Conservation Opportunities In Illinois April 2007 Helping People Help the Land

Programs Available State-Wide CSP Conservation Security Program CRP Conservation Reserve Program EQIP Environmental Quality Incentives Program FRPP Farm and Ranchland Protection Program GRP Grassland Reserve Program WHIP Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program WRP Wetlands Reserve Program

Farm Bill programs in Illinois State Technical Committee Structure State Technical Committee State & Federal Agencies Commodity Groups ProducersPrivate Groups & Others

Subcommittees of the State Technical Committee State Technical Committee Provide input for Technical Issues Help other agencies Work through program issues (CREP and others) Assist with Program Ranking Criteria Farm Bill programs in Illinois

Conservation Reserve Program USDA program to help landowners implement conservation practices. Takes cropland out of production and converts it to a conservation use. CRP

CRP in Illinois Continuous Sign-Up Filter strips Riparian buffers Shallow water areas waterways Concentrated Sign-Up Practices for highly erodible areas and others = + Cash rent based on soil type % Practice implementation cost (50%) (plus incentives) % Practice implementation cost (50%) (plus incentives)

Environmental Quality Incentives Program Conservation program that: promotes agricultural production improves environmental quality provides cost-share for structural and management practices. EQIP

EQIP in Illinois State Technical Committee guides EQIP in Illinois and advises on: –Ranking Criteria –Eligible Practices –Funding

EQIP in Illinois Program Highlights –Nationally, 60% of funding directed towards practices related to livestock production –Total payment limits of $450,000 per individual over the life of the Farm Bill, with additional limits on certain practices –Contract lengths vary ( depending on contract obligation/appendix date)

EQIP in Illinois Program Highlights (continued) –Requires a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) for producers with waste handling or storage facilities –Higher cost-share rates for limited resource farmers

EQIP in Illinois Continuous Sign-Up Process –Complete CCC-1200 Download an application from the Web and bring to the Field Office Or, complete an application in the office –Self Certification for Limited Resource Producers & Beginning Farmers No special rate for in IL for Beginning Farmers currently

EQIP in Illinois Continuous Sign-Up Process (continued) –Complete application and ranking criteria for: Confined Livestock Operations Grazing Land Operations Applications Not Related to Livestock Special Projects –Forest Management Plan –Streambank Stabilization –Ground and Surface Water Conservation projects

EQIP in Illinois Continuous Sign-Up Process (continued) –Application entered into Protracts –Summary of applications reviewed at the State Office electronically (via Protracts) –Funding decisions are made statewide based on ranking score

EQIP in Illinois EQIP Web Site –On the Illinois homepage at –Click on “programs”

EQIP in Illinois EQIP Web Site –Select “EQIP”

Farm and Ranchland Protection Program Program that provides matching funds to organizations with farmland protection programs to purchase conservation easements & protect land from uses other than agriculture. FRPP

FRPP in Illinois Program Highlights –Landowners retain all rights to use property for agriculture –All conservation easements are held by the eligible organization –Non-government organizations (NGOs) are eligible to participate in the program as easement holders

Grassland Reserve Program Program that provides technical and financial assistance to eligible landowners to restore and protect grasslands, including pastureland, while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. GRP

GRP in Illinois Program Highlights –Emphasizes support for grazing operations, plant and animal biodiversity, grasslands under the threat of conversion and remnant prairies –Enrollment options include: multi-year easements rental agreements restoration agreements

Wetland Reserve Program Program that provides funding and technical assistance for the purchase of easements to restore and retire wetlands from agricultural production for the benefit of wildlife and water quality. WRP

WRP in Illinois Program Highlights Cost share of 75% - 100% Easement options: –10 year cost-share –30 year easement –Permanent easement

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program Program providing technical and financial assistance to improve and protect wildlife habitat on private lands. WHIP

WHIP in Illinois Program Highlights 5-10 year agreements with 75% cost-share 15 year agreements with 100% cost-share

Conservation Security Program Program which supports ongoing conservation stewardship of agricultural lands by providing payments to producers who meet the highest standards of conservation and environmental management. CSP

“CSP will reward the best and motivate the rest.” USDA Secretary Ann M. Veneman

CSP Program Highlights Available in priority watersheds –Watersheds are selected nationally based on potential for improvements to: Water quality, including surface and groundwater Soil quality Grazing land conditions

Illinois CSP Watersheds

CSP Treatment Requirements Applicants must meet minimum treatment requirements for soil quality and water quality –Achieve soil and water criteria will vary with the characteristics of each farm (slope, climate, etc.) –May include management of nutrients and pesticides, erosion control, buffers

CSP “Three Tiers” of Participation* Tier I Address water quality and soil quality on part of the operation Tier III Address all resource concerns on entire operation Tier II Address water quality and soil quality on the entire operation; plus address one other resource concern as identified for the watershed

CSP 3-Tiered Payments Practice Payments Enhancement Payments Base Payments Tier 3 Tier 1 5 year contracts Up to $20,000/yr Tier years Up to $35,000/yr 5-10 years Up to $45,000/yr (New)

Four Payment Components Within each Tier An annual stewardship component for the benchmark (current level of) conservation treatment. An annual existing practice component for maintaining existing conservation practices. One-time new practice component for additional practices. An enhancement component for exceptional conservation effort.

CSP Enhancement (Activities above minimum) Use VRT Spring or sidedress application of N Provide wildlife habitat beyond the minimum Use low-hazard herbicides Use soy biodiesel or ethanol These are just a few of the activities

CSP Application Process Secretary of Agriculture announces sign-up period Applicant determines whether the farm or ranch is in a selected watershed Producer completes benchmark inventory of existing conservation condition and conservation activities planned for the future

CSP Application Process (cont.) NRCS conducts a follow-up interview to determine if the applicant meets eligibility requirements NRCS places applications in tier and enrollment categories Successful applicants are selected at the National Level NRCS completes a conservation security plan with the new CSP contract holders

Technical Service Providers TSPs are private individuals or entities that are trained and approved to provide technical assistance for conservation program delivery. TSPs

TSPs are eligible to provide technical assistance for a variety of items: Nutrient management planning Pest management planning Comprehensive nutrient Management planning CRP status reviews Conservation practice design, Installation, checkout Irrigation water management Forestry management practices Wildlife management practices

TSP – Tech Reg Producers can find qualified TSPs on the Tech Reg site

Federal Register -- Rules Every program has rules created by congress Rules that govern our programs are recorded in the CFR (code of federal regulations)

Federal Register -- Rules

Federal Register -- Rules Commodity Credit Corporation 7 CFR Part 1466, RIN 0578-AA19 Environmental Quality Incentives Program AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, United States Department of Agriculture. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is issuing a final rule for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). CCC published a proposed rule for EQIP in the Federal Register on October 11, 1996 (61 FR 53574) and solicited comments from the public. This final rule establishes the process by which CCC will administer EQIP, responds to comments received from the public during the 45-day comment period, and incorporates clarifications to improve implementation of the program. EFFECTIVE DATE: May 22, 1997.

Program Manuals Every program has a program manual to follow. The manual is the agency’s interpretation of the Federal Register rules. The manual is what the agency uses to carry out the programs.

Program Manuals

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. NRCS Vision: Productive Lands--Healthy Environment NRCS Mission: Helping People Help the Land