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2004 Environmental Quality Incentive Program

Local Work Group Summary for Truth or Consequences

Introduction:

The 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 and 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 basins, 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) that was invited to advise the Designated Conservationist staff 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
  • NMDA
  • NM Environment Department
  • NM State Land Office

The meeting of the LWG was held on December 18, 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.

Funding Considerations:

It was the LWG’s recommendation that EQIP funds received for use in the Field Office be divided 45% for grazing land concerns, 45% for irrigated cropland concerns and 10% for animal waste concerns since this was approximately the division used at the state level in allocating funds.  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.

The LWG further recommended subdividing the irrigated cropland allocation according to the percent of irrigated acreage in three areas; Nutt Hockett 27.2%, Rio Grande below Caballo Dam 54.8%, and Sierra County above Caballo Dam 18%. 

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

The LWG recommended that the cost docket be adjusted Drip Irrigation with filter system as follows:

  • 1-15 acres       -          $1700 per acre
  • 16-100 acres   -          $1600 per acre
  • > 100 acres     -          $1500 per acre

Where a filter system is not needed, the amount of $1200 per acre in the docket was felt to be adequate. The LWG noticed that there was no cost for livestock water well drilling and no installation cost included for livestock flex pipeline. The LWG recommended that the FO staff go through the cost docket and look for any other possible omissions and or corrections to be submitted through the proper channels for approval.

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

Eligible Practices - Please refer to the Eligible Practices link for specific information.

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

Refer to the Eligible Practice List for cost share and incentive payment rates recommended by the LWG, all of which were set at 50%.  

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

The LWG recommended using the same Ranking Criteria Worksheets as last year. The Ranking Criteria Worksheets are attached.

The following is the methodology developed for resolving tied scores on ranking:

1.      Irrigated Cropland

  • highest change in efficiency
  • distance to surface water
  • depth to ground water

2.      Grazing Land

  • percent change in trend

3.      Animal Feeding Operations

  •  exact distance from surface water

Timelines, Evaluation Periods:

Please refer to the EQIP Application Information link.

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