NCGA
Calls Final EQIP Rule Reasonable
(5-23-03)
The National Corn
Growers Association (NCGA) says the Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) final rule on the Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP) is reasonable. NCGA compared the final rule, issued
May 15, to its EQIP comments submitted March 12 and is pleased with
the outcome.
“Although NCGA did
not get everything it asked for, it's still a reasonable rule,” said
NCGA Director of Public Policy Betsy Croker
In the final rule, NRCS soundly reiterated its support for locally
led conservation and believes the rule provides sufficient flexibility
to implement a program that meets local needs. NCGA,
a strong supporter of locally led conservation, encouraged NRCS to
help state conservationists strengthen and rely on state technical
committees because “it gives producers an opportunity to participate
but also achieves results,” according to NCGA noted in its comments.
“NCGA is specifically
pleased the rule ensures 60 percent of EQIP funds will go to livestock
producers and it maintains the locally led conservation ideal,”
Croker added. “Corn growers should work with the state technical
committees to ensure the farmer's voice is heard.”
NCGA is disappointed NRCS
did not include several of its comments in the final rule. NRCS did
not accept NCGA’s comment that endangered and threatened species
should not be a national priority for EQIP. NRCS instead kept the
promotion of at-risk species habitat conservation as a national priority.
NCGA also unsuccessfully
encouraged NRCS not to provide incentive payments to states that meet
national objectives and other similar management proposals. NRCS rejected
several comments that would have hurt corn growers, such as EQIP should
not be used for large animal facilities. The rule will allow states
to offer incentive payments and determine payment levels.
Click here
to read a summary of the final rule.