The Wadena Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), along with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), will conduct a public meeting from 1-2 p.m. on Nov. 5 at the Wadena VFW club to gather input for a local work group that will facilitate locally led conservation issues and to provide advice to NRCS concerning the implementation of conservation programs including the Environment Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
Wadena County will receive funds for the EQIP to be distributed as cost-share to its landowners. The Local Work Group committee will advise NRCS on:
- Conditions of the natural resource needs of Wadena County landowners
- The local application evaluation process, including application ranking criteria and application periods
- Cost-share rates and payment levels and methods of payment
- Eligible conservation practices
- The need for new, innovative conservation practices
- Public outreach and information efforts
- Program performance indicators
