WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Services has approved sending more than $12.9 in federal money to various agricultural producers in Minnesota’s Seventh District through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

“This is a great example of how voluntary, incentive-based conservation can positively impact the conservation needs of our farmers, while protecting our environment. With this funding comes greater producer flexibility and allows the EQIP program to reach more of our producers,” Congressman Collin Peterson said.

EQIP funds may be used to install conservation practices that, when implemented, will correct agricultural natural resource concerns. Traditional conservation practices in Western Minnesota such as terraces, diversions, agricultural waste storage systems, field and farmstead tree plantings, livestock fencing, livestock water development and many others are eligible.

In addition, incentive payments are available to encourage producers to implement nutrient management, prescribed grazing, pest management, livestock and poultry waste utilization and other agricultural conservation management techniques.

A total of 613 contracts were approved with an average EQIP cost of $21,000 per contract. Among the 33 western Minnesota counties with contracts are Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville and Sibley.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)