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EQIP FY 2024 Ranking Criteria for Caribbean Area Socially Disadvantaged

Applicability

Did the applicant self-certify as a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher on the NRCS-CPA-1200, Conservation Program Application?

  • a. Yes — Points: 0
  • b. No — Points: 0

Category Question

Conservation treatments for assessed PLUs are in: 

  • a. Arecibo Field Office — Points: 0
  • b. Caguas Field Office — Points: 0
  • c. Corozal Field Office — Points: 0
  • d. Juana Diaz Field Office — Points: 0
  • e. Mayaguez Field Office — Points: 0
  • f. San Sebastian Field Office — Points: 0
  • g. St Croix Field Office — Points: 0
  • h. Utuado Field Office — Points: 0

Program Questions

*An asterisk will be displayed to show that it is a conditional section or conditional question.

1. Is the program application for development of a Conservation Planning, Activity, Design and Implementation Activity, and/or Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activity (CPAs, DIAs, CEMAs)? If YES, do not answer any other question in the Program section.

  • a. Yes — Points: 200
  • b. No — Points: 0

2. Does the applicant meet the NRCS definition of a veteran farmer or rancher (VRF)?*

  • a. Yes — Points: 20
  • b. No — Points: 0

3. Is the applicant a covered producer participating in the CRP-TIP and NRCS is evaluating the assessment during the two-year period covered by the CRP-1R?*

  • a. Yes — Points: 5
  • b. No — Points: 0

4. Is the application been evaluated under another ranking pool?*

  • a. Yes — Points: 100
  • b. No — Points: 0

5. Does this participant have prior year contracts or has an active contract including practices that address the same resource concerns considered in this application?*

  • a. Yes — Points: 5
  • b. No — Points: 10

6. Is the project in or near a locally identified priority watershed or environmentally sensitive area?*

  • a. Yes — Points: 20
  • b. No — Points: 5

7. Is any portion of the land in the operation in a Caribbean Area source water designated priority watershed?*

  • a. Yes — Points: 20
  • b. No — Points: 5

8. Will the proposed project improve soil health by: (Select all that apply)?*

  • a. Reduce erosion to tolerable limits (Soil T) — Points: 5
  • b. Increasing organic matter and carbon content, and improving soil tilt — Points: 5
  • c. Not applicable — Points: 0

9. Is the applicant applying for one or more of the following listed practices: 309, 311, 313, 316, 317, 319, 327, 340, 342, 360, 380, 386, 391, 575, 576, 589, 634, 638, 751, 808?*

  • a. Yes — Points: 15
  • b. No — Points: 0

Resource Questions

1. Will the application include practices to improve crop health and vigor?

  • a. Yes — Points: 25
  • b. No — Points: 0

2. Will the application include practices to increase pumping efficiency, improve irrigation water storage capacity, collect runoff from precipitation to manage availability of water supply?

  • a. Yes — Points: 20
  • b. No — Points: 0

3. Which are the primary resource concerns categories that will be addressed in the practice schedule?

  • a. Soil Erosion — Points: 5
  • b. Soil Quality Limitations — Points: 5
  • c. Field Sediment, Nutrient and Pathogen Loss — Points: 5
  • d. Source Water Depletion — Points: 5
  • e. Degraded Plant Condition — Points: 5
  • f. None — Points: 0

4. Will the application include practices for the control or prevention of invasive plant species?

  • a. Yes — Points: 15
  • b. No — Points: 0

5. Will the application include the renovation of pastures, watering facilities, fencing to increase the number of grazing cells or exclude livestock access to water bodies?

  • a. Yes — Points: 25
  • b. No — Points: 0

6. Will the application include practices to reduce objectionable odors or greenhouse gases?

  • a. Yes — Points: 10
  • b. No — Points: 0

7. Will the application include practices to reduce transport of agricultural biosolids, chemicals or pathogens to surface or groundwater in sites are subject to flooding, have high water table or where runoff is concentrated?

  • a. Yes — Points: 25
  • b. No — Points: 0

8. Does the EQIP schedule of operations include practices that will result in creation of buffer zones that will mitigate offsite contaminants from entering the farm?

  • a. Yes — Points: 15
  • b. No — Points: 0

9. Does the EQIP schedule of operations include practices with the intent of increasing habitat for pollinators, beneficial insects, or both.

  • a. Yes — Points: 20
  • b. No — Points: 0