CROOK COUNTY EQIP PROGRAM

How EQIP is being implemented in the county:

The Crook County Local Work Group has identified Reliable Stock Water, Water Quality, Range Condition and Soil Erosion concerns as high priority. Due to the expected annual number of applications exceeding the available funds, the Work Group will use a screening tool to prioritize the applications as HIGH, MEDIUM or LOW. Also the Work Group has requested each landowner to answer a questionnaire to better understand the producer's goals and needs for installing conservation practices. Applications that receive a HIGH priority will then be evaluated using the ranking worksheet. 

1) Reliable Stock Water and Range Condition: 
This local priority supports the national priority to reduce soil erosion and sedimentation from agricultural lands and promote at risk species habitat. Applications for dependable water development will be given the highest priority. Reliable stock water is the key to implementing a grazing plan that will assist landowners to prepare, adapt and recover from drought conditions. 

2) Water Quality: 
This local priority supports the national priority to reduce non-point source pollution in impaired water bodies. Waste management systems, feedlot relocation, and nutrient management will be targeted in an effort to help producers avoid regulation, and improve water quality. 

3) Soil Erosion: 
This local priority supports that national priority to reduce soil erosion and sedimentation from agricultural lands. Grazing lands impacted by excessive soil movement will be planned with the proper conservation practices to reduce soil losses to tolerable levels. 

The Ranking Process: 
All HIGH priority applications will be reviewed using the ranking sheet that will further prioritize applications. Applications that optimize environmental benefits with less USDA funds have a better chance of being funded. The total funds allocated to the county will determine the number of applications to be funded. 

Eligible Practices: 
All practices identified in the statewide EQIP cost list will be eligible in Crook County. 

Fund Pools: 
The local work group has decided to annually allocate 7% of the Crook County EQIP allotment to irrigation requests. This figure is used as approximately 7% of the county landowners have irrigation land on their operation. The remaining 93% of the county allocation will address the local priorities.

Click  to view ranking worksheets:

These documents require Adobe Acrobat to view the material.

Crook County Screening Tool (PDF, 19 KB)

Crook County General (PDF, 17 KB)

Crook County Irrigated Land (PDF, 17 KB)

Crook County Fire Mitigation (PDF, 16 KB)

Crook County Forestry Incentive (PDF, 14 KB)

Crook County Watershed Initiative (PDF, 18 KB)

Contact the local office