2004 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 Chihuahuan 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 well 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 10-12 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 on December 16th at the Central Valley/Penasco SWCD office in Artesia. The LWG was comprised of board members from both the Central Valley and Penasco SWCD’s and representative from Farm Service Agency. Other members include NM Game and Fish, NM State Lands, The Bureau of Land Management, the NM Cooperative Extension Service, and Forest Service.    

Priority Resource Concerns:

The group agreed that the Grazing Land, Water Resources and Livestock Manure mgt. were still the priority concerns for the work group area.

Funding Consideration:

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

Grazing Lands (50%)
Water Resources (45%)
Livestock manure management (5%)

Cost Docket: Please refer to the Cost Docket link.

The LWG reviewed the drafts of the Chaves County and Eddy County cost dockets. Proposed changes were brought to their attention. The LWG concurred with proposed changes to the cost dockets.

The Eddy county cost docket will be used for contracts in Eddy County and the Chaves County cost docket will be used for Chaves County contracts.

Eligible Practices: Please refer to the Eligible Practices link.

The LWG reviewed the proposed state practice list. It was recommended that those practices not ordinarily used in the work group area be eliminated. Changes were made and practice list was adopted.

Cost Share Rate and Incentives Payments:

The Local Work Groups recommendation is that all practices be cost shared at 50% with the exception of brush management. The LWG felt that due to the size and scope of the brush problem, and the cost to the producer to address this problem it would require a higher incentive payment. 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. The group discussed incentive payments and concurred that none were needed.

Practice limits were discussed and the group agreed that they were needed. The group recommends that a single practice limit of $50,000 be set on grazing lands and a $50,000 single practice limit be set on water resources. It was felt that the amount of money available for livestock manure management would be the limiting factor for this concern.  No single practice limit was set.

Please refer to the appropriate links for specific information.

Ranking Criteria: Please refer to the Ranking Criteria links.

Draft ranking criteria was presented to the group. It was reviewed in detail and approved by the group. (See attached proposed ranking criteria worksheets for grazing lands, water resources, and livestock manure management).

Ties between producers were discussed. The group’s recommendation in the event of a tie is:

Timelines, Evaluation Periods:  

Please refer to the EQIP Application Information link.

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