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Agricultural Water Enhancement Program

USDA NRCS ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR AGRICULTURAL WATER ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

Jackson, MS, February 8, 2011 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is taking applications for a 2011 statewide Agricultural Water Enhancement Program  (AWEP) to implement agricultural water enhancement activities on agricultural land for the purposes of conserving surface and ground water and improving water quality.

 “AWEP has been available since FY2009.  AWEP operates through program contracts with producers to plan and implement conservation practices in project areas established through partnership agreements,” stated Al Garner, Mississippi Acting State Conservationist for NRCS.  “The goal of this state-wide program is for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to enter into partnership agreements with eligible entities that want to promote ground and surface water conservation or improve water quality on agricultural lands.”

Each fiscal year, NRCS may make AWEP financial and technical assistance available to eligible owners and operators of agricultural lands who participate in approved AWEP project areas.  Within Mississippi, only producers located within the Tunica County AWEP Proposal Area and the Mississippi Delta AWEP Proposal Area are eligible for financial and technical assistance. 

Applications for AWEP are taken continuously throughout the year.  However, to be considered for Fiscal Year 2011 AWEP funding, producers need to have an application signed and on file at their local NRCS office by March 11, 2011. 

The intent of AWEP is for the Federal government to leverage investment in natural resources conservation along with services and non-Federal resources of other eligible partners. 

Interested producers should visit their nearest USDA Service Center to determine eligibility. Additional information on the 2010 AWEP is available at: www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs.

Mississippi AWEP General Guidance Information
Introduction

The Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) is a voluntary conservation initiative that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to implement agricultural water enhancement activities on agricultural land for the purposes of conserving surface and ground water and improving water quality. As part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), AWEP operates through program contracts with producers to plan and implement conservation practices in project areas established through partnership agreements. The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated the authority for AWEP to the Chief of NRCS. Under AWEP, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) enters into partnership agreements with eligible entities that want to promote ground and surface water conservation or improve water quality on agricultural lands. 

Program Description

Each fiscal year, NRCS may make AWEP financial and technical assistance available to eligible owners and operators of agricultural lands who participate in approved AWEP project areas. Within Mississippi, only producers located within the Tunica County AWEP Proposal Area and the Mississippi Delta AWEP Proposal Area are eligible for financial and technical assistance.
As authorized by Congress, this is not a grant program to eligible partners. This is a program whereby approved, eligible partners will enter into multi-year agreements with NRCS to promote ground and surface water conservation, or improve water quality on eligible agricultural lands. The intent of AWEP is for the Federal government to leverage investment in natural resources conservation along with services and non-Federal resources of other eligible partners. Individual producers are not eligible to submit a partnership proposal.

Producers

Owners and operators engaged in livestock or agricultural production may be eligible for the program. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pasture, private non-industrial forestland, and other farm or ranch lands. Producers must submit a program application to be considered for financial assistance through AWEP.

Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP)


ELIGIBLE CONSERVATION PRACTICE INFORMATION:

The following table lists conservation practices eligible for payment under the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP):

CONSERVATION PRACTICES ELIGIBLE FOR PAYMENT

Practice Code Name Units
348          Dam, Diversion CuYd/Ton
356          Dike LnFt/CuYd
410          Grade Stabilization Structure No
430EE*     Irrigation Water Conveyance, Pipeline, L LnFt
436*        Irrigation Storage Reservoir CuYd
449*        Irrigation Water Management Ac
464*        Irrigation Land Leveling CuYd
533          Pumping Plant GPM
587          Structure for Water Control No
642          Water Well No
646          Shallow Water Management for Wildlife Ac
647          Early Successional Habitat Development and Management Ac
 
*430EE – Cost cap 2000 feet (Practice COST CAP must be applied.)
*436 – Cost cap 40,000 cu.yds. ($60,000 BASE cap/$104,000 HU cap)
*449 – Cost cap 2000 acres ($16,200 BASE cap/$29,000 HU cap)
*464 - Cost cap 350 cu.yds./acre ($210 BASE cap/$350 HU cap)

AWEP ranking tools and payment schedules
FY 2010 Delta AWEP Ranking Tool
FY 2010 Tunica AWEP Ranking Tool
2010 AWEP Base Payment Schedule
2010 AWEP HU Payment Schedule
 

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Conservation Program Application (PDF; 39KB)


Contact
Kurt Readus, Asst. State Conservation (Programs) Phone: (601) 965-5205 ext. 111 Email: kurt.readus@ms.usda.gov
Clarence Finley, Resource Conservationist Phone: (601) 965-4339 ext. 114 Email: clarence.finley@ms.usda.gov
If you encounter any problems with the files provided on this page, please contact Yolanda Jackson at 601-965-4139 ext. 166.

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