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2005 Environmental Quality Incentive Program

Local Work Group Summary for Taos

Introduction:

Taos, the county seat of Taos County, is on U.S. Highway 64 and New Mexico State Highway 68.  Geographically the town of Taos New Mexico combines the high desert southwest with the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains as a backdrop to culture, art and history. The first Spanish explorers arrived in 1540, believing it to be one of the fabled seven Cities of Gold. The town is caught between the desert and the mountains, and as a result weather can vary quite a bit throughout a typical day. It is not unusual to have highs in the fifties during the day, and lows close to zero at night. The climate of the area, not including high mountain regions, is semiarid conditions.  The summers are cool and pleasant, and the winters are crisp, clear, and sunny.  The wind velocity is low, precipitation is light, and humidity is low. Taos is known for the famous Taos Pueblo, Taos Ski Area and rural living.  

Irrigated cropland, rangeland, and forest land are dominant in this area.  The irrigated farms are on flood plains, terraces, and alluvial fans along the streams that begin in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  These streams are the source of irrigation waters.  The main crops are small grains, alfalfa, and irrigated pasture. Range, throughout the area, is used mainly for grazing beef cattle and sheep.

Local Work Group:

The Taos Soil and Water Conservation District invited state and federal agencies from within the Taos SWCD boundaries to attend the Local Work Group Meeting.  The meeting was held on October 25, 2004 at the Taos SWCD conference room at 10a.m.  Attendees were Ray Torres (Taos County Agricultural Extension Service Agent); Edward Flores and Anne Martinez (Taos County FSA); Maureen Johnson and Anthony Benson (Taos SWCD); Charlotte Martinez (Taos SWCD Clerk); Antonio Romero and Crestina Trujillo Armstrong (FSA County Committee); Taos Governor John Mirabal; Pearl Armijo and Vernon Mirbal (NRCS).

Priority Resource Concerns:

1st Priority:

  • Water Conservation
  • Irrigation
  • Rangeland
  • Wetlands
  • Impaired Streams
  • Noxious Weeds
  • Severe Drought

2nd Priority:

  • Water Quality
  • Impaired Streams
  • District (Taos SWCD) Water Quality Sampling Program

3rd Priority: 

  • Soil Erosion
  • Range
  • Urbanization
  • Lack of Land Use (Agricultural land not being used)

4th Priority: 

  • Woodlands
  • Large Pinyon-Juniper communities infested with bark beetle
  • Fire Prevention
  • Urban Interface
  • Noxious Weed Invasion
  • Wildlife (concern with high Elk numbers)

Funding Considerations:

The Taos LWG discussed the funding considerations and it was a consensus that the funds be distributed should stay as follows:

  • Grazing Land:             30%
  • Water Conservation     30%
  • Mixture Land Use         30%
  • Woodlands                  10%
  • Tribal                          10% (from total funding percentage)

The group noted that funding should only be allocated to the private landowner’s within the state of New Mexico.  If the landowner has adjacent land in Colorado, the funding will be eligible to the land in New Mexico only.

Cost Docket:

The Taos LWG reviewed the cost docket and it was a consensus to make some changes to the prices of high use practices in Taos County.  The group recommended increasing those high use practices due to the recent increase in material and fuel cost.

The high use practice include such components as water control structures, irrigation pipeline, fence, irrigation sprinkler/trickle, brush control, livestock watering facilities, range planting, and pumping plants.

Please refer to the links for the cost docket and eligible practices to view the final approved practices, cost share rates and practice component costs.

Eligible Practices:

Practices listed on the New Mexico website in FOTG IV are eligible for cost share assistance.  The LWG reviewed the list of practices and it was the consensus that the list remains the same.

Please refer to the links for the cost docket and eligible practices to view the final approved practices, cost share rates and practice component costs.

Cost Share Rates, Incentive Payments, and Caps:

The LWG recommended keeping last year’s cost-share rates at a minimum of 35% and maximum 75%.  The LWG recommended the practices with a cost share of 50% or better be practices that are most commonly used in the county and because of the high cost of fuel, material, labor, and employment insurance.  The LWG recommended increasing the cost share rate of the following practices:  irrigation system, sprinkler to 65%; irrigation water conveyance – rigid gated pipe to 50%, pumping plant to 65%, and range planting to 65%.

The LWG discussed the issue of Incentive payments and it was the consensus of the work group not to recommend incentive payments for 2005.

A $30,000 financial assistance cap has been established for all practices.

Refer to the main EQIP application page for information on higher cost share rates for Limited Resource Producers and Beginning Farmers/Ranchers.

Please refer to the links for the cost docket and eligible practices to view the final approved practices, cost share rates and practice component costs.

Timelines, Evaluation Periods:

All application and any supporting documentation must be submitted by January 28, 2005.

May 27, 2005 - Ranking, planning, and contracting will be accomplished

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