Help Needed in Washington DC Proposal for ICCA Board Consideration

Activity Involving U.S. Agriculture Climate Change: Cap and Trade USDA-NRCS: TSP Program Revision of Clean Water Act 2013 Farm Bill Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative Hypoxia in the Gulf Climate Change: Cap and Trade USDA-NRCS: TSP Program Revision of Clean Water Act 2013 Farm Bill Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative Hypoxia in the Gulf

Involvement of CCA Program Cap and Trade – Verifiers: Hired by aggregators for compliance – Planners: Determine farmer credits available USDA-NRCS – Need for TSPs – EQIP: Environmental Quality Incentive Program – CSP: Conservation Stewardship Program Cap and Trade – Verifiers: Hired by aggregators for compliance – Planners: Determine farmer credits available USDA-NRCS – Need for TSPs – EQIP: Environmental Quality Incentive Program – CSP: Conservation Stewardship Program

Involvement of CCA Program Revision of Clean Water Act – Involvement of non-point sources of pollution – NPDES permits – TMDLs 2013 Farm Bill – Nutrient Management? – May be the “Green Bill” that has been anticipated Revision of Clean Water Act – Involvement of non-point sources of pollution – NPDES permits – TMDLs 2013 Farm Bill – Nutrient Management? – May be the “Green Bill” that has been anticipated

Involvement of CCA Program Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watershed Initiative – 320 Mil over 4 years – Focused at the farm gate for participation – Preferred farmer involvement Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watershed Initiative – 320 Mil over 4 years – Focused at the farm gate for participation – Preferred farmer involvement

As Written in MRBI Providing information, education, and conducting outreach activities. Forming agreements to provide staffing for technical assistance and education. Assisting with monitoring, evaluation, and assessment. Providing information, education, and conducting outreach activities. Forming agreements to provide staffing for technical assistance and education. Assisting with monitoring, evaluation, and assessment.

As Written in MRBI Joining the State Technical Committee to help provide input for focus area and watershed selection. Submitting proposals for CCPI, CIG and WREP or partnering with a group submitting a proposal. Targeting your agency’s or organization’s programs toward the Initiative’s watersheds. Joining the State Technical Committee to help provide input for focus area and watershed selection. Submitting proposals for CCPI, CIG and WREP or partnering with a group submitting a proposal. Targeting your agency’s or organization’s programs toward the Initiative’s watersheds.

Where Does the CCA Currently Stand? CCA known within Ag groups CCA well respected Numbers speak Current efforts have been “Table Stakes” Need more time devoted to: – Issue tracking – Briefings and language contribution – Search for grant, gift, or other funding CCA known within Ag groups CCA well respected Numbers speak Current efforts have been “Table Stakes” Need more time devoted to: – Issue tracking – Briefings and language contribution – Search for grant, gift, or other funding

Option #1-Professional Consultant Hire on an hourly basis Hire only when needed Connections to Hill already established Costly “learning curve” Sporadic Hill activity makes budgeting difficult Hire on an hourly basis Hire only when needed Connections to Hill already established Costly “learning curve” Sporadic Hill activity makes budgeting difficult

Option #2 – Full-time Staff Attention to programs continuous Develop as a source of agronomic information Make sure Certification program is included in legislation/regulation/voluntary program language Good chance to find current connected staffer Cost of full-time employee (benefits) Attention to programs continuous Develop as a source of agronomic information Make sure Certification program is included in legislation/regulation/voluntary program language Good chance to find current connected staffer Cost of full-time employee (benefits)

How would we pay for DC help? Refer to discussion about finance report Move to a line-item in budget in 2011 by increasing International certification fee Check with ASA to see if there can be a joint- effort to support the position. Refer to discussion about finance report Move to a line-item in budget in 2011 by increasing International certification fee Check with ASA to see if there can be a joint- effort to support the position.

Who would manage the position Under the guidance of Science Policy Director (Karl) Major input from director of certification Re-evaluate position in 2013 for effectiveness (3-year minimum trial period) Under the guidance of Science Policy Director (Karl) Major input from director of certification Re-evaluate position in 2013 for effectiveness (3-year minimum trial period)

Crystal Ball View of Next Five Years Continued push for environmental accountability Mandated, voluntary programs that are considered “incentive based” Governmental agencies capturing field ag data and making management decisions for the ag industry Close to the 7 Plagues? Continued push for environmental accountability Mandated, voluntary programs that are considered “incentive based” Governmental agencies capturing field ag data and making management decisions for the ag industry Close to the 7 Plagues?

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Ralph Waldo Emerson "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Ralph Waldo Emerson