MADISON - The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced that the Wisconsin signup for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) will be open until February 27 for 2009 funding. Sign-up for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program will be extended until Feb. 27 as well. Pat Leavenworth, state conservationist for NRCS in Wisconsin, said there are a number of changes to the programs in the 2008 Farm Bill, and the rules are just now coming out. EQIP is the primary program available to farmers for farmland conservation practices.

"EQIP offers flat-rate payments for over 50 conservation practices to help all types of farmers - livestock and dairy, grazing, or cash crop, including specialty crops and organic," said Leavenworth. "EQIP also offers additional assistance for beginning, socially disadvantaged and limited resource farmers."

Farmers can sign up at the NRCS office in USDA Service Centers statewide. NRCS anticipates over $13 million in funds for Wisconsin. Of the $13 million, about 60 percent will go toward livestock-related practices.

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program provides technical assistance and cost-sharing to restore wildlife habitat. Depending on the site, streams, prairies, oak savannahs and other types of habitat may qualify to be restored. Contact the NRCS office for details.

For more information, see www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov under Programs, or contact the NRCS office at the USDA Service Center serving your county.