2007 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 100,000 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 45 AFO operations serviced out of the Roswell office, averaging 2,500 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 July 12, 2006 at the USDA Service Center.  Interested participants included those from the local governing bodies that hold an interest in the local area's agriculture.

Resource Concerns: 

The LWG prioritized the major resource concerns in the following order:

1.  Water Quantity                                                                                                                                                                        2.  Water Quality                                                                                                                                                                          3.  Domestic Animals                                                                                                                                                                    4.  Plant Condition                                                                                                                                                                         5.  Soil Condition                                                                                                                                                                          6.  Soil Erosion                                                                                                                                                                             7.  Fish & Wildlife                                                                                                                                                                          8.  Air Quality

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.  The LWG  strongly encouraged that the cost docket reflect recent price increases in all areas.

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:

The following practices were recommended as high priority:

Grazing Lands

• Brush management
• Wells
• Pipelines
• Watering Facilities
• Fencing
• Pumping Plants

Water Resources

• Pipeline
• LEPA & LESA Irrigation Systems
• Chemigation valves
• Backflow Valves
• Structures for Water Control
• Micro Irrigation Systems
• Solid Set Sprinkler Systems

Waste Management

• Compacted Fill
• Common Excavation & Placement
• Pond Lining     
• Solids Separator
• Manure Transfer Pump
• LEPA & LESA Pivots
• Slurry Lines
• Water Meters
• Structures for Water Control
• Waste Storage Facilities

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 $75,000 financial assistance cap has been established for all practices, with the exception of practice 313 (waste storage facility).

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 LWG was informed that the ranking tool is to be web based.  Local issues will be incorporated into the ranking tool.  Applicants considering selling their land and the associated water rights to the State of New Mexico under the Texas Water Compact Agreement, or leasing their water rights to the Bureau of Reclamation for a five (5) year period are advised that the terms of the EQIP contract may require re-payment of financial assistance funds received and cost recovery for administrative expenses if NRCS determines a participant is not in compliance with the contract terms.

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 November 3, 2006.

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