2003 Environmental Quality Incentive Program

Local Work Group Summary for Truth or Consequences

Introduction:

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Truth or Consequences Field Office is located in Sierra County and also covers portions of Northern Dona Ana, Northeastern Luna, and Southern Socorro Counties in southwest New Mexico. The office includes SD-2, WP-3, and WP-2 Major Land Resource Areas. It is bordered on the south by the Las Cruces and the Deming Field Offices, on the north by the Socorro and Datil field offices, on the east by White Sands Missile Range, and on the west by the Silver City Field Office.

Agriculture in the District consists primarily of ranching and irrigated crop production. The ranches are primarily cow-calf operations with chile, corn silage, alfalfa, cotton, onions, wheat, pecans, and other vegetables are the predominant crops. The primary sources of water are surface diversion from the Rio Grande through Elephant Butte Irrigation District, groundwater from the Nutt-Hockett underground water basin, and surface diversions controlled by acequia groups along tributaries of the Rio Grande. The Rio Grande Basin is currently in an extended period of drought and surface irrigation water has been greatly reduced.

Local Work Group:

The Local Work Group (LWG) included representatives from:

• USDA-Farm Service Agency (FSA)
• FSA County Committee
• NM Department of Game and Fish,
• Cooperative Extension Service
• Bureau of Land Management
• Sierra Soil & Water Conservation District
• Caballo Soil and Water Conservation District
• USDA Forest Service
• FSA State Committee
• US Fish and Wildlife Service
• Sierra County Manager
• NM State Engineer Office
• NM Department of Agriculture
• NM Environment Department
• NM State Land Office

The meeting of the LWG was held on February 24, 2003 with many of the invited designated agency representatives in attendance.

Priority Resource Concerns:

Water Quantity was the priority resource concern concurred upon by the LWG members.  The LWG did not identify any significant concerns with regard to air, plants, and animals.

Funding Considerations:

It was the LWG’s recommendation that Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) funds received for use in the Field Office be divided 45% for grazingland concerns, 45% for irrigated cropland concerns and 10% for animal feeding operations concerns. This was done with the understanding that the LWG could recommend reallocation of funds if it appeared the applications received did not warrant the amounts originally allocated. Wildlife habitat concerns will be addressed within each of the previously listed concerns if desired by the producer.

Cost Docket: Refer to Cost Docket

In addition the LWG recommended adopting a policy that the maximum cost share for any single practice per contract be limited to $80,000.

Practices to be eligible:

Please refer to the list of eligible practices.

Cost Share Rate and Incentive Payments:

Refer to the Eligible Practice List for cost share and incentive payment rates recommended by the LWG, all of which were set at 50%. It was the consensus of the LWG not to recommend incentive payments for any management practices.

Ranking Criteria:

The LWG recommended using the New Mexico Field Office FY 2003 Ranking Criteria Worksheets with proposed potential point distribution and conservation practice selection as shown on the worksheets. 

Timelines, Evaluation Periods:

Draft Schedule for 2003 EQIP

• April 21 Receive approved local program from NRCS State Office.
• May 30 Complete ranking applications and submit list and $ amount to NRCS State Office
• July 03 Contracts signed for approved applications
• July 14 End second evaluation period if all funds are not obligated in the first evaluation period
• July 31 All rankings (if needed) from the second evaluation period completed

August 15 Contracts signed for approved applications from second evaluation period

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