NTE
 

2003 EQIP Conservation Practice, Sign-Up, and Ranking Documents

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat.

2003 EQIP Cost Share percentage by practice (67 kb)
NJ-2003 EQIP Pre-Ranking, Environmental Risk Analysis - Livestock Worksheet (84 kb)
NJ-2003 EQIP Pre-Ranking Environmental Risk Analysis - Non-Livestock Worksheet (45 kb)
NJ-2003 EQIP Application Evaluation Worksheet (73 kb)

Last Modified: May 27, 2008