Fed Conservation Assistance Available to Mass. Farmers And Forest Land Owners

[EditorBob]

United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Massachusetts State Office

AMHERST, Mass. (December 2, 2009) — Massachusetts farmers and forest land owners who would like to address soil and water conservation concerns on their land should apply by January 15, 2010 for financial and technical help through the federal Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

While EQIP sign-up is continuous throughout the year, land owners are encouraged to apply now in order for their applications to be reviewed and ranked for possible funding from the total $3.5 million currently available for Massachusetts projects.

Call or visit a local USDA service center to schedule a time to complete paperwork and begin the conservation planning process. USDA service center locations are listed on-line at http://offices.usda.gov or in the phone book under Federal Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture. General program information is available on the NRCS Massachusetts website at www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov.

EQIP is a voluntary program that provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers and forest land owners who want to enhance and protect soil, water, air, plants and animal resource concerns. Common conservation practices address soil erosion, excess runoff or leaching, irrigation water efficiency, animal waste, nutrient and pest management, grassland and forest conservation, and threatened, rare and endangered species habitat.

Through the 2008 Farm Bill, EQIP now offers new and innovative conservation practices for air quality and energy, forest land, greenhouses, organic farming, invasive species control and pollinator habitat. The new Farm Bill also provides higher payment rates to beginning, socially disadvantaged and limited-resource farmers.

“USDA is committed to providing conservation tools and resources to help Massachusetts farm and forest land owners ensure that their land remains healthy and productive,” said NRCS Massachusetts State Conservationist Christine S. Clarke. “NRCS conservationists are available to help landowners develop a conservation plan to address their natural resource concerns.”

In federal fiscal year 2009, some 130 EQIP projects were funded statewide for a total of nearly $5 million. Conservation practices addressed animal waste management, crop management, air quality and energy, grazing, irrigation, erosion control and water management, forestry and wildlife concerns.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment. NRCS has seven Massachusetts field offices in Greenfield, Hadley, Holden, Hyannis, Pittsfield, Westford, and West Wareham, which work with local conservation districts and other partners to serve farmers and landowners throughout the commonwealth.

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If you have any questions, please call the public affairs contact above or your local office below.

BARNSTABLE FIELD OFFICE
270 Communications Way, 1G
Hyannis, MA 02601
508-771-6476
Serving Cape Cod and the Islands

GREENFIELD FIELD OFFICE
55 Federal Street, Room 290
Greenfield, MA 01301
413-772-0384 ext 3
Serving Franklin County

HADLEY FIELD OFFICE
195 Russell Street, Suite B6
Hadley, MA 01035
413-585-1000 ext 3
Serving Hampden and Hampshire counties

HOLDEN FIELD OFFICE
52 Boyden Road, Room 10
Holden, MA 01520
508-829-4477 ext 3
Serving Worcester County

PITTSFIELD FIELD OFFICE
78 Center Street, Suite 206,
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-443-1776 ext 3
Serving Berkshire County

WESTFORD FIELD OFFICE
319 Littleton Road, Suite 205
Westford, MA 01886
978-692-1904 ext 3
Serving Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk counties

WEST WAREHAM FIELD OFFICE
15 Cranberry Highway
West Wareham, MA 02576
508-295-5151 ext 2
Serving Bristol, Norfolk and Plymouth counties


Para informacion en español: 508-829-4477 ext. 110.

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Diane Baedeker Petit
Public Affairs Officer
United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002
413-253-4371 phone
413-253-4375 fax
413-835-1276 cell
www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov

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