Environmental Quality Incentives Program 2005

Cleveland County farmer uses EQIP to improve operations

A Cleveland County farmer is improving his chicken and cattle operations through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Mark Young, who enrolled 70 acres in EQIP, started raising broiler chickens in 1998. His operation grows 156,000 one-day old chicks to 4-pound broilers in 39 days, seven times a year.

With 1,092,000 chickens going through his six house, more than 950 tons of chicken litter is created each year.

To ensure the waste is disposed of properly, a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan addressing the handling, storage and application of the litter in an environmentally safe manner was developed by Lynne Alder, Dallas and Cleveland County District Conservationist.

“A key component of the plan was the construction of a stacking shed (waste storage facility) on the property,” Alder said.

“Without this contract I wouldn’t have been able to build the shed,” Young said. “This summer I had to store about 100 tons because the ground was so dry. From October to March, I store 300-400 tons.”

About 4,500 chickens also die in the houses each year. To handle the situation the contract included an animal mortality facility to store the dead chickens until they can be removed.

Another aspect of Young’s EQIP contract is prescribed grazing, electric fencing and a grade stabilization project for his cattle operation.

“I am dividing the pastures into eight areas with electric fencing and I will be moving the cattle a couple of a times a week to improve the quality of the grazing land,” Young said.

“We are also addressing an erosion problem along a creek where the cattle cross,” Alder said. “To fix the problem, we are stabilizing the grade with back fill. Also, by rotating the cattle, it will reduce the cattle’s access to the area.”

Arkansas EQIP Quick Facts for 2005

If you need more information about EQIP, contact your local USDA Service Center or your local conservation district. Information also is available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002/.

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