By working with the NRCS, a conservation plan is developed with the goals of the producer to help set up a roadmap for the operation. The conservation planner will go out on the land and help identify resource concerns that need to be addressed through conservation practices. These resources concerns include, soil, water, air, plants, livestock, and wildlife. Conservation planning is essential to the success and sustainability of agriculture and wildlife.
Many Maverick County agricultural producers have utilized the technical and financial assistance made available through the Agricultural Act of 2014, also known as the 2014 Farm Bill. The practices applied through programs that are aimed to address natural resource concerns on rangeland, pastureland and cropland.
Through the NRCS’s Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), Maverick County agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers were assisted by the NRCS and SWCD in developing conservation plans and provided over $181,656 in financial assistance to implement conservation practices on 25,485 acres of rangeland and pastureland in 2016. Mr. J. D. Cage grew up in Eagle Pass and operates a ranch just east of El Indio. He has been able to utilize the assistance of the NRCS and SWCD.
"The Indio Cage Ranch has an ongoing partnership with the NRCS and District Conservationist, Serafin Aguirre. Over the past several years, our commercial cattle operation has maintained a productive relationship with the NRCS by participating in their programs,” said Cage. “The projects that we have implemented include fence building, water toughs with pipelines, brush control, rotation of supplement, and many others. It goes without saying that our collaborated efforts have greatly enhanced the land, which God has entrusted us to look after and all its resources.”
Ms. Leah Gray, who operates her family’s more than 100 year old farm in the Hopedale area, has participated in the EQIP program to control small mesquite in their Pecan Orchards.
EQIP is a voluntary conservation program which allows landowners and/or operators to apply for financial assistance to implement conservation practices listed in a producer’s conservation plan. The program offers technical and financial assistance for structural, vegetative, and management practices that can benefit the soil, water, air, plants, livestock, and wildlife.
Both the USDA-NRCS and the Maverick County SWCD #253, encourages those interested in addressing natural resource concerns on their land to call 830.773.2518 and set up an appointment to learn more about assistance that may be able to help you with your agricultural operation.