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Programs

Conservation Of Private Grazing Land • Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) • County Beaver Eradication Program • Creation and Restoration Of Private Wetlands and Roparian Zones Tax Credit Program • Dairy Cost-Share Program • Ducks Unlimited River Care • Forestry Incentives Program (FIP) • Water Conservation Practice Cost-Share Program • Water Resource Conservation and Development Tax Incentives • Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) • Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

Options and Alternatives to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Fact Sheet

For information on any of these programs, contact your local USDA service center, your local conservation district, or your local cooperative extension agent.

Conservation of Private Grazing Land

The conservation provisions of the 1996 Farm Bill authorized conservation of Private Grazing Land. It will ensure that technical, educational, and related assistance is provided to those who own private grazing lands. This assistance will offer opportunities for:

• Better grazing land management;
  
  
• Protecting soil from erosive wind and water;
  
  
• Using more energy-efficient ways to produce food and fiber;
  
  
• Conserving water;
  
  
• Providing habitat for wildlife;
  
  
• Sustaining forage and grazing plants;
  
  
• Using plants to sequester greenhouse gasses and increase soil organic matter, and
  
  
• Using grazing lands as a source of biomass energy and raw materials for industrial products.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program that offers annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term resource-conserving covers on eligible land. The Commodity Credit Corporation makes annual rental payments based on the agriculture rental value of the land and provides cost-share assistance in an amount equal to not more than 50 percent of the participant's costs in establishing approved practices. The duration of contracts is from 10 to 15 years.

County Beaver Eradication Program

Some counties have a beaver eradication program whereby a bounty is paid to harvesters of beavers.

Creation and Restoration of Private Wetlands and Riparian Zones Tax Credit Program

The purpose of this program is to encourage private landowners to restore and enhance existing wetlands and riparian zones, and when possible, to create new wetlands and riparian zones. The program was created by the Arkansas Private Wetland and Riparian Zone Creation and Restoration Incentive Act of 1995, which allows a credit against the tax imposed by the Arkansas Income Tax Act for any taxpayer engaged in the development or restoration of wetlands and riparian zones.

Dairy Cost-Share Program

Dairy farms may receive forty percent cost share up to a maximum of $7,500 for the implementation of a waste management system. All systems must be designed and constructed in accordance with the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Technical Standards. All practices included in the Consolidated Farm Services Practice WP-4, Animal Waste Management System is eligible for the program.

Ducks Unlimited River Care

Ducks Unlimited's River CARE (Conservation of Agriculture, Resources and Environment) initiative targets the Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley (LMRAV) as a priority area for waterfowl habitat conservation efforts. The initiative will attempt to remedy the loss of wintering and habitat migration in the LMRAV. River CARE will help restore, enhance or create more than 150 thousand additional acres of waterfowl habitat within the LMRAV by the year 2000. To reach this goal, DU's public and private lands programs will restore hydrology to former wetland sites; develop seasonal wetlands on agricultural lands, moist soil areas and forested wetlands; foster restoration of bottomland hardwood forests; and provide biological and engineering assistance to agencies, corporations and private landowners involved in waterfowl habitat conservation.

Forestry Incentives Program (FIP)

The Forestry Incentives Program (FIP) is a nationwide program available in counties designated on the basis of a Forest Service survey of total eligible private timber acreage that is potentially suitable for production of timber products. Federal cost-share money is available with a limit of $10,000 per person per year with the stipulation that no more than 65 percent of the cost of the costs of tree planting, timber stand improvements, and related practices on non-industrial private forest lands may be paid.

Water Conservation Practices Cost-Share Program

The Arkansas Soil & Water Conservation Commission and local conservation districts use part of the water well and surface water diversion fees for cost-sharing of water conservation and development projects and practices. These should result in either water quantity or quality benefits or substitutes the use of surface water for ground water such that the ground water resource may be protected.

Water Resource Conservation and Development Tax Incentives

The purpose of this program is to encourage water users to invest in (1) the construction of impoundment to use available surface water, thereby reducing their dependence on ground water; (2) the conversion from ground water use to surface water use; and (3) land leveling to reduce agricultural irrigation water use. Tax credits will apply beginning in taxable year 1996.

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is a voluntary program to restore and protect wetlands on private property. It is an opportunity for landowners to receive financial incentives to enhance wetlands in exchange for retiring marginal agricultural land.

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat on private lands. It provides both technical assistance and cost sharing to help establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat. Participants who own or control land agree to prepare and implement a wildlife habitat development plan. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides technical and financial assistance for the initial establishment of wildlife habitat development practices. In addition, if the landowner agrees, State wildlife agencies or private organizations may also provide expertise or additional funding to help complete a project.