USDA APPROVED $18.3 MILLION FOR LIMITED RESOURCE FARMERS

FY 2004 Funds Provided Through Environmental Quality Incentives Program

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 23, 2005-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced that 1,156 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contracts covering nearly 436,000 acres of farm and ranch land were approved for limited resource farmers and ranchers in fiscal year 2004 for a total of $18.3 million.

In Arkansas, 15 contracts were approved with a cost share of $200,981. The contracts included 1,471 acres.

"Farmers and ranchers are the best stewards of the land and the Bush Administration is committed to helping limited resource producers implement sound conservation practices as part of their agricultural operations," said Johanns. "I encourage all eligible producers to participate in the programs USDA offers to assist in building strong farming operations, especially minorities and women."

Johanns made the announcement while participating in a roundtable discussion with minority farmers in Little Rock, Ark., where he traveled to meet with producers and hear their concerns.

EQIP is a voluntary conservation program, administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, that offers financial and technical assistance to producers who face threats to soil, water, air and related natural resources on their land. EQIP funds may be used to reduce soil erosion, improve water and air quality, and protect grazing land.

In fiscal year 2004, nearly one out of every two limited resource producers applying for EQIP were funded compared with only one out of every four for the rest of the program's applications. Limited resource farmers and ranchers received 2.55 percent of the total EQIP funds in fiscal year 2004. This is an increase over 2003 when less than one percent of total EQIP funding went to limited resource farmers.

< Back to News