United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Delaware Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content
 Delaware Crop Field


NEWS

United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
1221 College Park Drive, Suite 100
Dover, Delaware 19904
 
For More Information:

Paul Petrichenko, 302/678-4180
Dastina Johnson, 302/678-4179

Delaware receives $1.2 million for Chesapeake bay initiative

        DOVER, Del., Jan. 28, 2009— Russell Morgan, State Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently announced that Delaware agricultural producers located within the Nanticoke and Upper Choptank watersheds can now apply for special assistance under the new Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative (CBWI).  This new initiative offers technical and financial assistance to producers to install agricultural practices to help control erosion, and to minimize excess nutrients and sediments in order to restore, preserve, and protect the Chesapeake Bay.

        NRCS will administer the initiative as part of its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).  A total of $23 million will be available in 2009 for the six states that lie within the Chesapeake drainage basin.  Delaware received $1.2 million. Funding for the other five states include: Virginia-$6.9 million; Pennsylvania-$6.7 million; Maryland-$5.1 million; West Virginia-$1.4 million and New York-$1.4 million.

     Morgan said that although some of the new EQIP provisions are not final, NRCS and local conservation districts are urging farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to come in and apply as soon as possible. “We are accepting producer applications now so that we can assess their current conservation plans.  We want to be well positioned to provide contracts as soon as final details are worked out.”

     The CBWI offers assistance to eligible participants to implement a system of core conservation practices on eligible agricultural land. Delaware’s core practices include Manure Transfer, Nutrient Management, Cover Crop, Irrigation Water Management, and Heavy Use Area Protection.  As an incentive to producers, there will be no acreage and/or unit limitations on these practices within the Nanticoke and Upper Choptank watersheds.

     Applications for the new CBWI will be accepted continuously throughout the year to be evaluated, ranked, and prioritized based on their potential to reduce nutrient levels in local waters and the Chesapeake Bay.  

     Interested producers should contact their local USDA Service Center for additional information.  Applicants should fill out the current EQIP application for the CBWI, which is also available at your local USDA Service Center.  A full map with priority watersheds outlined is available on the Delaware NRCS Web site at www.de.nrcs.usda.gov.  

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

...Back to News
 

 


Last Modified:  04/30/2007 11:06:32 AM