Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Eric B. Banks, announced an application evaluation cutoff date of November 15, 2013, for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

NRCS has provided over $26 million in financial assistance for fiscal year 2013 to help Kansas producers implement conservation practices through EQIP, the agency’s largest Farm Bill conservation program.

EQIP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers through contracts up to a maximum term of ten years in length. These contracts provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns and opportunities to improve soil, water, plant, animal, air, 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. 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.

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