Congressmen support East Texans struggling with EQIP program

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

December 12, 2002 -- Several state and federal officials were on hand for the East Texas Conservation Work Group's Dec. 2 meeting in Nacogdoches.

Two congressmen who represent the districts of deep East Texas issued statements following the meeting.

U.S. Rep. Max Sandlin (D-Texas Dist. 1) did not attend the meeting, but one of his legislative correspondents reported the producers' concerns about the EQIP fund dispersement.

On Dec. 5, Sandlin issued a press statement which offered support on the issue. He pointed to "glaring errors" in certain parts of the legislative bill which covers EQIP. "The expansion of the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) has proven to benefit only limited numbers of farmers at the expense of others."

The congressman cited the program's problems are "leaving East Texas farmers out in the cold.

"First, the EQIP Evaluation Criteria Scorecard is extremely unbalanced and heavy handed toward larger operations and spending entities. The maximum number of points the scorecard awards are allotted to confined animal feeding operations and animal waste management programs, while erosion, brush control, and water quality conservation measures are allocated to an inequitable and drastically smaller ranking. Additionally, the scorecard is structured so that timber farmers are altogether ignored. If the scorecard is to work, the current point system must be examined and significantly overhauled to take into account the diversity of our nation's crops and encourage every farmer to conserve."

Sandlin continued, "Secondly, the new EQIP incentive payments have increased from a maximum of $50,000 in conservation assistance to an unprecedented $450,000. This significant jump in caps will mean that fewer people will be able to share in these activities. We must reduce these allocations to ensure that more farmers - not fewer - will receive incentive payments."

U.S. Rep. Jim Turner (D-Texas Dist. 2) said all the concerns expressed at the Dec. 2 meeting were very legitimate. Turner spoke at the meeting, and on Dec. 5, he related some of his thoughts about the program in an interview.

"One issue repeatedly expressed (by the producers) is the desire for EQIP money spread to a broader number of producers. ... NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service) has made such recommendations," Turner said.

The Congressman cited an example of the EQIP program moving away from geographic priority to putting all counties on a more equal basis. This ties in with the issue of the importance of local control over the EQIP program's administration. "I think it would be good if NRCS would go back to local county committees," he said.

Turner said the ETCWG's Dec. 2 meeting was very timely because the State Technical Committee, which advises NRCS on implementation of the program to address identified resource needs and concerns, is in the process of "deciding what changes can be made."

The next question is "if NRCS will be responsive," Turner offered.

"Agriculture is the backbone of the East Texas economy," Turner said, "and I will do my best to weigh in with ... state and federal agencies" to see that East Texas producers' concerns about EQIP are addressed.

Sandlin also offered his support: "It is absolutely essential that East Texas farmers receive their fair share of the EQIP funding. I will work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Farm Service Agency, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service to ensure that these imbalances are corrected."