Meeting to help set funding priorities for EQIP Program

Contributed

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Bandera Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) invite the public and any agencies with an interest in conservation issues to participate in a Local Work Group (LWG) meeting to be held at the Conference Room of the Bandera County Junior Livestock Show Barn in Mansfield Park. This meeting will be on Thursday, August 9, from 10:30am to noon.

The purpose of this public meeting is to receive input from farmers, ranchers, local agencies, organizations, businesses, and other individuals who have an interest in natural resource concerns and needs in Bandera County.

Input received will allow the LWG to make recommendations on resource concerns to be addressed for eligible practices and ranking for county based funding. Recommendations provided by the LWG meeting will be reviewed by the State Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) to help implement the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and other conservation programs offered by NRCS.

The 2008 Farm Bill stipulated that conservation programs must continue to be locally led. Through stakeholder meetings, the public is given an opportunity to help local conservation leaders set program priorities. Funding for these programs may be made available to eligible producers through the application process.

For more information, call the USDA-NRCS office in Bandera at 830-796-3334. NRCS office locations and program information can be found on the Texas NRCS Web site at www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov.