2007 Environmental Quality Incentive Program

Local Work Group Summary for Artesia

Introduction:

Field Office setting: The Artesia field office is located in southwestern New Mexico along the Pecos River. The field office work area encompasses the North half of Eddy county and the boot heal and Southern end of Chaves County. The area has a long history of farming and ranching. There are approximately 35,000 acres of irrigated cropland located in the Central Valley SWCD. Rangeland makes up the remainder of the work area and is in the Penasco SWCD.

The work area is in the northern limits of the Chihuahua Desert. The climate is mild and dry with an annual rainfall of 10-12 inches on the eastern part of the area and 14-16 inches on the western edge of the work area.

Irrigation is essential to the farming community in the area. Water for irrigation is pumped from deep Artesian wells and some shallow wells. Very little water is derived from the Pecos River for irrigation in the area. Crops grown historically have been alfalfa and cotton. The dairy industry moved into the area about 12 years ago. With the start up of the dairy industry, corn silage and small grain for green chop are being grown. Chile is also grown in the area. The rangeland resource found in the work area is warm season grassland. The area supports both sheep and cattle.

Local Work Group:

The LWG meeting was held July 25, 2006 at Central Valley & Penasco Soil & Water Conservation District in Artesia, New Mexico at 1:00 pm. The LWG is comprised of board members from both the Central Valley and Penasco SWCD’s. Other members include NM Game and Fish, NM State Lands, The Bureau of Land Management, Farm Service Agency Representatives and board members, the NM Cooperative Extension Service and Forest Service.    

Priority Resource Concerns:

The group agreed that grazing land resources, water resources and livestock manure management are the primary concerns for the local area.

Funding Consideration:

EQIP funds received at the field office will be divided as follows:

• Grazing Lands (30%)
• Water Resources (50%)
• Livestock manure management (20%)

Cost Docket: Please refer to the Cost Docket link.

The LWG agreed to use the southeast area cost docket.  Proposed changes were brought to their attention. The LWG concurred with the proposed changes and cost docket.

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

Eligible Practices:

The LWG adopted all of the practices approved for in the Southeast Area Coast Docket as being applicable to the Artesia work area for 2007.

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

Cost Share Rates, Incentives Payments and Caps:

The Local Work Groups recommendation is that all practices be cost shared at 50% with the exception of brush management.  The group felt that the benefits to rangeland following brush management go far beyond just increased forage for the producer. The benefits extend to the general public as a whole in improved rangeland health; improved water shed condition, and improved wildlife habitat. The LWG is requesting 75% cost share for brush management in the work area.

A $60,000 financial assistance cap has been established for all practices included in Grazing and Irrigated Crop contracts.  A cap was not established for Animal Feeding Operations contracts.

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

Ranking Criteria:

By consensus of the Local Work Group, the national ranking procedure will be tied directly to the resource concerns of the area.  High priority applications would be those that rank in the top third of the total points available.  Medium priority would the applications in the middle one third of total points available, and low priority would be the applications that rank in the bottom one third of total points available.

Ties between producers were discussed.  The group recommended that in the event of a tie:
  1 – Percentage of operating unit in contract is to be used if needed to break a tie.

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

Timelines, Evaluation Periods:  

All applications and any supporting documents must be submitted by November 3, 2006.

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