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Meeting Details----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Location: Parkade Plaza, USDA Training Room, Suite # 232 601 Business Loop, 70 West, Columbia, MO 65203-2546 Time: 9:30am to 3:00pm Date: Thursday, March 7, 2019 Agenda -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9:30 am Registration 10:00 am Welcome J.R. Flores, NRCS, State Conservationist Brent Hampy, FSA, State Executive Director 10:15 am Farm Bill - Conservation Programs Update NRCS, FSA 10:25 am Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) George Henshaw, NRCS EQIP FY18 Overview EQIP FY19 and 2020 Update and Discussion 11:15 am Farm Service Agency Update Allen Powell, FSA 11:45 am – 12:45 pm Lunch on your own 12:45 pm Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) George Henshaw, NRCS CSP FY 18 Overview CSP FY 19 and 2020 Update, Discussion 1:30 pm Regional Conservation Partnerships Program Karen Brinkman, NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants Outreach and Technical Assistance Grants 1:45 pm Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Chris Hamilton, NRCS Update and Ranking Discussion 2:05 pm Watershed Initiatives and Readiness Study Updates Steve Hefner, NRCS 2:25 pm Seed Source Geography Nate Goodrich, NRCS 2:35 pm Open Discussion 3:00 pm Adjourn USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Insert Title Here Insert Subtitle Here State Technical Committee, Natural Resources Subcommittee Meeting
Transcript
Page 1: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

Meeting Details-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Location: Parkade Plaza, USDA Training Room, Suite # 232

601 Business Loop, 70 West, Columbia, MO 65203-2546 Time: 9:30am to 3:00pmDate: Thursday, March 7, 2019Agenda --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9:30 am Registration

10:00 am Welcome J.R. Flores, NRCS, State Conservationist Brent Hampy, FSA, State Executive Director

10:15 am Farm Bill - Conservation Programs Update NRCS, FSA

10:25 am Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) George Henshaw, NRCSEQIP FY18 Overview EQIP FY19 and 2020 Update and Discussion

11:15 am Farm Service Agency Update Allen Powell, FSA

11:45 am – 12:45 pm Lunch on your own

12:45 pm Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) George Henshaw, NRCS CSP FY 18 OverviewCSP FY 19 and 2020 Update, Discussion

1:30 pm Regional Conservation Partnerships Program Karen Brinkman, NRCS Conservation Innovation GrantsOutreach and Technical Assistance Grants

1:45 pm Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Chris Hamilton, NRCSUpdate and Ranking Discussion

2:05 pm Watershed Initiatives and Readiness Study Updates Steve Hefner, NRCS

2:25 pm Seed Source Geography Nate Goodrich, NRCS

2:35 pm Open Discussion

3:00 pm Adjourn

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Insert Title HereInsert Subtitle HereState Technical Committee, Natural Resources Subcommittee Meeting

Page 2: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

MDC 

NRCS 

MDC 

Central Hardwoods JV

Quail & Upland Wildlife 

MFA Inc. 

Heartland Seed 

Soil & Water Commission

MLICA 

MO Coalition for the Environment 

MO Coalition for the Environment 

FSA 

SWCD

Missouri Farm Bureau

Lincoln University

National Bobwhite Cover Initiative

Missouri Farm Bureau

MDC 

DNR‐SWCP 

DNR‐SWCP 

Retired

Pure Air Natives 

JBS Live Pork 

Walnut Council 

FSA 

SWCD

MO Corn Growers & MO Soybean Assoc. 

Walnut Council 

Hamilton Native Outpost 

MDA

MCFA 

Missouri Rural Crisis Center 

KC Water 

DNR‐DO 

Organization 

AWWA/ St. Louis City Water 

Frank Oberle 

Alan Freeman 

Jim Ball

Brent Hampy 

Tom Lampe 

Darrick Steen 

Mike Squires 

Chris Boeckmann 

Spencer Tuma 

Jason Sykes

Scott Brundage 

Quail Forever 

MRWA 

Amy Hamilton 

Jerry Foster 

Brad Powell 

Melissa Vatterott 

Casey Bergthold 

Eric Fuchs 

Steve Westin 

Jim Plassmeyer

Jim Boschert 

Kurt Boeckmann 

Matt Arndt

Kenda Flores 

Jerry Stevens 

Allen Powell 

Maisah Khan 

Natural Resource Subcommittee/State Technical 

Committee Attendees (March 7,2019)Name Jon Wingo 

Jef Hodges 

Leslie Holloway 

Mike Galluzzo 

Tim Gibbons 

Larry Heggemann 

Nick Prough 

Adam Jones 

Jennifer Eggemeyer

Tammy White 

Jeff Lance 

Tom Lawlor 

Heartland Seed 

Page 3: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

nrcs.usda.gov

Conservation Overview• Strengthens and expands support to producers who address significant natural resource

concerns through adoption of conservation practices and activities.• Ensures that voluntary conservation programs balance farm productivity with conser-

vation benefits so the most fertile and productive lands remain in production while land retired for conservation purposes favors more environmentally sensitive acres.

• Supports conservation programs that ensure cost-effective financial assistance for im-proved soil health, water and air quality, and other natural resource benefits.

• Encourages entry into farming through increased access to land and capital for young, beginning, veteran, and underrepresented farmers.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program• Adds potential resource concerns related to beneficial cost-effective operation changes.• Raises cap for organic producers to $140,000 over six years.• New enrollment option through incentive contracts to address priority resource concerns.• Requires advance payment option be offered to historically underserved producers.• Authorizes direct program assistance to irrigation districts, including acequias and other

entities, for purposes of improving water use efficiencies.Conservation Stewardship Program

• Increases payment rates for adoption of cover crop rotations and advanced grazing man-agement activities.

• Authorizes contract extensions to facilitate renewal under new program authority.• Transforms funding mechanism for program contracts, authorizing specified annual fund-

ing levels.• Provides specific support for organic and transitioning to organic production activities.• Includes special grassland conservation initiative for certain producers who have main-

tained cropland base acres.Agricultural Management Assistance Program

• Maintains support for conservation practices that reduce crop risk.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

What’s New: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the 2018 Farm Bill

Page 4: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

Agricultural Conservation Easement Program• Authorizes assistance to partners who pursue ‘Buy-Protect-Sell’ transactions.• Requires a conservation plan for highly erodible land that will be protected by an agricul-

tural land easement.• Increases flexibility for partners to meet cost-share matching requirements.• Identifies water quality as a program purpose for enrollment of wetland reserve ease-

ments.• Expands wetland types eligible for restoration and management under wetland reserve

easements.Healthy Forests Reserve Program

• Expands enrollment options for Indian tribes.Regional Conservation Partnership Program

• Simplifies funding authorities for program implementation.• Authorizes Regional Conservation Partnership Program contracts rather than requiring

enrollment through other program authorities.• Expands flexibility for alternative funding arrangements with partners.• Expands availability of watershed program authorities to projects outside critical conser-

vation areas.Other Farm Bill Programs

Strengthens conservation assistance framework through support for—

• Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services Program• Conservation Innovation Grants• Technical Service Providers• Veteran Farmers• Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program• Conservation Compliance for Highly Erodible Lands and Wetlands• Small Watershed Rehabilitation Program• Emergency Watershed Protection Program

nrcs.usda.gov

Natural Resources Conservation Service

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

What’s New: NRCS and the 2018 Farm Bill

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Missouri NRCSEnvironmental Quality Incentive Program

(EQIP) Programmatic OverviewGeorge Henshaw

Assistant State Conservationist for Programs

• Program Purpose• Highlights• FY18 EQIP Fund Distribution • FY19 State Conservationist Decisions • FY19 EQIP Update• Input for FY20• Open Discussion

EQIP Purpose

• The purpose of EQIP is to incentivize farmers, ranchers and land stewards to address resource concerns by installing conservation practices on eligible land.

• NRCS provides financial and technical assistance to eligible producers.

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FY18 EQIP Top Practices Planned(all fund pools)

Practice Obligation Extent Planned

Cover Crop $16,209,016 250,977 ac

Fence $2,322,623 1,654,372 ft

Terrace $2,266,334 740,041 ft

Underground Outlet $1,528,329 387,431 ft

High Tunnel System $1,484,116 393,750 sq ft

Livestock Pipeline $1,415,211 675,998 ft

Forage and Biomass Planting $1,247,966 8,858 ac

Waste Transfer $1,097,013 7,035 ft

Building Envelope Improvement $1,075,353 83 ea

Forest Stand Improvement $540,320 4,293 ac

National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) PilotLamar Lake Watershed – Barton County

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$16.2 million in obligations for cover crops exceed all other individual practices in 2018

StrikeForce Initiative – 4.5 Million in Funding in 46 countiesEnergy,

High Tunnels, Organic

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Emergency Drought Initiative

$4.1 million to producers impacted by the drought to plant cover crops for grazing and haying. Emergency Drought Initiative

FY18 EQIP Year-End General Fund Distribution$34.7 million

25%

21%

15%

12%

10%

7%4% 3%

2% 1%

Soil Health Cropland (25%)

Pasture/Hayland (21%)

Cropland (15%)

Emergency Drought (12%)

Animal Feeding/Waste (10%)

Energy (7%)

High Tunnel (4%)

Forestland (3%)

Wildlife (2%)

Organic, Agroforesty, Soil HealthPasture (1%)

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FY18 EQIP Initiatives Year-End Fund Distribution$5.3 million

79%

16%5%

MRBI (79%)

NWQI (16%)

Monarch (5%)

Mississippi River Basin Initiative

FY18 RCPP EQIP Year-End Fund Distribution$5.8 million

23%

27%14%

9%

7%

7%7% 4%

2%

Cover Crops for Soil Health (23%)

Our Missouri Waters (27%)

NW MO Water Quality (14%)

Mid-South Water Stewardship (9%)

Glades Woodlands (7%)

Grassland Birds (7%)

Conservation Ranching (7%)

NW MO Urban Rural Farmers (4%)

Working Lands for Monarchs (2%)

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FY18 EQIP Summary(Includes RCPP-EQIP)

Contracts: 1,675

Obligations: $45.8 Million

Contract Acres: 232,780

Review of FY19 State Technical Committee

Recommendations

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Topic: Priority Resource Concerns

STC Decision/Implementation:

In FY 2019, the five priority resource concerns at the state level will continue to be:

• Soil Erosion

• Soil Quality

• Water Quality

• Degraded Plant Condition

• Inadequate Habitat – Fish and Wildlife

Topic: EQIP Recommendations for ranking questions

STC Decision/Implementation:

Comments received from committee members results in improvements to the ranking questions. Examples of improvements include:• Re-allocation of points to promote the relative importance of targeted resource

concerns

• Edits to confusing language

• Edits to or removal of questions that may lead to contract management problems

• Continue to include ranking questions that give additional points for planting of native grasses.

Page 12: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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Ephemeral Gully Control on Highly Erodible Land EQIP Pilot Project

New pilot project to be implemented in FY19 in Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oregon

FY19 General EQIP Fund Distribution

Estimated $20.4 million

Funding % of Subaccounts are not finalized as NRCS is awaiting final 2018 Farm Bill guidance

Page 13: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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FY19 EQIP Initiative Fund DistributionEstimated $17.4 million

$10,000,000.00$4,500,000.00

$2,500,000.00$300,000.00 $100,000.00

HEL Pilot

StrikeForce

MRBI

Monarch

NWQI

FY19 RCPP EQIP Fund DistributionEstimated $961,000

$473,000

$278,000

$210,000

Conservation Ranching

Glades Woodlands

Fox River

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FY-20 EQIP Discussion

• Proposed Subaccounts

• Resource Concerns

• Ranking Questions

• Practices Offered

FY20 EQIP Proposed Subaccounts

• General EQIP: Cropland, Soil Health Crop, Soil Health Pasture, Pasture/Hayland, Animal Waste, Wildlife, Forestry, Agroforestry, Organic, Energy, High Tunnel (Strikeforce)

• Program Initiatives: Monarch, HEL Pilot

• Landscape Initiatives: MRBI, NWQI

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FY20 EQIP Resource Concern Priorities

• Soil Erosion

• Soil Quality Degradation

• Water Quality Degradation

• Degraded Plant Condition

• Fish and Wildlife Inadequate Habitat

• Excess Water

• Air Quality Impacts

• Insufficient Water

• Inefficient Energy Use

• Limited Livestock Production

Page 16: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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Thank You

Open Discussion

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Missouri NRCSConservation Stewardship Program

(CSP) Programmatic Overview

• CSP Purpose• FY18 CSP Summary• Input for FY-20• Open Discussion

CSP Purpose

• Encourage producers to address resource concerns and improve their conservation by – improving, maintaining, managing existing conservation activities on

eligible land, and

– installing and adopting additional conservation activities

• “Reward” farmers, ranchers and land stewards for their past, current conservation

• “Inspire” them to go above and beyond.

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Together We Can Do More

Conservation Planning

How is CSP’s purpose accomplished?

• Entire agricultural or Nonindustrial Private Forestland operation evaluated.

• 5 year contract length (with option to renew).

• Combination of eligibility and ranking determine priority for funding.

• Payments for existing conservation and additional conservation activities.

Page 19: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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FY18 CSP Update

CSP Renewals: 59,586 acres• 102 contracts

CSP General: 194,811 acres• NIPF – 4,851 acres• Ag Land – 189,960 acres• 1381 Applications received• 539 Contracts

RCPP-CSP: 28,605 acres• DU’s Rice Stewardship• NFWF’s Working Lands for Wildlife• Total 183 applications received for RCPP• 84 Contracts

Overall CSP Summary

Contracts: 725

Annual Obligations: $4.5 Million

Contract Acres: 283,002

Includes CSP General, RCPP and Renewals

Page 20: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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Seeking Input for FY20

• 5 Primary Resource Concerns – Nonindustrial Private Forest Land (NIPF)

– Agricultural Land

• Additional Enhancement Activity Suggestions

CSP Resource Concerns• Soil Erosion

• Soil Quality Degradation

• Water Quality Degradation

• Fish and Wildlife – Inadequate Habitat

• Degraded Plant Condition

• Livestock Production Limitation

• Insufficient Water

• Excess Water

• Air Quality Impacts

• Inefficient Energy Use

Page 21: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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Thank You

Open Discussion

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Missouri NRCSRegional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)Technical Assistance Grants

March 2019

Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

11 - Number of RCPP projects funded

$6.3 Million - NRCS funds obligated

67 - Number of contributing partners

$19.4 Million - Amount of funds leveraged by partners

2018 Farm Bill contains improvements to make RCPP more efficient and effective. Impediments are removed, enabling NRCS and partners to better manage funding throughout the duration of the projects.

$2.4 Million in cover crops (36,000 ac. planned)

$685,000 in terraces (216,000 ft. planned

$507,000 for shallow water development (7,650 ac.)

$304,000 of conservation cover planned

$287,000 supporting forage and biomass plantings (986 Ac. Planned)

FY18 RCPP Accomplishments

Page 23: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

FY18 competitive Conservation Innovation Grant to determine economic impacts of selected riparian best management practices. Univ. of Missouri. Expires September 2021.

FY18 competitive Conservation Innovation Grant to determine optimum cover crop termination dates for soil health benefits. Univ. of Missouri. Expires September 2021.

FY18 competitive Conservation Innovation Grant to determine effectiveness of hack and squirt chemical control methods on selected tree species. Matts Healthy Woods. Expires December 2020.

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production.

Current CIG in Missouri

New CIG announcement coming soon

Conservation Technical Assistance Grants

Missouri NRCS has a total of 64 ongoing Grants and Agreements with partners as of 11/18

Ongoing Grant announcement. USDA-NRCS-MO-19-01 Feb 7 – April 15, 2019

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=312725

March 20, 2019 grant partners webinar to discuss proposals

Missouri NRCS annually requests proposals to leverage USDA funding and advance delivery of technical and financial assistance and conservation partnerships. Projects selected develop a grant or agreement, to implement the project or activities proposed.

Priority areas for funding are determined by the State Conservationist with input from the Leadership Team. Categories to apply have included:1) Delivery of Technical Assistance2) 2) Outreach to Historically Underserved producers3) Organic and Specialty Crop Production4) Water Quality and or/ Drainage Management Workshops 5) Easement Monitoring6) Soil Health Workshops

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Questions?In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; fax: (202) 690-7442; or email: [email protected].

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Page 25: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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Tracey Wiggins

Easement Specialist  

Water Resources and Easements Staff

March 7, 2019

ACEP is 1 program with 2 components

◦Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)

◦ Agricultural Land Easements (ALE)

Page 26: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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Page 27: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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Interim regulation & policy will be deployed by the beginning of FY 2020

Authorizes NRCS to implement ACEP in FY 2019 following policy & regulation in the 2014 Farm Bill

ACEP funding increased

Announce application cut-off dates

Awaiting notification of annual funding allocations

New Enrollments

Continue management and monitoring of existing easements

Page 28: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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No changes to the ranking criteria

2014 Farm Bill policy defines three categories of considerations: Environmental Benefit Considerations Economic Considerations Special Considerations

Ranking form is available on the Missouri NRCS website at:

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/mo/programs/easements/acep/stelprdb1253274/

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Ranking Criteria:◦ Environmental Benefit Considerations: Restoration T/E Species Proximity to other “protected” habitats Flood water retention, water quality improvements, ground water

recharge

◦ Economic Considerations: Per acre cost of easement Per acre cost of restoration

Ranking Criteria:◦ Special Considerations (state criteria): Conservation Opportunity Areas (COAs) Unique wetland features Species of state concern Water quality target areas Creation of contiguous wetland areas

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No changes to the ranking criteria

2014 Farm Bill policy defines ranking criteria and considerations: Threat of Conversion Environmental Benefit Address Resource Concerns

Ranking form is available on the Missouri NRCS website at:

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/mo/programs/easements/acep/stelprdb1253274/

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Ranking Criteria: Adverse changes in the total acres of farm and ranch land Adverse changes in the total acres of permanent grassland, pasture,

and rangeland Population growth Population density Proximity to other protected land Proximity to other ag operations and infrastructure Prime, unique, or state important soils Grasslands of Special Significance T/E Species Historical, archaeological, social or economic benefit Value to the community

Page 32: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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By Appraisal Only

Area Wide Market Analysis◦ Geographic Rate Caps (GARCs)◦ Reliable estimate of the easement compensation at the

beginning of the enrollment

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ACEP-WRE Compensation

Approved GARC is limited to easements less than or equal to 315 acresApplication Acres = 400 acresAppraised Value = $2,200,000 ($5,500 per ac)Calculated GARC Value = $2,090,000 ($5,225 per ac)Landowner Offer = none

Easement Compensation must be the lower of: 1) Fair Market Value, 2) GARC, 3) Landowner Offer1) $5,500 per acre2) $5,225 per acre3) No LO offer = FMV $5,500

Easement Compensation (offer) will be $5,000 per acre

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Bird MonitoringWetland Reserve Easements

Missouri

Noppadol Paothong

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OBJECTIVES

Survey selected wetland easements using transect-

line protocol over two rounds (migration and

breeding season)

Document all bird species seen & heard

Record vegetation type & water coverage on transects

Record height at Water Control Structures

SURVEY SITES

Site Selection in process

Sites are chosenby NRCS Wetland

Emphasis Teams

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ADDITIONAL GOALS: 2019-2020

Model water level data for management feedback

Model species & guild occupancy across properties

Sustain yearly surveys to track density changes and bird response to restorations/continued management

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Page 38: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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Watershed Initiatives and Readiness Updates

Steven HefnerNatural Resources SpecialistUSDA‐NRCS

Page 39: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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Watershed Selection

• CCBI – HLS Model (USDA) considers high risk acres for nps & past treatment

• Other models (e.g. SPARROW)

• Future and existing NRCS  work load (unfunded applications)

• 303D impairment and TMDLs

• Existing water quality monitoring (USGS and/or DNR)

• USDA Staff input  & Partner input

NRCS Area‐wide Planning Watershed Assessments

• Includes a watershed inventory

• Resource Analysis

• Used to fortify our conservation planning efforts

• Help prioritize contract applications for certain programs

• Helps identify vulnerable landscapes

OBJECTIVE:  Identify Vulnerable Acres

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Inventory & Analysis

• Channel Classification 

• Riparian Corridor 

• Stream Visual Assessment Protocol (SVAP2)

• Streambank Erosion

• STEPL Model ‐ Load Reduction Scenarios

• Agricultural Conservation Practice Framework (ACPF)

Aerial Photos

• Useful to observe historical changes of the stream position and the condition of riparian corridors. 

• Digitized streams for each year.

• Limitations

– Leaf‐on vs. leaf‐off

– Processing errors between years

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Riparian Corridor Classification

Assessment determined by stream order and  based on the NRCS 391‐Riparian forest Buffer standard.

Moderate PoorGood

Watershed Survey – Validate Electronic Observations with Field Observations

• Stream Visual Assessment Protocol 2 ‐ assess stream conditions.

• ACPF modeling accuracy.

Observed in the Field

YES NO Total

Observed in the Office

YES “Hits” False Alarm

Modeled “Yes”

NO “Misses” Correct Negatives

Modeled “No”

Total Observed YES

Observed NO

Total

Page 42: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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STEP‐L Load Estimates

Land Use (Type & %) N Load (%) P load (%) Sediment Load (%)

Urban (19%) 18 16 16

Crop (21%) 36 55 44

Pasture (40%) 43 23 25

Streambank ‐‐‐ ‐‐‐ 8

All Others 3 6 7

Lamar Lake Watershed, Barton County, Missouri ‐ 2018

Sediment and Phosphorus Loading in the Watersheds.  

• Watershed divided into sub‐watersheds.

• STEPL P and Sediment loading to prioritize areas.

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STEP‐L Load Reduction Scenarios

Conservation Scenario P Load Reduction by % of Land Treated

20 40 60 80 100

Cover Crop 0.8 1.6 2.5 3.3 4.1

Cover Crop + No‐Till + Nutrient Mgt 9.5 19.0 28.4 37.9 47.4

Land Retirement 9.1 18.3 27.4 36.6 45.7

Livestock Exclusion + Alternative Water 2.0 4.1 6.1 8.1 10.2

Livestock Exclusion + Alt Water + Prescribed Grazing + Forest Buffer

3.4 6.9 10.3 13.7 17.1

Lamar Lake Watershed, Barton County, Missouri ‐ 2018

Land Use‐Cover, Soils Considerations

• Highest Priority

Crops and Highly Erodible Soils

Poor Riparian Corridor

• High

Other Cropland

Pasture & Highly Erodible Soils

Moderate Riparian Corridor

• Moderate

Other Pastureland

• Low

Forrest

Good Riparian Corridor

Page 44: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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Agriculture Conservation Planning Framework

• Provides an inventory of opportunities for placement of conservation practices for the treatment of agricultural runoff.

• ARCGIS Toolbox Version 3– Porter, S.A., M.D. Tomer, D.E. James, J.D. Van Horn, and K.M.B. Boomer. 2018. 

Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework: ArcGIS Toolbox User’s Manual, Ver 3. USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, Ames Iowa. Available: http://northcentralwater.org/acpf/

– Tomer, M.D., S.A. Porter, D.E. James, K.M.B. Boomer, J.A. Kostel, and E. McLellan. 2013. Combining precision conservation technologies into a flexible framework to facilitate agricultural watershed planning. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 68:113A‐120A. http://www.jswconline.org/content/68/5/113A.full.pdf+html

ACPF Modeling Approach

• Input Layers 

– Digital Elevation Model

– NASS Crop Layer (for landuse –crop history)

– NRCS Soils gSSURGO Layer

– FSA Common Land Unit Boundaries (for field boundaries)

• Prepare the DEM

• Develop the Stream Network using flow accumulation

• Characterized the Land

• Conservation Practice Siting

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Hydro‐conditioning

• Prepare the DEM 

– Smooth to correct artifact noise

– Terrain Processing  (to generate flow accumulation paths)

– Cut in culvers/dams to hydro‐enforce

Develop a “Stream Network”• Practitioner classifies streams 

– Perennial, Streams of Interest, Intermittent, Urban

Page 46: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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Field CharacterizationBy‐Field Slope                                                               Runoff Risk Assessment

(75% Percentile)                                                  (slope * distance to stream)

Middle Apple Creek, Perry County, MO ‐ 2019

Grass Waterways

• Used to reduce risk of concentrated flow erosion. ACPF uses the stream power index to estimate.

Photo                                         Hillshade Grass Waterway Suggestion

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Contour Buffer Strips

• Perennial vegetation planted along topographic contours to intercept flow.

Photo                                             Hillshade Buffer Strip Suggestion

Water & Sediment Control Basins

• Small embankment built perpendicular to a flow‐path in an agricultural field.

Photo                                               Hillshade WASCOB Suggestion

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Incorporating the Assessment into Local Ranking Component

Evaluation Method Ranking Points Percent of Ranking

National Set of Questions 250 25%

State Set of Questions 400 40%

Local Set of Questions 250 25%  ***

Cost Efficiency Multiplier 100 10%

Local component will be comprised of three factors:• Which management zone?         100 points• Which priority area?                    100 points• What is the runoff rating?             50 points

USDA now requiring a watershed assessment for conservation initiatives 

Page 49: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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Questions?

USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

Page 50: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

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Seed Source GeographyConservation Practice Standard 645 Upland Wildlife Habitat Management

Seeding Specifications

NOTE: Seed for native species of grasses, forbs, or legumes used for wildlife plantings will be genetic seed source and grown in (production) for the seed source geography identified in Figure 1 and Figure 2. The seed tag must identify the county and state where the genetic seed source was collected and county and state where it was grown. Seed should be Certified Source Identified Class when possible.

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Page 52: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

MISSOURI STATE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE Natural Resource Subcommittee Parkade Plaza, Columbia, Missouri March 7, 2019 Please address comments/remarks by March 29th, 2019 to: USDA/Natural Resource Conservation Service USDA/Farm Agency J. R. Flores, State Conservationist Brent Hampy, State Executive Director 601 Business Loop 70 West 601 Business Loop 70 West Parkade Plaza Suite 250 Parkade Plaza Suite 225 Columbia MO, 65203 Columbia MO, 65203 Phone: (573) 876-0901 Phone: (573) 876-0925 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.mo.nrcs.usda.gov/ Website: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/mo MO State Technical Committee: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/mo/technical/stc/

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender

Page 53: Insert Subtitle Here Insert Title Here State Technical Committee, … · AWWA/ St. Louis City Water Frank Oberle Alan Freeman Jim Ball Brent Hampy Tom Lampe Darrick Steen Mike Squires

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

United States Department of Agriculture

NRCS Commonly Used Acronyms

CY: Calendar Year

FY: Fiscal Year

Subaccount: Funding pools developed for similar program applications by land use,

geographic, or applicant specific parameters.

RFP: Request for Proposals

Current Programs and Initiatives

ACEP: Agriculture Conservation Easement Program

ALE: Agricultural Land Easement

WRE: Wetlands Reserve Easement

CSP: Conservation Stewardship Program

CSP – Reinvention: describes updated program logic adopted with FY-2017

General sign-up.

CIG: Conservation Innovation Grant

EQIP: Environmental Quality Incentives Program

CIG: Conservation Innovation Grants

MRBI: Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative

NWQI: National Water Quality Initiative

OHRP: Joint Chief’s Ozark Highland Restoration Project Initiative

StrikeForce: Initiative on-going in 26 states, including Missouri, to ensure USDA

agency programs are made available to designated high poverty counties

Monarch: Monarch Butterfly Habitat Development Project

EOF: Edge of Field Monitoring

HEL: Highly Erodible Land

RCPP: Regional Conservation Partnership Program


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