Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Eric B. Banks announced that additional dollars will be made available to assist producers in southeast Kansas that may be interested in addressing runoff issues from poultry litter application and/or storage.  Producers have until Friday, November 16, 2012, to sign up for technical and financial assistance through the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).  The additional funds are available in 10 counties:  Allen, Bourbon, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson Counties.

“Because of concerns about the high nutrient levels in surface waters due to the use of poultry litter in the area,” said Banks, “NRCS wants producers to know that assistance may be available.”

Banks said that EQIP could possibly assist producers who are applying and/or storing poultry litter because it offers the following:

·         A voluntary approach to address increasing nutrient levels in priority surface waters in southeast     Kansas

·                     Technical assistance for nutrient management plans and/or waste storage facilities

·         Financial assistance for eligible landowners to implement and install conservation practices to NRCS standards and construction specifications

Banks said that producers in the designated counties should stop in at their local NRCS office before the cutoff date of Friday, November 16, 2012, and visit with staff about EQIP.

Producers are reminded that EQIP is also available to address other natural resource concerns and provide opportunities to improve soil, water, air, plants, and animals and related resources on agricultural land such as cropland and rangeland, and non-industrial private forestland.

“EQIP helps address the unique circumstances of socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and beginning farmers and ranchers who have natural resource concerns that need to be addressed on their land," said Banks.  Qualifying Kansas producers compete separately and receive higher payment rates.

For more information visit, the Kansas NRCS Web site www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/programs or your local U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center.  To find a service center near you, check your telephone book under “United States Government” or on the Internet at offices.usda.gov.  Follow us on Twitter @NRCS_Kansas.  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.