News
USDA-NRCS encourages continued application for California’s confined animal operation initiative

California State Conservationist
Lincoln “Ed” Burton for the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) has announced that livestock and dairy producers should continue
to apply for the California Confined Animal Operation Initiative.

    California State Conservationist Lincoln “Ed” Burton for the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that livestock and dairy producers should continue to apply for the California Confined Animal Operation Initiative.

    The initiative provides EQIP program cost-sharing funds for conservation practices that producers voluntarily install to safely store and treat manure and apply it to crops at rates that will protect surface and groundwater.

    NRCS will typically cost-share half of the cost of conservation practices such as: manure storage; treatment, such as composting and other forms of digesting; manure transfer; nutrient management; land treatments, such as manure run-off control.

    Supported by $10 million in Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) funds, Burton said the response from producers has exceeded their initial expectations with preliminary estimates showing over 170 applications submitted by the December 2, 2005, deadline.

    “This reaffirms my confidence in private landowners being willing to do the right thing for their natural resources.”

    NRCS reports that initial estimates indicate that current applications total over $12 million in potential contract costs. The EQIP program accepts applications on an ongoing basis, and continued sign-up by producers will allow the agency to develop plans and designs to be ready to take advantage of any EQIP program funds that may become available in the new term.