|
The NRCS has several voluntary conservation programs available to landowners who are interested in addressing resource concerns on their land. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) supports production agriculture and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, agricultural producers may receive financial and technical help to address resource conservation needs on eligible lands. Any agricultural producer engaged in livestock or crop production on eligible land which includes cropland, rangeland, pasture and private non-industrial forestland may apply. EQIP also has an Organics Initiative to help organic farmers or those that are transitioning to organic. The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) provides technical and financial assistance to landowners for developing, improving or managing wildlife habitat or for restoration of natural ecosystems on eligible land. The primary resource concern for WHIP in Piscataquis County is limited to improving fish passage and woodcock habitat. The Agriculture Management Assistance (AMA) program is a voluntary program for agricultural producers, which provides incentives to address concerns such as water quality and conservation, and soil conservation. Under AMA, there is a new 3 year pilot program to establish the use of high tunnels, also known as hoop houses, to increase the availability of locally-grown produce in Maine. Applications are taken on a continuous basis for these programs and will be reviewed and processed in your local NRCS office. The concerns and objectives of the landowner will be discussed and a conservation plan will be developed to address these concerns. Planning is ongoing and the application will be ranked based on the number of resource concerns addressed. Participants may need to consult with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Maine State Historic Preservation Office or the Army Corps of Engineers if approved practices impact important wildlife, historic or aquatic resources. Upcoming deadlines for these programs are as follows:
|
| Home | About Dexter | News | Info. Links |