EQIP Program Helping Producers

Improving the environment while improving your operation Tonight Reporter Sarah Gustin takes us out to the pasture to show us how one program is helping one producer make some big changes Not having water in your pasture is not an an option So if you have to pay to get water to the pasture why pay for all of itwhen you can pay for half Jack Spah EQIP Program Well I can just keep on watering Water is always a factor My windmill could never keep up and whenever I would go down to check on it I could never depend on it That is the biggest factor right there is going to be a piece of mind Stewart Blotter Resource Conservationist You want water we are willing to provide water for you and give you some money to put it in but we want something in return Generally what we get in return in the grazing system We are looking at the resource out there and we want to benefit the resource And by doing that putting water out there we will have more uniform grazing on that pasture we will get a grazing system on other pastures The Environmental Quality Incentives Program-better known as EQIPhas been helping producers make natural resource improvements on their operations for years on a 50 percent cost share basis And it s that time of year when are applications are coming due-for those producers wanting to make their own operations a little more environmental friendly Stewart Blotter Resource Conservationist We provide techinical assistance year round to anybody who wishes to have it So we will go out and work with an individual like Jack and we actually work up ideas We are like another set of eyes and ears on his land so we look for opportunities to help Jack with his production Spah started last year with one project in the EQIP program That one idea sparked into three projects including cross fencing digging new wells and grass seeding His most recent addition is a new well in the yardthat pumps water to three different pastures Jack Spah EQIP Program User I know the system works I have seen the progress and I have also heard to like in my other pasture where we do the cell grazing I see like a 50 pound weight gain on the calves alone And your calves putting more dollars in your pocketmight be reason look at taking part in the program Near Tuttle Reporting for KX News I am Sarah Gustin If you are interested in learning more about the EQIP program and some of the funding that is available you can contact your local NRCS office Applications for 2009 are due October 15