1. NRCS Conservation Programs in Nebraska Brad Soncksen Assistant State Conservationist for Programs Lincoln, NE brad.soncksen@ne.usda.gov www.ne.nrcs.usda.gov USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

2. Conservation Programs FY2013 Program Review FY2014 Program Discussion  FY14 Fund Pools  Sub Committee Recommendations  Practice Payment Schedule 2

3. Conservation Programs Stewardship Easement Land Treatment 3

4. 44 STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS Conservation Security Program Conservation Stewardship Program

5. 55 Conservation Security Program CSP from 2004 - 2008

6. Conservation Security Program 4 signups in 24 NE counties Total Contracts = 2021 Current Active contracts = 765 5 – 10 year contracts Acres in Active Contracts = 552,877 FY13 Payments = $5,154,927 6

7. 77 Conservation Stewardship Program

8. 8 Created by 2008 Farm Bill Replaced the Conservation Security Program of Prior Years Authorizes 12,796,000 Acres/Year Enrollment Through 2017 Managed to achieve a National average rate of $18/acre

9. Conservation Stewardship Program Total Contracts = 2083 Total Acres = 3,991,787 FY2013 Payments = $42,488,296 Projected new 2013 contracts = 425 Projected new 2013 Acres = 900,000 9

14. 14 Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)

15. 15 WRP FY2013 –18 apps received >60 pts. –3,105 acres –3,027 acre enrollment cap –$7.7 million initial allocation

16. 16 WRP FY2013 –16 Funded –2,808 acres 161 RWB WREP –$ 4.6 million

18. 18 Grasslands Reserve Program

19. 19 Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program

20. FRPP Fiscal Year 2013 Current list of entities utilizing FRPP: –Nebraska Land Trust –The Nature Conservancy –The Sandhills Task Force –Northern Prairies Land Trust FY2013 Allocation = $900,000 FY2013 Enrollment = (2) 3977 acres 20

21. FY2014 Subcommittee Recommendations - Easements Handout  Meeting Minutes  Ranking Worksheets: WRP, GRP, FRPP

22. 22 Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

23. WHIP Fiscal Year 2013 Working Lands For Wildlife –No Nebraska species approved in 2013 –FY13 Proposal: Bob White Quail : Harlan, Howard, Furnas Greater Prairie Chicken : Knox, Antelope, Wheeler, Holt, Pawnee, Johnson, Nemaha Black Footed Ferret 23

24. 24 EQIP Fund Allocation in 2013 General $ 29,924,018

25. 25. EQIP Fund Obligations in 2013 – State SI (contracts) (obligation) Frenchman 3$ 87,210 Tribal 2 $ 84,163

26. 26. EQIP Fund Obligations in 2013 – National Initiatives (contracts and obligation) NWQI 23 $ 242,344 –4 watersheds: Conestoga Lake, Cottonwood, Cub Creek, Big Indian Organic 9$ 179,029 Energy 0 $ 0 High Tunnel 22 $ 120,130 Ogallala SI 80 $ 4,448,174 CAP-CNMP 21 $ 182,955

27. 27 AWEP - CCPI Fund Allocations in 2013 Partnership AWEP$ 3.7 million CCPI $ 72,000

28. AWEP Practices - 2013 10 SDI systems on 640 acres 27 Sprinkler Conversions on 2114 acres 69 IWM contracts on 37,445 acres 9 Nutrient Mgmt. contracts on 6,512 acres 28

29. 29 AWEP Partnership Agreements  FY2012 & FY2013 No RFP  FY2011 – Expire 2015 Upper Republican NRD  FY2010 – Expire 2014 Lower Republican NRD Ogallala – Platte River Recovery Upper Big Blue NRD

30. 30 AWEP Partnership Agreements  FY2009 Middle Republican NRD – Expire 2013 Central NE Public Power and Irrigation District – Expire 2013 Little Blue NRD (Expired) Lower Big Blue NRD (Expired) Lower Platte North NRD – Expire 2013

32. 32 Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative

33. 33 2013 Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative - Nebraska 2 Projects in FY2013 –Shelterbelt - $72,000 – 40 Apps  August 14 app cutoff  September 13 contract approval –Riparian Forest Buffer - $0

34. EQIP 2013 Practices Waste Storage Facilities Grazing Management Ponds Pipelines Fence

35. EQIP 2013 Practices Brush Management Prescribed Burn

36. EQIP 2013 Practices  SDI Systems  Sprinkler Systems  IWM

37. EQIP 2013 Practices Terraces Diversions Grade Stabs Waterways Underground Outlet No till Windbreak/Shelterbelt

38. EQIP 2013 Practices  Seasonal High Tunnels  Nutrient Mgmt  Pest Mgmt  Cover Crops  Organic

39. EQIP 2013 Practices 19 Waste Storage Facilities 9 Ponds 1.3 million ft of Fence 571 Tanks 87 Micro irrigation contracts on 5,153 Acres 49 Sprinkler Conversions on 16,597 Acres 164 IWM contracts - 113,715 Acres 52 Nutrient Mgmt. contracts – 38,808 Acres 39

40. EQIP 2013 Practices 2.2 million ft of pipelines – 254 contracts 1.6 million ft. of terraces - 146 contracts 13,054 acres of Brush mg.t – 127 contracts 6 Grade Stabilization structures 644,253 ft. windbrk/shelterblt–121 contracts 22 High Tunnels 40

41. FY2013 Program Obligations EQIP = $29.9 million AWEP = $ 3.7 million WHIP = $ 0 WRP/WREP = $4.6 million FRPP = $ 900,000 CSP = $5.1 million CStP = $8.6 million –Total = $ 52.8 million 41

42. FY2014 EQIP Signup FY2014 Application Cutoff (Tentative) First: October 18, 2013 Second: January 2014 42

43. EQIP Fund Pools FY2014 Special Initiatives – State & National  Ogallala Aquifer Initiative  Organic Initiative  High Tunnel  Energy  National Water Quality Initiative  Tribal  Working Lands for Wildlife (?NE) 43

44. EQIP Fund Pools FY2014 9 Priority Resource Concerns –4 Local –5 Statewide 44

45. SOIL EROSION: Sheet and Rill, Ephemeral, Wind - Local 329 – Residue Management, No-Till 340 – Cover Crop (erosion control) 410 –Grade Stabilization Structure 412 – Grassed Waterway 362 – Diversion 600 – Terrace 620 – Underground Outlet 638 – Water and Sediment Control Basin 45

46. EXCESS/INSUFFICIENT WATER: Irrigation - Local 328 – Conservation Crop Rotation 430 – Irrigation Water Conveyance 441 – Micro Irrigation 442 – Irrigation Systems – Sprinkler 443 – Irrigation system – Surface & Sub 449 – Irrigation Water Management 533 – Pumping Plant – Irrigation related 46

47. DEGRADED PLANT CONDITION: Plant Productivity, Invasive - Local 314 – Brush Management 338 – Prescribed Burning 382 – Fence 472 – Access Control 47

48. LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION LIMITATION: Inadequate Forage, Water, shelter - Local 378 – Pond 380 – Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment 512 – Forage and Biomass Planting 516 – Pipeline 528 – Prescribed Grazing 533 – Pumping Plant – Livestock related 550 – Range Planting 614 – Water Facility 642 – Water Well 650 – Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation 48

49. WATER QUALITY DEGRADATION: Excess Nutrients, Pathogens/Chemicals, Sediment – State (slide 1 of 2) 313 – Waste Storage Facility 316 – Animal Mortality Facility 350 – Sediment Basin 351 – Well Decommissioning 359 – Waste Treatment Lagoon 360 – Closure of Waste Impoundment 386 – Field Border 393 – Filter Strip 521 – Pond Sealing or Lining 49

50. WATER QUALITY DEGRADATION: Excess Nutrients, Pathogens/Chemicals, Sediment – State (slide 2 of 2) 578 – Stream Crossing 590 – Nutrient Management 595 – Integrated Pest Management 632 – Solid – Liquid Waste Separation 633 – Waste Utilization 634 – Waste Transfer 635 – Vegetated Treatment Area 50

51. SOIL QUALITY DEGRADATION: Organic Matter, Compaction - State 340 – Cover Crop (when primary purpose is overall soil quality effects) 329 – Residue and Tillage Management, No Till 511 – Forage Harvest Management 51

52. INADEQUATE HABITAT for FISH and WILDLIFE: Habitat Degradation – State (slide 1 of 2) 390 – Riparian Herbaceous Cover 391 – Riparian Forest Buffer 612 – Tree/Shrub Establishment 643 – Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats 644 – Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management 52

53. INADEQUATE HABITAT for FISH and WILDLIFE: Habitat Degradation – State (slide 2 of 2) 645 – Upland Wildlife Habitat Mgmt. 646 – Shallow Water Development 657 – Wetland Restoration 659 – Wetland Enhancement 666 – Forest Stand Improvement 53

54. INEFFICIENT ENERGY USE: Field, Farmstead - State 372 – Combustion System Improvement 374 – Farmstead Energy Improvement 533 - Pumping Plant 54

55. AIR QUALITY: GHG’s, Dust, Odor - State 366 – Anaerobic Digester 55

56. EQIP - Sub Committee Recommendations – FY14 Implement Ranking Threshold Score Implement Practice Payment Cap Add small grain scenario – PPS process Add dry hydrant practice – PPS process Recommendation - Support 56

57. EQIP - Sub Committee Recommendations – FY14 Revise payment rates – PPS process  Reduce Livestock pipeline  Reduce Mulch for Trees  Increase Forest Stand Improvement  Increase Access Control  Increase Prescribed Burning  Increase Pit Fill Recommendation - Support 57

58. EQIP - Sub Committee Recommendations – FY14 Revise OAI priority Areas Implement State WQI to supplement NWQI Implement Forestry SI Allow new pumping plants in existing well Recommendation - Support 58

59. Threshold Score – FY14 Applications in the 1 st sign up period will be approved to a score which is 50% - 75% of the maximum attainable score. Recommendation - Support 59

60. Practice Payment Cap Limit the payment amount for a practice Fixed amount regardless of participant cost Recommendation - Support 60

61. Practice Payment Cap $100,000 limit per practice within a contract Nutrient Management Brush Management Cover Crops Small Grain Scenario (if approved) Practice Payment Schedule Process 61

62. FY2014 Subcommittee Recommendations - EQIP Handout  Meeting Minutes  State Water Quality Initiative  Ranking Questions  FY14 EQIP Fund Allocation

63. 63 Ogallala Aquifer Initiative

66. Ogallala Initiative by NRCS Administrative Area

68. 68 PRACTICE PAYMENT SCHEDULE

69. Practice Payment Schedule Prior to the 2008 Farm Bill - cost-share payments as a percentage of the actual costs Incentive payments for EQIP management practices were also made. Actual costs had to be documented by producer receipts and invoices. Collecting invoices and receipts necessary to administer cost-share payments

70. The 2008 Farm Bill eliminated the authority to make program payments using “cost-share” Cost-Share

71. The OLD Authority & Methodology

72. Practice Payment Schedule Ensure all conservation payments are WTO/NAFTA green box compliant Ensure that the cost basis is adequately documented, to substantiate exclusion for AGI Reduce customer uncertainty about program payments Change from “Paying to implement a practice” to “Paying to obtain an environmental/social benefit”

73. Pay Rate Specifics Payments are based on the costs of applying a typical conservation practice. Practice payments no longer based on contract holder’s actual costs and receipts. Traditional cost share process is replaced with concept of program participant compensation –Incentive Payments Not Allowed –Based On “Actual Cost Incurred”

74. Economic Regions Sothern Mtn. Northern Mtn. Southern Plains Northern Plains Pacific Lake States Corn Belt Delta States Southeast Appalachian Mid Atlantic 1 New England

75. Practice Cost Data Example Cost List Data Sources –Contract Receipts, Vendors, Contractors, Agricultural Suppliers, Conservation Partners, Cost Databases, Agricultural Statistics –Cost estimating models or tools (RS Means) –Other reliable sources

76. Practice Cost Data The Cost List contains a fixed list of cost categories: –Materials –Equipment –Labor –Mobilization –Operation & Maintenance –Acquisition of Technical Knowledge and Management –Forgone Income –Risk –Administration & Permit Costs

77. Example: Practice Payment Rate Development Methodology (382-Fence) EQIPWHIPEQIPWHIP Cost Category Cost/Unit Pmt %Pmt % PPRPPR Materials $ 0.8465%50%$0.55$0.42 Equipment/Installation$ 0.0065%50%$0.00$0.00 Labor $ 0.0065%50%$0.00$0.00 Mobilization$ 0.0465%50%$0.03$0.02 Oper. & Maint.$ 0.01 0% 0%$0.00$0.00 Tech Knowledge $ 0.00 0% 0%$0.00$0.00 Forgone Income $ 0.00 0% 0%$0.00$0.00 Risk $ 0.00 0% 0%$0.00$0.00 Admin & Permit Costs$ 0.00 0% 0%$0.00$0.00 Total: $ 0.89 $0.57$0.44

78. Practice Payment Schedule Advantages; More consistent payment rates. Consistent, reliable, and defendable method of creating estimated incurred costs. Flexibility to account for cost variation. Use established economic region alignment of states based on farm employment data and crop cost and returns. Consistency with definition, purpose, and technical requirements of conservation practice standards.

79. 79 Questions?

80. 80 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). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795- 3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.