2004 Environmental Quality Incentive Program

Local Work Group Summary for Tucumcari

Introduction:

The Tucumcari Field Office is located at 706 S. 1st in the city of Tucumcari, NM.  This is on the East Central side of the state in Quay County and covers Southwest Quay Soil and Water Conservation District and Canadian River Soil and Water Conservation District.  Cash receipts are generated from the production of corn, wheat, grain sorghum, cotton, hay, and livestock.  The agricultural setting of Quay County includes about 87% Rangeland, 3% Irrigated Cropland, and 10% Dry Cropland. Average rainfall for the area is 16.5 inches with 180 frost free days.

Local Work Group:   

The Local Work Group meeting for the Tucumcari Field Office was held on December 18, 2003.  This Work Group was lead by the Canadian River Soil and Water Conservation District and the Southwest Quay Soil and Water Conservation District.

Priority Resource Concerns:

The Priority Resource Concerns include Rangeland, Dry Cropland, Irrigated Cropland, and Buffers.

Funding Considerations:       

The funding was allocated as: 62% to Rangeland, 23% to Irrigated Cropland, 10% to Dry Cropland, and 5% to Buffers.  If any money is not used in a Priority Resource Concern then will be used in an area with high interest.

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

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

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

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

TREE PLANTING:  380, 612, 650: LWG recommended that all tree plantings be cost shared at 75% rate.  This practice is a high priority item with both district boards in Quay County.  Tree plantings are important to a great many resource concerns.  Wildlife will benefit from the planting of trees and shrubs.  Soil erosion will be reduced on cropland and other land uses from the implementation of windbreaks.  The LWG feels that the tree planting practices will not be utilized to the extent necessary to impact these concerns at anything less than if  the cost share rate is set at 75% of the actual cost not to exceed  the maximum listed cost.  In addition, the LWG will recommend in a separate part of this proposal that money be used for a buffer or windbreak special emphasis project.

DIVERSIONS AND TERRACES: 600, 362, 356:  LWG recommends that the cost share rate for diversions and terraces be set at 65%.  Water erosion is a severe problem in the county.  The cost of earthwork is high as no contractors are close by.  In addition, this is a cost to the producer which will not be offset by an increase in profitability. In order to encourage producers to use these extremely beneficial practices,  the higher rate is recommended.  Not much earthwork has been  carried out recently due to high cost and the added incentive would increase the interest.  This would be the only way that the amount of these practices would be increased.

BRUSH MANAGEMENT: 314:  Brush management is a high impact practice in this area.  Brush, particularly mesquite, is increasing in the area and many acres of land are being reduced in production due to this invasion.  In addition, it has been shown that management of brush improves the underground aquifers where it is carried out.  Also, wildlife habitat will be improved when management is performed.  The cost of management is high and in many case not much profit will be realized from the performance of the practice.  Most producers will be discouraged from doing it unless the incentive is high enough to help them.  Therefore the LWG recommends that the rate be set at 65%.  It was also decided that a cap of $50,000.00 per contract for Brush Management should be applied to the program in Quay County so a few contracts would not take a large part of the allocation.

Timelines, Evaluation Periods:        

Please refer to the EQIP Application Information link. 

< Back to EQIP County Documents