1. Local Input – Shaping the Soil & Water Resources Conservation Act Appraisal National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting Orlando, FL 2 February 2010 Patty Lawrence U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service

2. RCA Background Enacted in 1977 Strategic assessment and planning authority Science-based policy decisions Three major provisions Public process Conservation policy impacts

3. 2008 Farm Bill Extended RCA to 2018 Aligned with farm bill cycle Targeted changes ◦ Conservation effects ◦ Performance based standards ◦ Environmental outcomes Evaluation of process

4. Public Outreach National, regional, and local effort Multiple approaches ◦ Listening sessions ◦ Focus groups ◦ State Technical Committee survey Comment analysis underway

5. Listening Sessions Five listening sessions 700 participants, 150 speakers Comments on: ◦ Important natural resource concerns on private lands today and in the future. ◦ Current conservation program approaches. ◦ New conservation program approaches.

6. What did we hear? Natural resource concerns: ◦ Water quality and quantity ◦ Soil quality ◦ Land fragmentation Conservation program approaches: ◦ Technical assistance ◦ Outreach ◦ Program simplification

7. Focus Groups Five focus groups 70 participants and speakers Comments on: ◦ Barriers to participation ◦ Needed approaches

8. What did we hear? Barriers ◦ Program complexity ◦ Economic (cost-share rates) ◦ Reluctant to work with government ◦ Land ownership/tenure Needed approaches ◦ Technical assistance ◦ Program streamlining ◦ Focused outreach ◦ Bi-lingual assistance

9. State Technical Committee Survey 50 States and the Pacific Basin and Caribbean Areas 3,400 surveys delivered Nearly 900 respondents Survey open for 3 months

10. NRCS regions

11. Natural Resource Concerns ConcernMean Plants – invasive species2.0 Soil – erosion2.2 Water – sediment & nutrients2.2 Fish or wildlife – habitat condition2.4 Fish or wildlife – invasive species2.5 Water – insufficient water2.6

12. Natural Resource Concerns by Region East RegionCentral RegionWest Region Water – sediment & nutrients (1.8) Soil – erosion (2.1)Plants – invasive species (1.7) Plants – invasive species (2.0) Plants – invasive species (2.2) Water – insufficient (1.7) Soil – erosion (2.2)Water – sediment & nutrients (2.3) Fish or wildlife – habitat condition (2.1)

13. Priority Resource Concerns Highest Priority Concerns Operation types most associated with concern Water – sediment and nutrients Cash grain, medium Dairy, mediumBeef cattle, small Water – insufficient water Cash grain, largeHigh value crops, medium Beef cattle, medium

14. Priority Resource Concerns by Region RegionHighest / type operationNext Highest / type operation EastWater – sediment & nutrients (Cash Grain) Water – insufficient water (Cash Grain) CentralWater – sediment & nutrients (Cash Grain) Soil – erosion (Cash Grain) WestWater – Insufficient water (Cash Grain) Water – sediment & nutrients (Cash Grain)

15. Priority Resource Concerns

16. Barriers to Conservation Adoption BarrierPercent Complexity of the program, too much paperwork39 Expense of the practice38 Insufficient financial assistance33 Lack of technical assistance30 Resistance to change30 Fear of regulation25 Time required to implement or manage the practice19

17. Barriers to Conservation Adoption by Region BarrierTotal % East % Central % West % Complexity of the program, too much paperwork 39414033 Expense of the practice38413732 Insufficient financial assistance33382933 Lack of technical assistance30332728 Fear of regulation2523 33 Time required to implement or manage the practice 19171920

18. Approaches to Increase Conservation Adoption ApproachPercent Increased financial assistance45 Increased technical assistance41 Increased program flexibilities32 Increased cost share rates29 Aggressive outreach and marketing of conservation programs29 Increased conservation planning16 Increased targeting of assistance15 Market-based program approaches14

19. Approaches to Increase Conservation Adoption by Region ApproachTotal % East % Central % West % Increased financial assistance45 464440 Increased technical assistance41 473541 Increased program flexibilities32 293533 Increased cost share rates29 283126 Aggressive outreach & marketing of conservation programs 29 322826 Increased conservation planning16 141520 Landscape scale planning/projects11 71017

20. Your thoughts on new conservation approaches… Consider: ◦ 70 + years of technical and financial assistance ◦ Declining Federal, State, and local resources ◦ Climate change, biofuels, and other stressors ◦ Trade Low or ‘no’ cost approaches – what will it take to put “you” in a conservation plan? Regulation? Needed or not?

21. More information? U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Website: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/rcahttp://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/rca E-mail: RCA@wdc.usda.govRCA@wdc.usda.gov Phone: 202-720-3074 Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources and Environment ATTN: RCA 14th and Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250