New Air Quality Initiative Available for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

HARRISBURG, PA, Jan 12 (MARKET WIRE) --
Natural Resources Conservation Service's State Conservationist, Craig
Derickson, today announced a new Air Quality Initiative for Pennsylvania
under the fiscal year 2009 Environmental Quality Incentives Program
(EQIP).

"Even though program rules are still being finalized, we are urging
eligible farmers to apply as soon as possible," said Derickson. "By
accepting EQIP applications now, we can develop conservation plans that
address important air quality concerns and be well positioned to provide
contracts to producers in the next few weeks."

The EQIP Air Quality Initiative provides both technical and financial
assistance to farmers interested in improving the air quality of their
operation. The financial assistance can include incentive payments for
management activities and cost-share for the installation of certain
conservation practices.

Pennsylvania Executive Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding,
Chair of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Air Quality Task Force, supports
this initiative to help farmers adopt emission control practices.

"Pennsylvania farmers face increasing pressure to consider air issues as
they plan and operate their farms," said Redding. "Through this
initiative, our farmers can receive assistance to implement practices to
help control air emissions from agricultural operations. Because these
practices are in the early stages on Pennsylvania farms, funding
opportunities such as this may help farmers accelerate implementation."

NRCS will offer up to $2.4 million in fiscal year 2009 for participants to
implement practices that control emissions that contribute to harmful PM
2.5 and surface Ozone levels in the following counties: Allegheny,
Armstrong, Beaver, Berks, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Chester, Clearfield,
Cumberland, Dauphin, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lancaster, Lawrence,
Lebanon, Montgomery, Washington, Westmoreland, and York. According to the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air quality monitoring, these
counties currently exceed National Ambient Air Quality Standards for fine
particulate matter (PM 2.5) and 8-hour surface ozone (03) levels.

NRCS has identified the following priority Field Office Training Guide
(FOTG) conservation practices and activities for the 2009 Pennsylvania
EQIP Air Quality Initiative: Residue Management, No Till, Mulch Till,
Manure Injection, Earlier Cover Crop Seeding, Windbreak Establishment
around livestock and poultry facilities, Feed Management, Bio-filters,
Waste Treatments, Waste Facility Covers, Anaerobic Digesters, Manure
Separators, Manure Amendment, and Composting Facilities. Farmers who wish
to test an innovative practice not yet in general use can apply to NRCS's
Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) Program, which is expected to be
announced later this spring.

To apply, producers should first contact an NRCS office located at a local
USDA Service Center. Offices can be found at:
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/.

Applications are accepted by NRCS on a continuous basis throughout the
year to evaluate, rank, prioritize and select applicants. There is no due
date to apply; however, applications received early will be given
preference for funding by the anticipated mid-March cut-off date.
Applications will be evaluated on a monthly basis and approvals made on a
regular basis as long as funds remain available. Applications that cannot
be funded because of a shortage of funds or lower priority, can be
retained for up to two years, after which time the producer will need to
re-apply.

The application and information about EQIP for fiscal year 2009 are
available on the Pennsylvania NRCS Web site at
www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/.

Contact:
Molly McDonough
(717)237-2208

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