- Iowa Financial Incentives
Program...............................(IFIP)
- Resource Enhancement And Protection.................(REAP)
- Environmental Quality
Incentive Program.................(EQIP)
- Continuous Conservation Reserve Program.........(CCRP)
- Conservation Reserve
Program...................................(CRP)
- Wetland Reserve
Program.............................................(WRP)
- Floodplain Easement
Program......................................(FEP)
- Grassland Reserve
Program.........................................(GRP)
- Conservation Security
Program...................................(CSP)
IFIP
Qualifications: Landowner must own a minimum of 10 acres
on which $2,500 of agriculture products are sold annually.
Qualifying conservation practices: Terraces,
Waterways, Water & Sediment Control Basins, Grade Stabilization Structures,
Diversions, Pasture & Hayland Plantings, and Underground
Outlets.
Funds: Funds are made available on an annual
basis through the State of Iowa. Dallas County usually receives around
$32,000 each July to be used for the above practices on a 50% cost share
basis.
REAP
Qualifications: Any Dallas
County landowner who raises an ag commodity.
Qualifying conservation
practices: Farmstead Windbreaks, Tree Plantings, Conservation
Cover, Planned Grazing Systems, Timber Stand Improvement, and Rescue
Treatment.
Funds: Funds are made available on an annual
basis through the State of Iowa. We receive each year in July
approximately $1,800 from the REAP-Forestry fund, and approximately $7,000 from
the REAP-Programs fund. Most practices are funded at 75% cost share with
maximum limits.
EQIP
Qualifications:
Farmland must lie in Dallas County.
Qualifying conservation practices: State wide
priorities are for livestock practices such as waste storage facilities,
compost facilities and pasture improvements. Dallas County priorities
include the state priorities along with nutrient management, grassed
waterways, terraces, water and sediment control basins, residue
management, and livestock exclusion from streams.
Funds:
These are Federal funds allocated on a
yearly basis. These funds are administered through the NRCS office.
Applications are taken year round and approved as funds become
available.
CCRP
Qualifications: Any Dallas
County landowner. Each practice has it's own eligibility requirements;
contact us to inquire on the specific practice you are interested
in.
Qualifying conservation practices: Grass filter
strips (cropland only), Forested filter strips (cropland or pastureland),
Contour grass strips, Grassed waterways, Wetlands, Well Head Protection,
Bottomland Timber, Quail Habitat, Field Windbreaks, Wildlife corridors,
Shallow water areas, Shelterbelts, and Living snow
fences.
Funds: These funds are made available through
the USDA. All payments are made by the Dallas County FSA office.
Eligibility for federal farm programs are required. As the title of the
program indicates, this is a continuous program. You can sign up at any
time and the program as we know it will continue hopefully till all waters are
buffered. Annual payment is based on soil type; the more productive soil
receiving a higher rental rate. Dallas County's average has been around
$169 per acre. These high annual payments, incentive bonuses and
around 90% cost share rates for establishment have made this program very lucrative.
CRP
Qualifications: Land is only eligible if it was row cropped 4 out
of the six years, 1996 through 2001. These qualifications can change with
each sign up.
Qualifying conservation practices: Basically
this program is aimed at taking highly erodible ground out of grain
production and seeding it down for 10 to 15 years to a conservation cover
well suited for wildlife habitat. This usually means a native grass cover
or trees and some mid-contract management.
Funds: These
are federal funds. Contracts are approved on a point
system and are competing against contracts nation wide. Contracts are paid
an annual payment on acres approved as well as cost share to install the
practice.
No new sign-up is scheduled at this time.
WRP & FEP
Qualifications:
Landowner acceptance is based on site specifies and the number of
applications.
Funds: Federal funds are very limited with
these two programs. All applications are based on a point system. Higher ranking
sites will be funded first no matter when you put in your application.
GRP
Qualifications: Eligible land includes, grassland, pastureland, and
hayland. Offers must have a minimum of 40 contiguous acres. The program
permits common grazing practices, mowing, haying and harvesting of seed.
Fire rehabilitation and the construction of fire breaks and fences are
also permitted.
Funds: This is a Federal Program
administered by NRCS. Applications are ranked once a year in March.
CSP
Qualifications: To enter into a CSP
contract 51% of your entire farming operations must fall into federally
selected watershed areas. Dallas County's North Raccoon River Watershed
was choosen as a CSP watershed area in 2005. New watershed areas are
expected to be choosen every year until all watersheds in the country have
had a chance to
enroll.
Funds: The program is funded with federal money. Applicants are
rewarded for conservation practices already on the land as well as receive
incentive payments for improving their operation in regards to nutrient
and pest management, wildlife habitat, tillage intensity, energy
reduction, among others. Payments are on a per acre basis with payment
limitations applying.
