CONSERVATION FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR RESEEDING DAMAGED PASTURE

Contact: Christina Coulon, 614-255-2471

COLUMBUS, Oct. 18, 2007 – Pastures in Ohio have taken a beating with the unusually dry summer. Many livestock producers who rely on pastures to graze their animals used “sacrifice pasture lots” to confine grazing animals to protect a majority of their pastures from damage.

Sacrifice pasture lots are very susceptible to soil erosion from overgrazing. Nutrients from manure and soil captured in run-off also pose a potential threat to water bodies. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has designed a way to help producers address this natural resource issue through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

Now through December 7, 2007, livestock producers who used sacrifice pasture lots during the 2007 grazing season can apply for EQIP to receive a $127.56 per acre incentive payment for reseeding these pastures. A maximum of 10% of the total permanent pasture, up to a 20 acre maximum, is eligible for this payment.

Producer eligibility criteria include:

1) Having used one “sacrifice” area at least 60 days as a supplemental feeding area.
2) Having a minimum of 20 acres of permanent pasture.
3) Providing a Farm Plan Map that identifies existing pastures and designated sacrifice areas along with their acreages.
4) A current soil test of the sacrificed area dated by December 7th, 2007 (current = less than 5 years old).
5) Ability to plant a permanent seeding by the end of the 2008 spring planting season.

In addition, producers must meet the eligibility for EQIP (any producer engaged in livestock or crop production on crop land).

For more information or to apply for EQIP and the reseeding incentive contact the local NRCS Office or USDA Service Center. Information is also available on-line at http://www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/eqip2008.html.

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