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National and State Ranking- FY 2012 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

 

National Ranking Criteria Points
1. Clean and Abundant Water: Water Quality – Will the proposed project assist the producer to:
1a.  Meet regulatory requirements relating to animal feeding operations, or proactively avoid the need for regulatory measures? 15
1b.  Reduce sediment, nutrients or pesticides from agricultural operations located within a field that adjoins a designated impaired water body? 10
1c.  Reduce sediment, nutrients or pesticides from agricultural operations located with a field that adjoins a water body? 5
2.  Clean and abundant Water:  Water Conservation - Will the proposed project assist the producer to:
2a.  Increase groundwater recharge in identified groundwater depletion areas? (http://water.usgs.gov/ogw/rasa.html/TOC.html) 15
2b.  Conserve water from irrigation system improvements and result in estimated water savings of at least 5% and saved water will be available for other beneficial uses? 10
2c.  Conserve water in an area where the applicant participates in a geographically established or watershed-wide project? 5
3.  Clean Air:  Treatment of Air Quality from Agricultural Sources - Will the proposed project assist the producer to:
3a.  Meet regulatory requirements relating to air quality or proactively avoid the need for regulatory measures? 15
3b.  Reduce green house gases such as methane, nitrous oxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOC)? 15
3c.  Increase carbon sequestration? 5
4.  High Quality, Productive Soils Erosion Reduction - Will the proposed project assist the producer to:
4a.  Reduce erosion to tolerable limits (Soil "T")? 15
5.  Healthy Plant and Animal Communities Wildlife Habitat Conservation - Will the proposed project assist the producer to:
5a.  Benefit threatened and endangered at-risk, candidate, or species of concern as identified in State wildlife plan? 15
5b.  Retain wildlife and plant benefits on land exiting the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)? 15
6.  High Quality, Productive Soils, Healthy Plant and Animal Communities:  Special Environmental Efforts/Initiatives - Will the proposed project assist the producer to:
6a.  Eradicate or control noxious or invasive species? 10
6b.  Increase, improve or establish pollinator habitat? 10
6c.  Implement precision agricultural methods? 10
6d.  Properly dispose of animal carcasses? 5
6e.  Implement an Integrated Pest Management Plan? 5
7.  Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Production - Will the proposed project assist the producer to:
7a.  Reduce energy consumption on the agricultural operation? 15
7b.  Increase on-farm energy efficiency with more efficient equipment? 10
7c.  Assist in producing energy from renewable resources (solar, wind, biofuel, etc?) 10
8.  Business Lines - Conservation Implementation Additional Ranking Considerations - Will the proposed project result in:
8a.  Implementation of all planned conservation practices within three years of contract obligation? 10
8b.  Improvement of existing conservation practices or conservation systems already in place at the time of the application is accepted, or will complete an existing conservation system? 10
9.  Does the applicant meet the following conditions:
9a.  If the applicant has an existing EQIP contract, has it been, and is it now, on schedule and in full compliance? 5
9b.  Did the applicant successfully complete any past contract(s) in full compliance? 5

TOTAL

 250
State Ranking Criteria Points
Clean and Abundant Water: Water Quality – Will the proposed project assist the producer to:
1.  Will a CNMP be developed for a CAFO or AFO? 10
2.  Will the conservation treatment reduce the risk of sediment, nutrients, or pesticides from agricultural or forestland on fields adjacent to a T&E or species at risk bearing stream or water body. 20
3.  Will the conservation treatment reduce ground water contamination to shallow aquifers? 20
Clean and Abundant Water: Water Conservation – Will the proposed project assist the producer to:
1.  Will the producers water rights or conserved water from the implementation of conservation measures result in a dedicated stream water lease? 10
2.  Will the conservation treatment result in at least 5 inches/acre AND improve irrigation efficiencies by greater than 20%? 10
Clean Air: Treatment of Air Quality from Agricultural Sources – Will the proposed project assist the producer to:
1.  Will the conservation treatment reduce air emissions in an identified nonattainment, former nonattainment, or maintenance area? 20
2.  Will the conservation treatment use alternative fuel sources other than conventional carbon based fuels? 10
3.  Will the conservation treatment remove biomass and contribute to the production of alternative fuel resource? 10
4.  Will the conservation treatment incorporate vegetative buffers, tree plantings or increase residue management or permanent cover? 10
High Quality, Productive Soils Erosion Reduction – Will the proposed project assist the producer to:
1.  Will the conservation treatment use cover crops, adding perennial crops to a rotation OR other conservation practices that will reduce soil erosion and/or improve soil health? 10
Healthy Plant and Animal Communities Wildlife Habitat Conservation – Will the proposed project assist the producer to:
1.  Will the conservation treatment restore or enhance at least one of the following Strategy Habitats:  Native Grasslands, Sagebrush Steppe, Oak Woodlands/Savannahs, Ponderosa Pine Woodlands, Conifer Forests, Riparian, Wetlands, Estuaries, or Fresh water aquatic habitats, (as identified in the ODFW Oregon Conservation Strategy)? 10
High Quality, Productive Soils, Healthy Plant and Animal Communities: Special Environmental Efforts/Initiatives – Will the proposed project assist the producer to:
1.  Will the conservation treatment improve plant health and/or vigor of range or pasturelands? 10
2.  Will the conservation treatment include planting at least 3 different flowering species of forbs, legumes, shrubs or trees? 10
3.  Will the IMP plan incorporate precision agriculture/forest method and/or a system utilizing scouting and economic thresholds to manage pests and reduce pest management environmental risk, utilizing the IMP principles of prevention, avoidance, monitoring, and suppression? 20
4.  Will the conservation treatment benefit forest health and productivity by reducing the risk of insect/disease infestation or fire hazard on forestlands? 20
Strategic Initiative – Energy Conservation and Sustainable Production Energy Conservation – Will the proposed project assist the producer to:
1.  Will the conservation treatment result in the usage of high efficiency alternative energy sources? 10

TOTAL

 200


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