The sign up for the 2009 Environmental Quality Incentives Program is now going on, but the cut off date for the first ranking pool applications is Oct. 31.

EQIP is a USDA Farm Bill program that provides technical and financial assistance to install conservation practices. Some of the more common soil and water conservation practices installed in Richland Parish are cross fencing, heavy use areas (around gates and water troughs), wells, irrigation pipelines, grade stabilization structures, land leveling and watering facilities.

These soil and water conservation practices help to improve water quality and control soil erosion. They help the environment in many ways but producers must apply for the program and be selected to obtain cost sharing assistance to install the practices.

Producers must apply by Oct. 31 to be considered in the first ranking pool.

Please call the Natural Resources Conservation Service or Boeuf River Soil and Water Conservation District office at 728-4451, Ext. 3 for more information about this program.

All USDA programs and services are available on a nondiscriminatory basis.