Productive Lands – Healthy Environment Working Farmlands Natural Resources Conservation Service in the Ocean State - Working Farmlands, Forestlands, & Waters Working Forestlands Vision: Productive Lands – Healthy Environment USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Working Waters

NRCS is the lead federal agency in the USDA that helps private landowners voluntarily conserve soil, water, and other natural resources Healthy Plants Productive Soil Clean Water Mission: Helping People Help the Land

What do we do? We provide technical assistance to help landowners develop and implement conservation plans for their property. We provide financial assistance to both protect and restore natural resources. We develop and maintain technical standards for conservation practices (BMP’s). We develop and maintain the nation’s database on soils.

How do we Work? We work: We emphasize Primarily on Private Lands Closely with Conservation Districts, Local, Citizen-based, & other conservation organization partners We emphasize Science-based conservation Technical assistance Partnerships Incentive-based programs Cooperative problem solving at the community level

Conservation Cost Assistance Programs Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA)

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) A Conservation Cost-Share Program A voluntary conservation program that provides technical and financial assistance to improve resource concerns related to soil, water, air, plants, animals and other related natural resources on their land. Persons engaged in livestock or agricultural production and owners of non-industrial private forestland are eligible for EQIP. Eligible land use includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, private non-industrial forestland, and other farm or ranch lands.

Agricultural Water Use – Irrigation Water Management EQIP Projects Agricultural Water Use – Irrigation Water Management Replacing inefficient irrigation systems with more efficient, water conserving systems. Installing pump houses to address potential fuel spills near streams Replacing existing stream withdrawals with Irrigation wells to protect sensitive fish and wildlife habitat and maintain adequate stream flows. Developing irrigation water management plans to help farmers make best decisions about when to irrigated and how much to put on when they do. BACK TO JUDY 7

EQIP Projects Pasture Management 8

EQIP Projects Manure Management

EQIP Projects Forest Management

Aquaculture – Oyster Reef Restoration EQIP Projects Aquaculture – Oyster Reef Restoration

EQIP Projects High Tunnels

Conservation Activity Plans (CAPs) CAPs are management plans funded through EQIP that are developed by Technical Service Providers (TSPs). These individuals and/or entities are certified to develop activity (management) plans for the various resource concern(s) that has/have been identified. CAPs offered through EQIP include: Forest Management Plan - Fish and Wildlife Management Grazing Management Plan - Agricultural Energy Management Irrigation Water Management - Transition to Organic Comprehensive Nutrient Management - Pollinator Habitat Plan Integrated Pest Management - Air Quality Management CAPs are funded in a separate contract with the client. CAP applications are batched and evaluated for funding throughout the year on a continuous basis.

EQIP Eligibility Requirements To participate in EQIP you need to: Have control of the land for the term of the proposed contract. Renting and leasing land is fine, as long as you can document that you have control of the land for the duration of your contract. Have an average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $900,000 dollars or less. Have a financial and/or legal interest in the farming operation associated with the land being enrolled. Be in compliance with Highly Erodible Land & Wetland Conservation Provisions. *NOTE: NRCS and your Conservation District will help landowner establish contract eligibility requirements

Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA) A Cost-Share Conservation Program Objective of AMA is to address those items most likely to cause risk to a farmer’s long term viability, such as drought-related crop losses. Financial assistance in Rhode Island is primarily available to help farmers defray the costs of: installing new conservation irrigation systems converting to conservation irrigation from sprinkler irrigation extending the growing season through High Tunnel installation AMA has a limited practice list that is established each year

AMA Projects Conservation Irrigation System

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) CSP is a voluntary conservation program that encourages producers to maintain high levels of conservation stewardship and address new resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by: Undertaking additional conservation activities; and Improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities. CSP is available on Tribal and private agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest land CSP participants receive an annual land use payment for operation-level environmental benefits they produce and an annual payment for newly adopted conservation activities. Under CSP, participants are paid for conservation performance: the higher the operational performance, the higher their payment.

How do I get assistance? Contact NRCS or the Conservation District to request technical assistance for the development of a conservation plan. An NRCS Planner or Conservation District employee will contact you to schedule a site visit and conduct a resource inventory. Your planner will work with you to develop a Conservation Plan that includes your goals and objectives.

Conservation Program Application Process Note: Once your Conservation Plan has been completed you may be eligible for financial assistance to implement one or several conservation practices. Work with your planner to determine conservation practices that may be eligible for financial assistance. Submit a Conservation Program Application (CPA-1200). Work with NRCS to complete eligibility requirements. Application will be ranked against all other applications. Applications will be preapproved based on ranking criteria, in order from highest to lowest score. Applications will be funded based on ranking score and the availability of funding. Sign contract documents and then you can begin implementing the contract. (No work commenced prior to contract approval is eligible for program payments).

Programs Available under Agricultural Conservation Easement Programs (ACEP) in Rhode Island Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE): Financial assistance for eligible partners 50 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement. Where NRCS determines that grasslands of special environmental significance will be protected, NRCS may contribute up to 75 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement Wetland Reserve Easements(ACEP-WRE): NRCS also provides technical and financial assistance directly to private landowners and Indian tribes to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands through the purchase of a wetland reserve easement. Permanent easements may be available for up to 90% of the fair market value. Agricultural Land Easements (ALE): Eligible partners include American Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland, rangelan d or grassland protection programs. NRCS may contribute up to 50 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement. Where NRCS determines that grasslands of special environmental significance will be protected, NRCS may contribute up to 75 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement

ACEP Training - ALE Land Eligibility - Technical 10/10/2017 ALE: Land Eligibility Criteria Private Land that: Has prime, unique or other productive soils (Soils) Contains historical or archaeological resources Enrollment would protect grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring and conserving land (Grassland) Further a State or local policy consistent with the purposes of ACEP-ALE 4 Land Eligibility categories Prime Soils, Historical resources, Grassland, and State/local policy Special Significance: at least 15 contiguous acres in size on Block Island, Aquidneck Island, Conanicut Island, Tiverton or Little Compton be considered eligible as “Grasslands of Special Environmental Significance.” include areas on the RI mainland that are within one kilometer of the coast or a coastal feature, such as a salt pond. Sites further from the coast will be eligible only if they contain grasslands at least 40 contiguous acres in size, and either Bobolink or Eastern meadowlark have been documented onsite.   OTHER CONSIDERATIONS – SALT MARSHES: According to the 2015 RI State Wildlife Action Plan, salt marsh habitats are considered to be highly imperiled. Therefore, I recommend that any site which includes a salt marsh, or provides substantial protection for a salt marsh (e.g., vegetative buffers, nutrient runoff reduction) be eligible as a “Grassland of Special Environmental Significance.” Example of State or local (Town Plan that identify parcels for the purpose of agricultural land concertation) if you have parcels in this category we will review in a case by case basis lets discuss in advance to make sure we receive appropriate documentation. PICK at least One, any category used in the application must be used in the packet.

ACEP Training - ALE Land Eligibility - Technical 10/10/2017 Web Soil Survey Web Soil Survey - http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm 7 CFR 1468 Definitions of Prime: Prime farmland means land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, fiber, forage, oilseed, and other agricultural crops with minimum inputs of fuel, fertilizer, pesticides, and labor without intolerable soil erosion, as determined by NRCS. Definition of Unique: Unique farmland means land other than prime farmland that is used for the production of specific high-value food and fiber crops as determined by NRCS. It has the special combination of soil quality, location, growing season, and moisture supply needed to economically produce sustained high quality or high yields of specific crops when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods. Examples of such crops include citrus, tree nuts, olives, cranberries, fruits, and vegetables. Additional information on the definition of prime, unique, or other productive soil can be found in 7 CFR part 657 and 7 CFR part 658. Definition of State and Local Importance: Farm and ranch land of local importance means farm or ranch land used to produce food, feed, fiber, forage, bio-fuels, and oilseed crops that are locally important but not identified as having national or statewide importance. Criteria for defining and delineating this land are to be determined by the appropriate local agency or agencies. Farmlands of local importance may include tracts of land that have been designated for agriculture by local ordinance. Farm and ranch land of statewide importance means, in addition to prime and unique farmland, land that is of statewide importance for the production of food, feed, fiber, forage, bio-fuels, and oil seed crops. Criteria for defining and delineating this land are to be determined by the appropriate State agency or agencies. Generally, additional farmlands of statewide importance include those that are nearly prime farmland and that economically produce high yields of crops when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods. Some may produce as high a yield as prime farmlands if conditions are favorable. In some States, additional farmlands of statewide importance may include tracts of land that have

Soils Eligibility NRCS-CPA-41A : All landowners identified for the parcel listed on the CPA-41A, identified on the CPA-41A: The written pending offer covers the entire offered are. Proof of ownership - Include at least one of the following: Most recent recorded ownership deed(s) that encompasses entire offered area, Fully Executed Purchase Agreement, Title commitment/search that encompasses entire, offered area. Access: Access to the offered parcel follows program policy and guidance. (physical and legal access)

ACEP-Wetland Reserve Easement Program Objectives Habitat for migratory birds and other wetland-dependent wildlife, including endangered or threatened species and species of concern. Protection and improvement of water quality. Attenuation of floodwater. Recharge of ground water. Protection and enhancement of open space and aesthetic quality. Carbon sequestration. Protection of native flora and fauna contributing to the Nation's natural heritage. Contribution to educational and scientific scholarship. Initial Allocation $134,550 WRE Initial Allocation ALE 360,750

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/ri/programs/farmbill/rcpp/

60 Quaker Lane, Suite 40 Warwick, RI 02886 401-828-1300 x 1 Contact information: USDA NRCS 60 Quaker Lane, Suite 40 Warwick, RI 02886 401-828-1300 x 1 USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.