Nebraska Ag Connection - Application Deadline Aug. 11 for CCPI

Nebraska Ag News Headlines

Application Deadline Aug. 11 for CCPI
Nebraska Ag Connection - 07/28/2010

Agriculture producers are now eligible to receive assistance to renovate shelterbelts, restore forested riparian buffers, increase irrigation efficiency and improve habitat for grassland species through the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI). Four CCPI proposals were approved for Nebraska. Sign-up began July 26, and the deadline to be considered for this year's funding is Aug. 11. Producers need to contact their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office to sign up.

According to NRCS State Conservationist Steve Chick, these CCPI project areas will provide conservation assistance on targeted areas in Nebraska.

"CCPI gives us the opportunity to partner with agencies and organizations to focus on areas in Nebraska that have unique natural resources conservation needs," Chick said.

The Central Great Plains Shelterbelt Renovation and the Central Great Plains Forested Riparian Buffer CCPI proposals, which are multi-state project areas, will help renovate and restore trees planted along cropland, rangeland and streams in Nebraska, Kansas and North and South Dakota. These two CCPI projects are available statewide in each of the four states mentioned above.

The Gracie Creek CCPI proposal is located in a large portion of Loup County in central Nebraska. Through this initiative, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and its partners (Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, Sandhills Task Force and the University of Nebraska) will utilize funds through the CCPI to help restore habitat for prairie chickens and other grassland species.

The Lower Republican Natural Resources District CCPI proposal will target improving irrigation efficiency. Chick said, "This project will provide assistance to landowners to improve water use efficiency on irrigated lands. The approved project will include an educational component to improve irrigation efficiency as well as incentives for actual improved irrigation efficiency through the implementation of soil moisture sensor technology. This should be another boost in the NRD's efforts towards improving irrigation water management."

The CCPI proposals are part of a pool of 26 projects in 15 states approved by NRCS earlier this month. CCPI helps agricultural producers achieve natural resource benefits such as clean air, clean water, productive soils, and abundant wildlife. Farmers and ranchers located in approved project areas may now apply through their local NRCS office for financial and technical assistance.

USDA will provide nearly $817,140 in financial assistance in fiscal year 2010 through CCPI, which is administered by the NRCS. These projects will work through the existing Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to leverage additional services and resources from the state forestry agencies in the four states and other non-federal partners to implement conservation on working farms, ranches, and forest lands.

All of the CCPI proposals apply to agricultural lands located within the project areas (see map). Any producers eligible for EQIP funding can participate in the program. Additional information specific to CCPI projects is available from your local USDA NRCS Office or at www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs.