James E. Tillman, Sr., state conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia, has announced that the NRCS will provide $150,000 in financial incentives for a pilot project in nine south Georgia counties to control glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth, more commonly known as pigweed. 



The pilot project is being funded via the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and is targeted to cotton farmers. Pigweed is particularly troublesome in cotton crops.

Applications must be received by July 28, 2010 to be considered for funding. 



Eligible counties include: Macon, Dooly, Pulaski, Taylor, Crawford, Houston, Peach, Bibb, and Wilcox. Macon County will receive priority ranking because of the density of pigweed in the county. The other 8 counties will be considered as long as funding is available.

This is a partnership project among the NRCS, the Georgia Cotton Commission and the UGA Cooperative Extension Service. "The Georgia Cotton Commission commends NRCS on providing funding for the Glyposate Pigweed Project. We look forward to working with that agency and the UGA Cooperative Extension Service to evaluate management and control strategies currently in place and work to develop more effective means of controlling the most serious cotton pest since the boll weevil," said Richey Seaton, Georgia Cotton Commission.

Participants must work with NRCS to design a conservation plan and agree to implement several practices that will assist with the control of the glyphosate-resistant pigweed.

General Criteria: 



1. Participants must meet the regular EQIP eligibility requirements. 



2. Individuals, groups of landowners or non-government organizations are eligible but must have evidence of control or ownership of land. 3. Payment rate will be up to $75 per acre for two years. 



4. The contracts are for three years with a minimum of 100 acres of cropland owned and a maximum of $13,000 per contract. 



Interested producers should contact their local USDA Service Center for additional information.

More information is available at http://www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov.