Media contact:
Misti Preston
Phone: (573) 751-8596
Misti.Preston@mda.mo.gov

For Immediate Release: October 19, 2006

Department of Agriculture Reminds Producers to Apply for Environmental Quality Funding

Application Deadline Nov. 17

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – As part of the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) efforts to promote animal agriculture, the Department is recommending that livestock producers enroll in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a voluntary conservation program promoting agricultural production and environmental quality. Through EQIP, eligible producers may receive financial and technical assistance for agricultural land to implement structural and management conservation practices. Applications must be submitted on or before Friday, Nov. 17, 2006.

“The Department of Agriculture supports a key conservation practice – promoting the use of tree screens as shelterbelts or windbreaks around livestock operations to not only enhance farm aesthetics but to also act as a biofilter to reduce odor,” said Fred Ferrell, director of MDA. “By the use of tree plantings, livestock producers can achieve environmental benefit for themselves as well as their neighbors. MDA is partnering with the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry and the University of Missouri Commercial Agriculture for project design.”

Recently, MDA met with Natural Resources Conservation Service’s State Conservationist, Roger Hansen, and requested that EQIP applications involving shelterbelts receive priority in the selection process. MDA also requested that additional incentives be given for irrigation to assist in the establishment of newly planted trees.

“I am pleased to announce that in fiscal year 2007, the Missouri EQIP program will provide 50 percent cost share for trees and $1 per feet of windbreak,” said Roger Hansen. “Hopefully, these incentives will eliminate the financial barriers that keep some producers from adding windbreaks around feeding operations.”

Interested producers must meet the Nov. 17 deadline to be considered for program funding. For more information regarding this EQIP conservation practice, contact your local NRCS office or the State NRCS office at (573) 876-0900 or visit www.mo.nrcs.usda.gov/.

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