State Conservationist Gary Kobylski announced a continuous sign-up for the Fiscal Year 2009 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

Alabama landowners, including limited resource producers and new or beginning farmers, who have resource concerns on pasture land, cropland, forest, or land used for wildlife are encouraged to participate.

The EQIP program, administered by NRCS, provides technical and financial assistance to individuals interested in addressing soil, water, air, and related natural resource concerns on their operations. EQIP generally supports a wide variety of activities: the establishment of permanent covers, erosion control, grazing protection, wildlife habitat enhancement, soil quality, and various water quality protection systems.

Forestry practices, which are generally supported, include tree planting, forest stand improvement, site preparation for natural regeneration and forest stand analysis leading to better forest management.

The first step for producers should be to contact their local NRCS office at 114 County Road 756, Clanton, AL 35045 or phone 646-0277.