USDa announces sign-up deadline for three conservation programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture ties. Practices focusing on reducing ozone Farmers can sign up at the NRCS (WRP) makes it easy to create, restore
Natural Resources Conservation Service and fine particulate matter are offered. office in USDA Service Centers or enhance the wetlands that provide
(NRCS) has announced that funding • Two special EQIP programs for statewide. NRCS anticipates nearly $12 important environmental benefits on
decisions for applications to the forestry are offered; a program for million in funds for Ohio producers. your land.
Environmental Quality Incentives general forest stewardship practices
Sign-up for wildlife habitat
The Wetlands Reserve Program is a
Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat and a forestry EQIP program focus- voluntary program offering technical
Incentives Program (WHIP) and ing on the control of invasive
The Wildlife Habitat Incentives
assistance from experts in creating wet-
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) will species. The invasive species
Program (WHIP) provides technical
lands. Financial assistance, up to 100%
take place May 8. While the application forestry EQIP is available only in 22
assistance and cost sharing to restore
of the cost of restoration, is also offered
process for these farm bill conservation southern Ohio counties.
wildlife habitat. In Ohio, more than 20
for wetland restorations. Conservation
programs is continuous, funding selec- • In addition to these special initiatives,
different conservation practices are avail-
easements can be placed on the wet-
tions are only made once or twice a year. an increased focus on the natural
able, ranging from creating a fish pas-
land for 30 years or permanently for a
Terry Cosby, state conservationist for resource concerns of organic growers
sage, to establishing a riparian buffer.
lump sum easement payment or pay-
NRCS in Ohio, said these programs were and specialty crop producers was
Special priority is given to habitat that
ments may be spread out over a period
revised in the 2008 Farm Bill, and the mandated through the 2008 Farm Bill.
benefits species of national or state
of up to 30 years.
rules continue to filter in. EQIP is the pri- Conservation practices targeted to
significance, including declining and
The 2008 Farm Bill authorizes the sec-
mary program available to farmers for these special audiences are available.
endangered species.
retary of agriculture to pay up to the fair
farmland conservation practices, offering NRCS is setting aside a separate pool
Depending on the site, streams,
market value of the land, as determined
flat-rate payments for more than 50 con- of EQIP money to help Ohio organic
prairies, oak savannahs, and other types
by an appraisal or an area-wide market
servation practices. farmers and those that are transition-
of habitat, including habitat for pollina-
analysis or survey, The actual easement
tors, may qualify to be restored. Land eli-
New special conservation
ing to organic production. payment will be the lower of the Market
gibility for WHIP includes private agri-
initiatives
“EQIP was established to help all Survey Analysis, Geographical Area Rate
types of farmers — livestock and dairy,
cultural land, non-industrial private
Cap or landowner offer.
However, the big news with EQIP is
grazing, or cash crop, including specialty
forestland and tribal land.
For more information and applica-
that there are several new initiatives on
crops and organic,” Cosby said. “EQIP
Create, protect, or restore
tions on any of these programs, visit
tap this year.
also offers additional assistance for
wetlands
www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov, or contact the
• A special EQIP program focusing on
beginning, socially disadvantaged and NRCS office at the USDA Service Center
Air Quality is available in 31 Ohio coun-
limited resource farmers.”
The Wetlands Reserve Program
serving your county.
USDa to provide $2.5 million for Ohio farmland protection
Terry Cosby, Ohio state conserva- land to nonagricultural uses.” servation easement. Funds will be pending offers on a farm(s), and avail-
tionist for the U.S. Department of Since 2002, NRCS has provided awarded to the highest ranked eligible able funding to match Federal funds.
Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural $21.36 million to protect more than applications through a statewide, com- Eligible farmland must be privately
Resources Conservation Service 25,000 acres of farmland in Ohio. NRCS petitive process. Applications submitted owned, subject to a pending offer, and
(NRCS), announced April 13 the agency will accept FRPP applications from after May 27, 2009, will be held for Fiscal contain at least 50% prime, statewide or
has received $2.5 million through the interested state, tribal, and local gov- Year 2010 funding consideration. Any locally important farmland soils. In addi-
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection ernments and non-governmental organ- state or local government or nonprofit tion, the farm must include at least one-
Program (FRPP) to protect valuable izations until May 27, 2009. For those organization that has the capability to third cropland, grassland and pasture-
Ohio farmland. applications selected for funding, acquire easements may apply for FRPP land of the total acreage.
“This program helps ensure that NRCS will enter into an agreement to funds by submitting an application. Additional information on FRPP and
critical productive land remains in agri- support efforts to protect soils and his- Eligible entities must demonstrate a application materials is available at
cultural use,” Cosby said. “The funds torical and archaeological sites. commitment to long-term conservation www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov/programs or by
will be used to purchase conservation NRCS provides up to 50% of the of agricultural lands, a capacity to contacting Julia R. Zehner, FRPP manag-
easements to limit conversion of farm- appraised fair market value of the con- acquire and manage easements, have er, at 614-255-2477.
Biomass grant program requests proposals
Interim Director Mark Barbash has resources,” Barbash said. “By taking gram is funded through the Advanced and operation phases, and the use of Ohio
announced that the Ohio Department of steps to change the way we produce Energy Fund administered by the Ohio manufactured components and/or owner-
Development is accepting proposals for energy, Ohio is harnessing our agricul- Department of Development’s Ohio ship by an Ohio partnership or company.
$500,000 in funding available for the tural resources, strengthening our state’s Energy Office. The program encourages One award of $500,000 or two awards of
“Biomass — Waste to Energy” program energy position, and moving toward the private investment in projects that use $250,000 will be selected through a com-
for projects that demonstrate technolo- goal set forth in Governor Strickland’s anaerobic digestion or similar technologies petitive process.
gies that use farm waste to produce ener- advanced energy portfolio standard, to produce electricity, thermal energy For more information about the
gy in Ohio’s farming communities. requiring that 25% of Ohio’s energy and/or conditioned methane gas from Biomass – Waste to Energy program and
“Ohio’s historical strengths in agricul- come from advanced or renewable farm waste. Eligible projects must demon- requirements to apply for funding, visit
ture position our state to develop tech- sources of energy by 2025.” strate completion within two years, job cre- www.development.ohio.gov/cdd/oee/G
nologies that utilize our biomass The Biomass — Waste to Energy pro- ation and retention during the construction rantsLoans.htm.
ODa launches second annual photography contest
The Ohio Department of Agriculture things to many different people. Entrants • Entrants must be at least 16 years signature.
has announced the launch of its second are asked to show the department their old and the original photographer. • Photographer must obtain written
annual “Life on the Farm” photo con- unique definition, which could include • Contest is open to amateur photog- parental/guardian permission for
test to feature Ohio’s rich agricultural livestock, people, landscapes, structures, raphers only. photographed children younger
tradition. Participants will have until equipment, commodities or any other • Photos must be taken in 2009. than the age of 18.
Dec. 31, 2009, to capture their personal creative vision. • Entries must be postmarked by Those interested in entering the con-
interpretation of Ohio agriculture. Following the Dec. 31 deadline, an Dec. 31. test should send their photo CD along
“Our first-ever photo contest last independent judging panel will rank the • No more than five photos may be with a signed entry form to the Ohio
year received a great response with photo submissions. The winning photog- submitted per household. Department of Agriculture, Office of
more than 120 entries, and I look for- raphers will be invited to join Boggs and • Photos must be submitted as digi- Communication, 8995 E. Main St.,
ward to another successful contest this other invited guests for a reception and tal images burned to a CD and Reynoldsburg, Ohio, 43068. Entry forms
year,” said Ohio Department of an unveiling of the top photos. The top- must be at least 300 dpi and in jpg may be downloaded from the depart-
Agriculture Director Robert Boggs. 12 photos will be placed on display at or tif format. ment’s Web site.
“The pictures we receive are so diverse, the Ohio Statehouse. All photos may be • No computer-aided adjustments For additional information about the
and it shows us that all Ohioans have a used by the department for educational to photos. contest, a complete copy of the rules and
unique agricultural story to illustrate.” or promotional incentives. • Each photo must be accompanied entry forms, visit www.agri.ohio.gov or
“Life on the Farm” can mean many General photography contest rules: by an entry form, complete with call 614-752-9817.
Ohio’s Country Journal • May 2009 •News 7
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