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

 

NEWS

United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
9173 W. Barnes Dr., Suite C
Boise, Idaho 83709
 
For More Information:
Contact:  Bob Bartholomew, 208.378.5703


assistance for fire damaged private grazing lands now available

September 25, 2006, Boise, ID—Idaho’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), announced today a Special Initiative through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to assist private land managers with grazing lands burned by wildfires this summer. 

A special sign-up from October 1st through October 31, 2006 will allow Idaho’s ranchers to apply for the one-time $11 per acre incentive payment for acres of rangeland that have been burned.  This incentive payment is intended to partially reimburse landowners for replacing fence, reestablishing livestock watering facilities and allowing for the recovery of natural vegetation through deferred grazing. 

“Idaho’s grazing lands are an important natural resource.  We hope this special initiative will give land managers the opportunity to make the necessary changes in their grazing operations, allowing the land to recover from fire damage,” said Idaho NRCS State Conservationist, Richard Sims.

A key requirement for participating in the program is producers must agree to defer grazing on the contracted acres from the time of the fire until Oct. 1, 2007.  “In most cases, native vegetation will recover successfully from wildfire damage after a year of rest from grazing.  This initiative should allow Idaho’s land managers whose grazing lands were affected, to find alternative locations for next year’s grazing needs,” said Sims.

Also, no more than 2,500 acres of grazing land can be contracted per agricultural operation under this special initiative. Sims stressed that agreeing to follow program rules will not guarantee funding approval of a producer’s application; however, it does mean interested producers will be eligible for funding consideration.

In order to apply for this program or for more information, producers should visit their local NRCS office. All application information must be submitted to NRCS by Oct. 31, 2006 in order to determine eligibility.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

< Back to News Releases