**Jim Wells County Texas EQIP -- FY2006 Screening Process**

**Name** **Farm \#**

**Application \#** **Tract \#**

County Base Beginning Farmer/Rancher Limited Resource Farmer/Rancher

***Primary Resource Concern -- Water Quality*** (Reduction of nonpoint
source pollution, groundwater contamination, and the conservation of
ground and surface water resources.) To address these water quality
issues, the following two resource concerns have been identified.

> **[Grazing Land Plant Health]{.underline} - 60% of county base
> funds.** The plant community is in an unhealthy condition and does not
> provide the quality and quantity of forage needed by a plant community
> to stabilize the land and prevent water runoff.
>
> **[Soil Erosion on Cropland]{.underline} - 40% of county based
> funds.** The cropland fields of the county are not adequately
> protected from wind and/or water erosion. To better protect these
> fields, Conservation Tillage (Residue Management), Grassed Waterways,
> and/or Terraces will be used.
>
> *If one of the resource concerns does not use up all of the funds
> earmarked, the balance will be automatically rolled over to the other
> resource concern.*

***The following practices have been priority ranked on their
environmental benefit to Jim Wells County.*** The Local Working Group
(LWG) has chosen the following conservation practices for cost sharing
on these resource concerns. Due to limited cost-share funding, the LWG
has decided to prioritize the cost shared practices into high, medium
and low priority. *[The higher the priority ranking, the more likely it
will be considered for EQIP funding.]{.underline}*

**Multiple Conservation Practices will receive a low priority rating.
The Local Working Group established the following exceptions to the low
priority rating:**

-   Fencing, Livestock Water Pipeline and Watering Facility.

-   Livestock Water Pipeline and Watering Facility.

-   Brush Management and Range or Pasture Planting.

-   Water well and Watering Facility

> *Please fill in the amounts or units for each of the eligible cost
> share practices you are applying for.\
> \
> \
> \
> *

**Section 1: Soil Erosion on Cropland**

## [Practice Units Needed Priority]{.underline}

> Residue Management \_\_\_\_\_\_Ac [High\
> ]{.underline}

-   Maintain 30% plant residues until January 1^st^, two-year contract -
    one-time payment.

-   ***Treat* *at least 30% of the field.* Not To Exceed 1000 acres.**

> ***Multiple Practice Application [Low ]{.underline}***

**Section 2: Grazing Land Plant Health**

## [Practice Units Needed Priority]{.underline}

> Fencing \_\_\_\_\_\_Ft [High]{.underline}

-   4 wire barbed or 36-inch net wire fence -- New Materials Only --
    *Interior cross-fence only*

-   **Not To Exceed 10,560 Ft Installed**

> **Water** Storage Facility \_\_\_\_\_\_No [High]{.underline}

-   ***Maximum of 4 small or 2 large facilities, except with wells***

> Livestock **Water** Pipeline \_\_\_\_\_\_Ft [High]{.underline}
>
> Range Seeding *without* Brush Management \_\_\_\_\_\_Ac
> [High]{.underline}

-   **Not To Exceed 400 Acres**

> Pasture Planting *without* Brush Management \_\_\_\_\_\_Ac
> [High]{.underline}

-   **Not To Exceed 150 Acres**

> Brush Management, *Chemical* \_\_\_\_\_\_Ac [High]{.underline}
>
> Select **[one]{.underline}** treatment option [only]{.underline}
>
> Aerial (\>400 plants per acre)
>
> IPT, Low (100-250 plants/acre foliar or 100 stems/acre basal)
>
> IPT, High (250-400 plants/acre foliar or 200 stems/acre basal)
>
> IPT, Cut-Stump

-   ***Cut-stump method:*** Mechanically cut/shear 12-inch diameter or
    less mesquite, huisache or other hardwoods, 2 to 6 inches above the
    ground surface, apply a 25% Remedy/Diesel mixture by backpack (or
    ATV mounted) sprayer immediately after shearing. Application of the
    25% Remedy/Diesel solution will allow basal treatment of any low
    brush runners missed by the mechanical shear to achieve plant kill.
    *The 15% solution noted in **BrushBusters** is for use in situations
    where an individual uses a lopper or chainsaw to cut the brush and
    then use of a backpack sprayer to treat the remaining stump and cut
    surface, thus the 25% solution is preferred for mechanical
    treatment.*

-   **Treat 50% of the pasture, Not To Exceed 500 treated acres.**

### Water well *(drilling and casing only)* \_\_\_\_\_\_Ft [Medium]{.underline}

-   **Wells are for [livestock use only]{.underline} - NO human use.**

> Brush Management, *Mechanical* \_\_\_\_\_\_Ac [High]{.underline}
>
> *Rootplowing & Rootraking on deeper soils, or stacking and burning of
> cactus.*
>
> Range Planting
>
> Pasture Planting
>
> Block
>
> Strip pattern
>
> **Treat 50% of the pasture. Not To Exceed 250 treated acres.**
>
> ***Multiple Practice Application [Low\
> ]{.underline}***

**[Priority for this EQIP Application]{.underline}: High Medium Low
Ineligible**

**\
NOTES:**

NRCS Technician Date EQIP Applicant Date

**\
\
\
Jim Wells County Texas EQIP -- FY2006 Ranking Process**

**Name** **Farm \#**

**Application \#** **Tract \#**

County Base Beginning Farmer/Rancher Limited Resource Farmer/Rancher

***[Cost Share Rates/Information:]{.underline}***

> **[Beginning Farmer/Rancher]{.underline}** is one who has operated a
> farm or ranch for not more than 10 consecutive years. (This includes
> all members of an entity.)
>
> **[Limited Resource Farmer/Rancher]{.underline}** is a person with
> direct or indirect gross farm sales of **not more than \$106,400
> *[and]{.underline}*** has a total household income of **not more than
> [\$18,850 annually]{.underline}** in [each of the previous two
> years]{.underline} - based on where the person lives - not where the
> land is. All counties surrounding Jim Wells use these figures. If you
> live in another county outside of this area, please contact NRCS.
>
> [**Cost Share Rates** (established by the Local Working
> Group):]{.underline}
>
> **County Base Funds 50%**
>
> **Beginning Farmer/Rancher 50%**
>
> **Limited Resource Farmer/Rancher 90%**

*NOTE:* The Residue Management Incentive Payment is \$10.00/acre (flat
rate).

**Multiple Conservation Practices will receive a low priority rating.
The Local Working Group established the following exceptions to the low
priority rating:**

-   Fencing, Livestock Water Pipeline and Watering Facility.

-   Livestock Water Pipeline and Watering Facility.

-   Brush Management and Range or Pasture Planting.

-   Water well and Watering Facility

**Section 1: Soil Erosion on Cropland -** The condition of the soil is
unhealthy and does not provide adequate protection from wind and/or
water erosion.

# [Needs Assessment Environmental Points Total Points]{.underline} 

Residue Management 100

Maintain 30% plant residue thru January 1^st\ (^two-year contract, one
time payment)

-   ***Treat* *at least 30% of the field.* Not To Exceed 1000 acres.**

Soil Erosion based on predominant soil\'s Erosion Index (EI)

Wind or Water Erosion EI (\>20) 20

Wind or Water Erosion EI (15-20) 15

Wind or Water Erosion EI (10-15) 10

Wind or Water Erosion EI (8-10) 5

Wind or Water Erosion EI (\<8) 0

***Multiple Conservation Practice Application (except as noted) 50***

***[Total Points Earned\
\
]{.underline}*Section 2: Grazing Land Plant Health** -- The condition of
the plant community is in unhealthy condition and does not provide the
quality and quantity of forage needed by a stable plant community.
***Maximum acreage caps, if assigned, are indicated below in italicized
bold print.* Points will only be awarded for only one resource, not
both.**

# [Needs Assessment Environmental Points Total Points]{.underline} 

Fence 500

*4 wire barbed or 36-inch net wire - new materials [only]{.underline} -
interior cross fence [only]{.underline}*

-   ***Not To Exceed 10,560 Feet***

Livestock Water Pipeline and Watering Facility(s) 450

Range Seeding *without* Brush Management ***Not To Exceed 400 Acres***
400

Pasture Planting *without* Brush Management ***Not To Exceed 150
Acres*** 400

Chemical Brush Management, ***IPT or aerial*** 325

Strips or Patterns to benefit wildlife 40

Greater 50% canopy 30

30 to 50% canopy 20

Less than 30 % canopy 10

-   ***Cut-stump method:*** Mechanically cut/shear 12-inch diameter or
    less mesquite, huisache or other hardwoods, 2 to 6 inches above the
    ground surface, apply a 25% Remedy/Diesel mixture by backpack (or
    ATV mounted) sprayer immediately after shearing. Application of the
    25% Remedy/Diesel solution will allow basal treatment of any low
    brush runners missed by the mechanical shear to achieve plant kill.
    *The 15% solution noted in **BrushBusters** is for use in situations
    where an individual uses a lopper or chainsaw to cut the brush and
    then use of a backpack sprayer to treat the remaining stump and cut
    surface, thus the 25% solution is preferred for mechanical
    treatment.*

-   ***IPT or aerial, treat 50% of the pasture, Not To Exceed 500
    treated acres***

Mechanical Brush Management [and]{.underline} Range Seeding or Pasture
Planting 250

Strips or Patterns to benefit wildlife 40

> Greater 50% canopy 30
>
> 30 to 50% canopy 20

-   **Rootplowing and rootraking** is used on deeper soils.

-   **Two trips of roller chopping or rhome disking on mixed [low
    brush]{.underline} species** on shallow and gravelly ecological
    sites (to include gray sandy loam and sandy loam ecological sites).
    Roller chopped and/or rhome disked sites will be inspected two years
    later for follow-up needs of herbicide treatment and/or prescribed
    burning (to be completed without cost share). This practice is
    [not]{.underline} intended for use on huisache and mesquite. [This
    practice is most effective when applied as a part of a planned brush
    control system, *not* as an independent practice.]{.underline}

-   ***Treat 50% of the pasture, Not To Exceed 250 treated acres***

New Water Development(s)

> Well (with or without Watering Facility) 150

-   **Wells are for [livestock use only]{.underline} - NO human use.**

***Multiple Conservation Practice Application (except as noted) 50***

***[Total Points Earned\
\
]{.underline}***

***By signing below, I acknowledge that I understand the information
outlined on the above form, and that I have correctly identified the
points to be assigned to my application. It is understood that the
accuracy/completeness of the form is my responsibility, as the
applicant, and not the responsibility of the NRCS technician providing
assistance.***

**[NOTES:]{.underline}**

NRCS Technician Date EQIP Applicant Date