The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California has set the application deadline for fiscal year 2011 Farm Bill conservation programs funding as Nov. 12.

The deadline includes all California Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) initiatives, except the EQIP Organic Initiative. The EQIP Organic Initiative sign up deadline will be provided at a later date.

NRCS’s EQIP program initiatives eligible for this sign up include, but are not limited to:

• Water quality – animal feeding operations (AFO);

• Water conservation / drought response;

• Wildlife habitat improvements;

• California air quality;

• Grazing lands management;

• Forest lands management.

To date in 2010, California NRCS has obligated over $74 million in EQIP funds for over 5,600 contracts and 821,000 acres statewide. However, the number of applications received this past year far exceeds the amount of funding available.

NRCS is anticipating similar funding for 2011. Farmers and ranchers are encouraged to start their application process as soon as possible to ensure consideration for this funding cycle.

For the 2010 EQIP program, Lake County farmers and ranchers were awarded contracts enrolling approximately 8,000 acres into the EQIP program. EQIP funds are a way for landowners to solve a resource problem such as fixing a nuisance gully.

It can also be used to address regulatory concerns like water quality rules or to receive incentives for water conservation.

The primary resource concerns being addressed in Lake County for 2011 include:

• Irrigation efficiency, including system retrofits and system conversions;

• Erosion, including gullies, roads, and stream banks;

• Grazing and livestock management, including, water quality improvements (fencing), stock water, and grazing management;

• Buffers addressing, animal waste, nutrients, pesticides, or sediments in water;

• Water quality projects that address runoff from headquarters or heavy use areas;

• Forestry conservation activity plans;

• Forestry projects identified in a FMP or NTMP or other forestry plan;

• Wildlife habitat for Clear Lake Hitch as well as other wildlife concerns;

• Air quality diesel engine conversion or conversion of burning to chipping;

• Hoop houses.

Organic EQIP will address:

• Cropland – conversion to organic production or assistance with organic production.

NRCS invites landowners to apply before the Nov. 12 deadline by visiting the Lakeport NRCS Office at 889 Lakeport Blvd, Lakeport CA, or calling 707-263-4180, Extension 15, for an application packet.

Specific information about EQIP in Lake County also can be found on the Internet at www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov.

NRCS is celebrating its 75th year of "Helping People Help the Land." Since its inception in 1935, NRCS has worked in partnership with private landowners and a variety of local, state and federal conservation partners to deliver conservation based on specific, local needs.