Natural Resources Conservation Services field offers are accepting applications for an initiative to improve the soil condition, plant condition and water quality of salt-affected cropland in the Devils Lake Basin.
The application deadline is the close of business Oct. 15 for funding for contracts in the 2009 fiscal year in the seven counties of Benson, Cavalier, Nelson, Pierce, Ramsey, Rolette and Towner.
The incentive payment is for three years at $50 per acre per year not to exceed 160 acres. The total contract length will be four years. Contracts will be awarded based on the ranking score of the offer and available funds.
The Devils Lake Basin Soil Conservation Districts Local Work Group submitted a funding proposal to the North Dakota Natural Resources Conservation Service. The funding proposal requested Environmental Quality Incentive Program funds be allocated to the Salinity Special Initiative to enroll salt-affected cropland within the these counties. On Aug. 15, the initiative was tentatively approved for $360,000 to fund EQIP contracts within the seven-county area.
Incentive payments will be available to eligible producers to enroll salt-affected cropland into EQIP who are willing to implement a salinity management package. The package will include a combination of the following components: the development and implementation of a conservation crop rotation on their saline cropland to include a combination of salt tolerant crops, deep rooted crops, high water use crops and/or cover crops, salinity monitoring techniques, reduced tillage practices, and nutrient and pest management strategies on the saline acreage enrolled in the program.
For more information, contact local NRCS field offices.
Daily News Staff