United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 New Mexico Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content

 

2007 Environmental Quality Incentive Program

Local Work Group Summary for Estancia

Introduction

The Estancia Field office (FO) is located in the town of Estancia, approximately 50 miles mostly east and south of Albuquerque, New Mexcio. Torrance County makes up the majority of Estancia FO service area, along with a small northeast portion of Bernalillo County, and the southern part of Santa Fe County on its northern boundary. The Manzano Mountains border the west boundary and slope east into the Estancia Basin. To the north is South Mountain, to the South Chupadera Mesa, and to the east are gently rolling uplands. The basin contains a significant but limited underground water supply furnishing flood, sprinkler, and small-scale drip irrigation. The majority of crops grown in this area are mainly alfalfa hay, corn silage, oats, and some winter wheat for winter grazing. Other crops such as beans, pumpkins, sweet corn, and other vegetable crops are also grown but on a smaller scale. Along with agriculture there has been an expanding suburban (2 to 40 acre size) type development in the NW corner of the service area that continues to expand. The remaining land base is not suitable for cultivation and is used mainly as grazed range and timberland.

Local Work Group:

The 2007 Local Work Group (LWG) meeting was held on August 18, 2006. Those present were East Torrance and Edgewood Soil and Water Conservation Districts, NM State Land Office, and local NRCS staff. The previous year’s proposal was reviewed along with ranking criteria, cost document, and cost share rates. Recommendations were noted and will be included for this year’s proposal.  Membership is mainly made up the local conservation districts, FSA County Committee, FSA CED, and local NRCS personnel.  Other government agencies are invited and welcome to participate.l

Priority Resource Concerns:

The resource concerns were reviewed on August 18, 2006 and it was decided that there were minor changes needed. The concerns are listed below:

1. Watershed Health

2. Water Conservation

  • Brush/Forest Management/Fuels Reductio 

  • Water Availability/ Sustainability/Quality

  • Noxious Weed Management

  • Information/Education (to support above concerns)

3. Soil Conservation

4. Noxious Weed Management

5. Information/Education

 EQIP can financially assist in conservation practices that benefit watershed health both on irrigated cropland and range/woodlands.

Funding Considerations:

The following was accepted to distribute funds based on resource concerns:

  • Irrigated Cropland-47.5%
  • Rangeland-47.5%
  • AFO/CAFO-5%

These percentages are established as a “general rule” and not hard lines. Funds will be moved between these priorities based on number of applications in each category and the integrity of applications addressing the resource concerns. The ranking criteria will establish order of funding and degree of environmental benefits.  Currently, the percentage breakup is working effectively and is funding equitably to landowners and addressing key resource concerns.

Cost Docket:

After review of the proposed southeast area cost docket, to be used by the Estancia F.O., all component items have been accepted.  There was some concern voiced over the flexibility of the cost docket to adjust to rapidly changing costs.  Due to the annual nature of the docket, there is not really a way to change this. 

 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:

All practices were determined eligible by the LWG. 

 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, Incentive Payments and Caps:

The LWG recommended all practices be cost shared at a 50% rate, except for the following, which are identified as high priority practices, are to be at a cost share rate of 60-75%:

  • Brush Management (314)-75%
  • Forest Stand Improvement (666)-75%
  • Windbreak/Shelterbelt (380)-65%

Cost share rates for those applicants who self-certify they meet the Beginning Farmer (BF)/Beginning Rancher (BR) criteria will be given fifteen percent higher than the cost share rate established for non-BF/BR applicants for each practice within the Field Office/LWG area. Those who self certify as Limited Resource Farmers will receive 90 percent cost share on all conservation practices. Both will are eligible to receive the higher rates up to the first $30,000 of financial assistance. After $30,000 is earned at the higher rates, the rates will revert to the normal approved rates for the F.O.

A $50,000 financial assistance cap has been established for all practices.  Setting a cap will ensure the best distribution of funds to a variety of resource concerns.

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:

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

Timelines and Evaluation Periods:

  • Nov. 3, 2007     APPLICATION CUT OFF DATE  (including supporting documents)

< Back to EQIP County Documents