02/16/05 More EQIP money; EQIP listening sessions

Washington Ag February 16, 2005 Washington is one of 17 states that is getting some additional funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, or EQIP, for a job well done. Washington will be getting just over one million dollars from the USDA in additional funding. Bruce Knight, chief of the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, says the awards are based on the past year's performance by each state. Knight: "So we are trying to reward increased efficiency in program delivery with additional dollars for conservation on the ground." EQIP, a voluntary program, offers financial and technical help to assist eligible participants implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land. To update the natural resource priorities for the implementation of EQIP and other 2002 Farm Bill programs the Washington Natural Resources Conservation Service is hosting two public listening sessions next week. State Conservationist Gus Hughbanks, says public participation in the sessions will be helpful in understanding emerging conservation issues across Washington. The first session is Tuesday February 22nd at Mount Vernon at the Cotton Tree Inn Convention Center from two to four p.m. On Thursday February 24th there will be a listening session in the Tri-Cities at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick from seven to nine p.m.. I'm Bob Hoff