USDA Provided $32 Million For Limited Resource Producers Through The Environmental Quality Incentives Program

   “We are working to ensure that our broad range of programs and services are fully available to farmers and ranchers with limited resources,” said Veneman. “These funds are helping reduce soil erosion, improve water use and protect grazing land by installing conservation practices that protect natural resources.”

   USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service approved cost share for EQIP contracts totaling $31.8 million in fiscal year 2003 to help 1,702 limited resource farmers and ranchers. NRCS approved 73 percent of the applications received from potential limited resource producers in all 50 states, the Caribbean Area and the Pacific Basin. This compares favorably to the overall EQIP application approval rate of only 23 percent.

   EQIP is a voluntary program that offers financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers who face threats to soil, water, air and related natural resources on their land.

   USDA defines a limited resource producer as one with direct or indirect gross farm sales that does not exceed $102,400 in each of the previous two years, and a person with a total household income at or below the national poverty level for a family of four or who earns less than 50 percent of the county median household income in each of the previous two years.

   USDA has developed a web-based self determination tool to help farmers and ranchers determine if they may meet the qualifications for limited resource status. The web-based tool is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/SLB_farmer/.

   The increase in conservation funding in the 2002 farm bill—at more than $17 billion over 10 years—offers unprecedented opportunity for limited resource farmers. This farm bill offered incentives for these farmers and included stipulations that ensured all farmers and ranchers have equal access to USDA programs and services. It streamlined delivery of technical and financial assistance to these farmers; improved programs and services to better serve their needs; and encouraged decisionmaking at the tribal, state and local level.

   “We have many examples across the country about how successful EQIP has been for the limited resource farmer,” NRCS Chief Bruce Knight said. “For instance, limited resource farmers in Alabama have used funding from this program to establish grazing as well as other conservation practices on their operations.”

   Additional information on EQIP is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip or from the local NRCS office or USDA Service Center. Additional information about assistance available to limited resource producers can be found at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/SLB_farmer/.

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