2006 Environmental Quality Incentive Program

Local Work Group Summary for Roswell

Introduction

The Roswell Field Office is located in SE New Mexico, in the lower Pecos River Valley.  It encompasses approximately 105,000 acres of irrigated cropland and a little less than 3,000,000 acres of rangeland.  The cropland is primarily irrigated by wells pumping from underground aquifers.  There are about 40 AFO operations serviced out of the Roswell office, averaging 2,200 milking cows each.  Rangeland is mostly as patchwork of Federal, state and private lands intermingled.  The average size ranching operation is 18,000 acres.  Primary concerns within the area include rangeland and watershed health, irrigation water efficiency, and ground and surface water pollution prevention.

Local Work Group:

The Roswell Field Office Local Work Group met October 12, 2005 at the USDA Service Center.  Interested participants included those from the local governing bodies that hold an interest in the local area's agriculture.  Representatives from the Chaves County Extension Service and the BLM could not attend but did submit their input.

Resource Concerns: 

The group agreed the resource concerns Grazing lands, Water resources, and animal waste management adequately addresses the main resource problems in the FO area.

Funding Considerations:

The LWG recommended the funds, when and if they become available, to be allocated as follows;

• Grazing lands                  50%
• Water Resources             25%
• Livestock Manure mgt.     25%

The possibility of some adjustments of these percentages was discussed with the group.  The work group was in concurrence that exact percentages are not practical and that due to total applications or final contract request some adjustments will need to be made.

Cost Docket:

The southeast area wide cost docket will be used.  

Please refer to the links for the cost docket and eligible practices to view the final approved practices, cost share rates, and practice component costs.

Eligible Practices:

Include but not limited to are:

Grazing Lands

• Brush management
• Wells
• Pipelines
• Storage & Troughs
• Fencing

Water Resources

• Pipeline
• LEPA & LESA Pivots
• Chemigation valves

Waste Management

• Pipelines
• Compacted Fill
• Common Excavation & Placement
• Pond Lining     
• Solids Separator
• Manure Transfer Pump
• LEPA & LESA Pivots
• *New Item       Under-sling slurry line

Please refer to the links for the cost docket and eligible practices to view the final approved practices, cost share rates, and practice component costs.

Cost Share Rates, Incentive Payments, and Caps:

The group recommended that cost-share rates remain at 50% for all cost share items except for brush management.  It was felt that a majority of brush mgt. benefits are related to the total watershed health and are therefore more public than private.  Also, due to the high cost of brush mgt. and the limited short term return to the producer they recommended the rate be continued at 75%.   

A $100,000 financial assistance cap has been established for all practices, regardless of the land use.

Please refer to the links for the cost docket and eligible practices to view the final approved practices, cost share rates, and practice component costs.

Ranking Criteria:

The ranking criteria was reviewed and approved by the LWG.  Applications for a contract involving irrigated crop will be considered a low priority if applicants are in the process of selling their land and water rights to the state under the Texas Water Compact Agreement resolution.

Please refer to the links for the ranking criteria to view the final approved

Timelines, Evaluation Periods:

All applications and any supporting documentation must be submitted by January 27, 2006.

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