Rice producers in Texas have until March 15 to apply for a special Regional Conservation Partnership (RCPP) Environmental Quality Incentives (EQIP) program, while rice producers in Louisiana have until April 19 to apply for two RCPP EQIP programs.
The Texas Gulf Coast Water and Wildlife RCPP EQIP sign-up is available to producers in 12 counties until March 15, 2019, with priority emphasis placed on Colorado, Wharton, and Matagorda counties where surface water conservation is critical. In addition to the special funding opportunity through RCPP, supplementary EQIP funding is also available in all eligible counties. Practices such as irrigation land levelling and water-control structures are the highest priority practices for rice farms using surface water.
The Louisiana Gulf Coast Water and Wildlife RCPP EQIP sign-up is available to producers in 11 parishes until April 19, 2019. Surface water irrigation to replace groundwater use is the targeted result to be supported by this special sign-up. For example, a re-lift pump along a bayou with plentiful flow and annual water availability could be used to irrigate rice and crawfish operations. Surface water irrigation practices commonly used include CP 533 pumping plant, CP 430 irrigation pipeline, CP 587 structures for irrigation water control, and supporting practices, all to increase surface water irrigation to reduce groundwater use.
The Northeast Louisiana’s Cultivating Water Conservation (aka Cypress Brake Project) RCPP is available to producers in 10 parishes until April 19, 2019. This project is designed to pilot cypress brakes or old river oxbow lakes as surface water irrigation sources, with the opportunity to improve the natural waterbody as well. For example, a re-lift pump aside a cypress brake or oxbow lake with annual water availability could be used to irrigate rice, corn, and/or other crops. Approximately $400,000 in financial assistance to producers is anticipated for this specific RCPP sign-up.
Go
here to learn more about eligibility and contact information for each program.