Diaz Farm Stephenson County, Illinois Resource Stewardship Evaluation Tool Planning History of Farm Conservation Practices

Introduction/Background Dan Diaz, Soil Health Champion, Today’s Goal A 10 Minute Journey through 17 years of conservation and the Value of the Resource Stewardship Evaluation Tool in Conservation Planning I had no production ag background, purchased the farm at 37 years of age. Purchased farm with intent of minimal outside revenue to purchase. My background is an Engineering education and background in operations, project management Deep love of the outdoors, a desire to own land and manage it sustainably

Farm History 2000 Farm was purchased with the intent of an investment in agriculture. The farm was planned to be self sustaining 100% of the farm is classified HEL, Highly Erodible Land Farm had been in a combination of poorly managed permanent pasture and recently expired CRP acres, with a host of conservation issues.

Diaz Farms Conservation Engagement with Stephenson SWCD, NRCS, NACD Stephenson County Illinois Agriculture Producer, 100% No Till Engagement with Stephenson County NRCS since 2001 NRCS/Stephenson SWCD Cover Crop Plot Tour 2013, 2015-2017 Illinois Dept of Agriculture/USDA/Stephenson County NRCS – SWCD Cover Crop Plot Demonstration Plots 2015 -2017 Cooperator – Datu Research, Economics of Soil Health Research Project National Association of Conservation Districts - Soil Health Champion RSET Analysis conducted September 2017

Diaz Farm Conservation History Starting Point - 100% Expired CRP Acres / Permanent Pasture, August 2000 100% of Tillable Acres classified Highly Erodible Land 2005 - CP5A Field Border Strips 3600 Trees/Shrubs 2003 -Waterway Improvement Personal 2012 CSP Cropland Management Cover Crops, Low Drift Spraying Nutrient Management /Tissue Testing 2003 –CP15A Grass Contour Strips 2008 – CP22 Riparian Buffer 2017 CP42 Pollinator Habitat Application Accepted / Implementation Spring 2018 2003 - CP8A Grass Waterway Established 2003 - CP21 Filter Strips RSET Analysis - 2017 2012 CSP Forestry Management Managed Thinning, Dead Snag Management

RSET East Field Benchmark

RSET East Field Alternative

Resource Stewardship Evaluation Tool Take Aways RSET is a great tool for conservation planning ! CRP, CSP and EQUIP Programs required operators to understand their operations and make improvements without necessarily understanding their issues or options/impact to improvement Major Categories of analysis cover the spectrum of resource improvement opportunities. Checklists provide guidance on improving current standings vs having to guess at options or goals to improve. The Tool is all encompassing. Rather than addressing just crop production or conservation, all issues are integrated into the analysis. The spectrum of analysis keeps producers thinking about all aspects of conservation. There should be and is an emphasis that all operations should be managing not just for the primary production ag issues, but for water quality and wildlife. All conservation matters !

Summary Started with no knowledge or experience of production ag or conservation, other than years in the field hunting and fishing. Utilized NRCS, SWCD, NACD and FSA resources over the years of management. Farm has evolved into a highly managed, productive and conservation practice intensive property. And it is financially self sustaining. Keep wildlife in your priority. “Think Habitat”, above and below the ground. Enjoy what your are doing and your journey in conservation. Contact Info Diaz Farms, Facebook