USDA Accepting Applications for Irrigation
Assistance
Bangor,
Maine, December 6, 2012 – The USDA Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maine
has announced that they have received Fiscal Year 2013 Agricultural Management
Assistance (AMA) program funds for irrigation assistance to private landowners
in Maine.
Approximately $294,000 will be made available to both large- and small-scale
irrigators. The deadline for
applications is January 18, 2013.
AMA, administered by NRCS, is
available in 16 states where participation in the Federal Crop Insurance
Program is historically low. AMA assists
agricultural producers to manage risk and voluntarily address issues such as
water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating
conservation practices into their farming operations.
“This program gives landowners
an additional opportunity to construct or improve their water management
structures and to mitigate risk through production diversification or resource
conservation practices,” said Juan Hernandez, State Conservationist for NRCS in
Maine. “This will benefit not only the landowner,
but their neighbors and community as well.”
Under AMA, contracts will have a
one to ten-year contract period, and the practices must be maintained for the
life of the practice. There is a $50,000
per year payment limitation per participant.
Sign-up for AMA is available on
a continuous basis. Landowners can sign
up for this program at their local USDA Service Center/Natural Resources Conservation
Service office, listed online at http://offices.usda.gov or in the telephone
book under United States Government, Agriculture Department. Applications received by January 18, 2013
will be considered for funding in Fiscal Year 2013.
For more information about AMA and other
NRCS conservation programs, visit your local USDA Service
Center or go to www.me.nrcs.usda.gov.
