Does all this snowy weather have you interested in a concrete feeding pad or a roofed manure storage? Did the recent heavy rains cause some erosion and have you interested in cover crops or a grassed waterway?

The Environmental Quality Incentive Program, EQIP, our main funding vehicle, has been the go-to for implementation and every year we continue to update our guidance on accepting applications and implementing contracts.

We recently attended some program update training and it’s becoming increasingly clear that if you are interested in implementing any conservation practice on your farm, the earlier you begin working with NRCS to not only develop a plan but to clear initial eligibility hurdles, the smoother the process will be and increases the likelihood of receiving a contract.

For those interested in barnyard projects, feeding pads and manure storages, we need to develop a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan, CNMP, as part of your application, which is an all-encompassing document that addresses manure management but also conservation planning and pasture management.

You can either pay to have a plan developed on your own or apply for funding through EQIP.

These plans can be expensive, ranging anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000. However, when cost-shared NRCS typically covers 100 percent of the cost.

The new caveat is the pasture management portion of the CNMP. As part of a barnyard contract we must now address proper pasture management, meaning pastures need to be maintained at a minimum of 3 inches of height and if pasture acres can’t sustain your animals’ daily forage needs they must be removed or confined so new animal concentration areas, brown lots, are not created.

This is a critical requirement that may not be for everyone and should be heavily weighed before starting the application process.

For those who do follow through and develop contracts, agreeing to and implementing the original plan will be key. NRCS is limiting modifications we can perform for those who fall behind schedule or fail to complete any practices.

In the past those who didn’t implement practices could request cancellation without penalty, but now if we terminate a contract a 10 percent penalty for the total cost of the contract will be imposed along with repayment of any contract items paid.

While the cutoff for applications is the middle of October, in light of program management, those interested in applying or learning more about the program should contact our office as soon as possible to begin the application process.

Andy Gaver is a conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Butler County.