2004 Environmental Quality Incentive Program

Local Work Group Summary for Raton

Introduction:

The Raton Field office includes all of Colfax County in Northeastern New Mexico.  It borders Colorado on the north, Union County on the east, Harding and Mora Counties on the south, and Taos County on the west.  It consists of 2,414, 080 acres.

The Field Office ranges from the crest of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the west with the highest point being Mt. Baldy, 12,441 feet, to the high plains portion of the county at 5,800 feet.  The south portion of the county is generally undulating plains while the northwest portion is composed of mountains, high mountain valleys and mesas.

Rangeland occupies 73% of the Field Office and is devoted mainly to beef cattle production.  Approximately 2% is irrigated cropland.  All the irrigation is from surface water.  Less than 1% is dry cropland, mostly in CRP.  Approximately 25% is privately owned commercial timber.

Local Work Group: 

The local work group includes the NM State Land Office, Maxwell Wildlife Refuge manger, Springer Ditch Co., NM Department of Game & Fish, the FSA CED, NM Department of Agriculture, Miami Water Users Assoc., Vermejo Conservancy District, Antelope Valley Irrigation District, the NM State Engineer Water Master, Colfax County Manager, NM Environment Department, US Forest Service Questa District Ranger, Colfax County Extension Service,  NM State Forestry District Forester  and the NRCS District Conservationist.  All the membership representatives represent Colfax County.  The local work group meeting was held December 18, 2003.

Priority Resource Concerns: 

The local work group has agreed to address the following resource concerns in the FY 2004 EQIP program:  (a) Grazing Management, (b) Brush Management (all species), (c) Noxious Weeds, (d) Woodland Thinning, and (e) Water Conservation. 

Funding Considerations: 

The initial percent of allocation for the different land uses in Raton Field Office will be:  Rangeland – 50%, Irrigated land – 40%, Woodland – 10%.

Cost Docket - Please refer to the Cost Docket link for specific information. 

Changes proposed for the cost docket are:  add pumping plant (livestock watering only) and structure for water control, gates.  Gated irrigation pipe, circular sprinkler, side roll sprinkler, incentive payments for Upland Wildlife Management for at risk species and prescribed grazing (deferment only) will be kept in the cost docket.  Some average costs are adjusted for today’s prices.

Practices to be Eligible:  list of eligible practices are attached.

Cost Share Rate and Incentive Payments - Please refer to the link for specific information. 

Recommended eligible practice list with cost share rates and incentive payments are attached.  Recommended cost share rate is 65% for all practices.  This cost share rate is needed to get the priority resource management systems applied.

 Ranking Criteria - Please refer to the Ranking Criteria links for specific information 

Ranking criteria worksheets for grazing lands, irrigated land, and woodland are attached.  These will be used to rank applications to promote agricultural production and environmental quality.

Timelines, Evaluation Periods:

Please refer to the EQIP Application Information link. 

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