1. State Conservationist Greg Kist Welcome and Opening Comments 1

2. State Technical Advisory Committee 2015 Sub-Committee 2

3. 2015 Sub-Committees 3 Sub-CommitteesNRCS POC ForestryMike Fournier EnergyDale Gates Soil HealthPaul Salon Water Quality Dennis DeWeese Easement ProgramsPeter Gibbs Tribal John Whitney

4. 2015 Sub-Committees Cont.. Example of State Technical Sub-Committees In some situations, specialized subcommittees composed of State Technical Committee members may be needed to analyze and refine specific issues. Provide input to develop State ranking criteria and make recommendations to the State Technical Committee. Provide recommendations to the State Technical Committee on forestry conservation practices and payment rates to be supported in conservation programs. Develop recommendations for the geographic area rate cap and present it to the State Technical Committee. Recommend priority watersheds for focusing funding for effective use of available resources. Identify emerging natural resource concerns and program needs. Recommend conservation practice standards and specifications. 4

5. 2015 Sub-Committees Cont.. NRCS POC will contact you for 1 st meeting Meeting dates will be posted on the NRCS website Handout with the NRCS POC name, number and email address. Questions? 5

6. Easement and FA Program Updates (FY2015) 6 Tammy Willis ASTC-Programs

7. 2015 Program Updates Easement Programs 2015 ACEP ALE & ACEP WRE enrollment Application cut-off date – Friday, May 15, 2015 Ag. Conservation Easement Program- Ag. Land Easement (ACEP – ALE) $1,517,934 Ag. Conservation Easement Program Wetland Reserve Easement (ACEP – WRE) $1,307,250 7

8. 2015 Program Updates Cont.. FA Programs EQIP – $5,590,262 AMA – 357,700 COO Irrigation (Cayuga, Onondaga, Oswego) DOPRUW (Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster and Westchester) WLFW - $61,500 CBWI – Joint Chief RB - $4,040,000 8

9. 2015 Program Updates Cont.. FA Programs GLRI – Requested Funds CStP - $5,473,651 NWQI West Area - $535,000 Brown Creek C hristie Creek Otter Creek 9

10. Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) FY2015 State The Greater Adirondack RC&D Council Inc. $1.5 million National Lake Champlain - Funding $16 Million Delaware River - Funding $13 Million Long Island Sound - Funding $ 10 Million 10

11. Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Cont. FY2016 RCPP On May 4th, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced an investment of up to $235 million to improve the nation's water quality, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. The funding is being made available through the innovative Regional Conservation Partnership Program, the newest conservation tool of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. 11

12. Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Cont. RCPP, created by the 2014 Farm Bill, empowers local leaders to work with multiple partners—such as private companies, local and tribal governments, universities, non-profit groups and other non- government partners—along with farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to design solutions that work best for their region. Local partners and the federal government both invest funding and manpower to projects to maximize their impact. 12

13. RCPP Notes:  Just like the first round: 25 percent of the funding will be awarded to state- level projects; 40 percent for multi-state and national projects; and 35 percent for projects in 8 Critical Conservation Areas: Chesapeake Bay Watershed and the Great Lakes Region  Delivers assistance through conservation programs: ACEP, EQIP, CSP and HFRP; and through Watershed and Flood Prevention authorities in the Critical Conservation Areas.  Receives funding: Directly at $100 million each year of the Farm Bill Also, by reserving 7 percent of funds and acres from the four covered programs annually 13

14. Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Cont. 14 RCPP Notes: Innovative Partnerships—Leveraging of Conservation Investment—Focus on Priority Areas Contribution Solution Innovations Participation

15. Focus on four Priority Areas Contributions Partners will bring significant contributions such as cash matches, new partners, technical expertise, local knowledge Leveraging the Federal resources to at least double the total investment in conservation projects. Solutions Real-time, measureable results to benefit individual farms and forests but also local economies and communities in watersheds and targeted geographic areas. Investing in projects that generate near-term results that are measurable from environmental, economic, and social perspectives. Innovations Promoting innovative projects that integrate multiple conservation approaches to deliver comprehensive and measurable solutions. NRCS goals will maximize projects that deliver more comprehensive solutions integrating multiple programs. Participation – Maximizing the number of partners and participants, including those with a proven track record and those new to NRCS- administered conservation programs, to participate in and contribute to projects. Partners will pull new organizations into the fold. 15

16. Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Cont. NRCS is now accepting proposals for RCPP. The announcement for program funding can be found on grants.gov. More information on the APF and the program can be found at nrcs.usda.gov. Eligible land includes: cropland, grassland, rangeland, pastureland, nonindustrial forest land, other land incidental to agricultural production (wetlands, buffers etc.) Eligible partners may include: agricultural producer associations, silvi- cultural producer associations, groups of producers, State or unit of local governments, Indian tribes, farmer cooperatives, water district, irrigation district, rural water districts, municipal water or wastewater treatment entities, conservation driven nongovernmental organizations, institutions of higher education 16

17. Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Cont. NRCS may give higher priority to proposals that: Deliver high percentages of applied conservation to address conservation priorities or local, State, regional, or national conservation initiatives Significantly leverage non-Federal financial and technical resources and coordinate with other local, State, regional, or national efforts Provide innovation in conservation methods and delivery Assist producers in meeting or avoiding the need for a natural resource regulatory requirement 17

18. Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Cont. Partnership agreements may not exceed 5 years; however, NRCS may extend the agreement 1 time for up to 12 months Partners are responsible for: Contributing a significant portion of the overall costs Providing outreach and education to eligible producers for potential participation in the project Acting on a landowner’s or producer’s behalf, if requested by the landowners or producer in applying for assistance Leveraging financial or technical assistance provided by NRCS with additional funds to help achieve the project objectives Conducting and providing an assessment of the project costs and conservation effects 18

19. Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Cont. USDA is now accepting proposals for the RCPP Program. Pre-proposals are due July 8. 2015. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/f armbill/rcpp/ 19

20. Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) 20

21. Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) State CIG Program 5% of the state annual EQIP Allocation Maximal per agreement $75,000 (NEW) Application must provide non-federal funding equal to the amount of the federal funds request from cash and /or in-kind contribution.\ State CIG program 2015 Funding $150,000 21

22. Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) State CIG: Pre-proposals deadline June 1, 2015 Selection will be announced June 19, 2015 Full proposals deadline is July 24, 2015 Got to Grants.gov to review the FY15 State CIG Announcement for program funding 22

23. SRC and Resources Update May 2015 Edward Henry State Resource Conservationist

24. NRCS plans on the landscape in terms of land use and resource concerns Soil, Water, Animals, Plants, Air, Energy, Humans Chief Weller is emphasizing NRCS’s conservation planning aspects. This includes having a plan in place before dedicating agency FA (CAPs, EQIP, etc.). In NY, this fundamentally means a site visit, identifying resource concerns and alternatives (CPA-52/AEM) and putting this information in Customer Service Toolkit. Partners such as TSPs, SWCDs, state agencies and non-governmental organizations are essential to planning success

25. Forestlands Implementing FY2015 contracts. Ongoing training and consultation. Rollout of new Implementation Requirements. Conservation Activity Plans and Forest Stewardship Plans reviews Implementing Riparian Forest Buffers and Joint Chiefs’ Initiative. Working with many partners in multi-state effort to protect Chesapeake Bay watershed. New Forestry subcommittee

26. Wildlife Wildlife contracts now through EQIP 5% of funds, minimum New listing under 4(d) rules for northern long-eared bat. This is having impacts on NRCS projects that involve tree cutting. Federal agencies held to higher standard than state, tribal and individuals. Special initiatives remain in place for species such as Golden winged warbler and New England Cottontail. Working with partners. New Wildlife subcommittee

27. Cropland and Soil Health 590, no changes at present, Main working group is CAFO group through Cornell and NYSDAM. New 590 standard is being integrated into new permits. Soil Health initiative continues to grow. Applying Haney soil test in NY. New subcommittee has met. New Soil Health Specialist position coming to NY. work with partners and producer. Increasing technical assistance and programs. Growing farmer-to-farmer network for technology transfer. Events help increase use of practices such as mixed cover crops, crop rotation and reduced-till Empire Farm Days will have a major focus on Soil Health thanks to the effort of the Soil Health Subcommittee/Interagency Working Group.

28. Food Security Act New Food Security Act rules have reattached the HELC and WC provisions of the act to Crop Insurance. June 1 is the key date for producers to file. Producers who want cost-share for Crop Insurance must fill out an AD-1026 and follow the Food Security Act provisions regarding wetlands and highly erodible lands. Food Security Act technical determination workload continues to grow. In FY ‘14, we processed more than 2,200 requests. Coordinating with Farm Service Agency. Appeal work is increasing as well. New regulations from NHQ will impact determinations from past based on legal requirements.

29. Grazinglands New Soil Health Trailer coming to NY based on a grant received by the New York Grazing Coalition (NYGC) Feed Management Conservation Activity Plan (CAP) is available. These plans apply to CAFOs and enhance any CNMP (not just grazing). TSPs can write plans. Staff and partners held more than 30 Pasture walks over the past year. Small farm grazing interest continues to increase.

30. The SRC, SRC Staff and the State Technical Advisory Committee What we can do together: Participate in the application of Conservation Standards for NY, including the development of tools and worksheets Advise us on our priorities within the landscape Share priorities and projects to look for overlap and partnership opportunities Provide and suggest technical training opportunities Participate in subcommittees

31. Questions 31

32. Partners and Other Agencies Updates 32

33. “ The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD)." 33