Where to get more information Lauren Smith, District Conservationist, NRCS Pictures and materials borrowed from Lauren Cartwright, NRCS

History of NRCS  Hugh Hammond Bennett became aware of the threat posed by the erosion of soils as a surveyor for the USDA Bureau of Soil  Bennett launched public crusade about the soil erosion crisis in 1928  President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 made conservation of soil and water resources a national priority in the New Deal administration  The National Industrial Recovery Act (Public Law ) passed in June 1933 included funds to fight soil erosion  Funds created the Soil Erosion Service (SES) established in the Department of Interior and appointed Hugh Hammond Bennett Chief in September 1933

History of NRCS  On April 27, 1935 Congress passed Public Law which established the Soil Conservation Service (SCS)  1994, SCS’s name was changed to the Natural Resources Conservation Service

Soil Water Plants Air Animals Human ENERGY

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Technical Assistance Opportunities Financial Assistance Opportunities Since 1935

Technical Assistance Opportunities Since 1935

Financial Assistance Opportunities Environmental Quality Incentives Program Conservation Stewardship Program This is just an example of the most prevalent financial assistance programs and initiatives available nationally through NRCS. Depending on your location there may be other regional or state initiatives.

Graphic from: Building Soils for Better Crops: Sustainable Soil Management by Magdoff and Ven Es (2009) Sustainability

Historically Underserved (HU)  Limited Resource Farmer (LRF) Gross Farm Sales Determination: In each of the last two years, was your direct or indirect Gross Farm Sales less than or equal to $172,800 (for Johnson/Massac & Pope Counties) per year? Gross Farm Sales is defined as: Gross Income entered on IRS Form 1040, Schedule F, in the Farm Income Section. For FY 2013 Programs, the Gross Farm Sales level should be less than the 2010 and 2011 Farm Sales. Adjusted Gross Income Determination: In each of the last two years, was your Total Household Income less than the JOHNSON/MASSAC/POPE County "County/Area Value" of $23,050? Total Household Income is defined as Adjusted Gross Income for all members in your household or the amount you entered on IRS Form 1040, Adjusted Gross Income Section. See IRS Web Site for more information on the IRS form. For FY 2013 Programs, this should be compared with your Adjusted Gross Income for 2010 and County/Area Value is calculated as the higher of the National Poverty level or 50% of the County/Area Median Household Income.IRS Web Site

Historically Underserved (HU)  Beginning Farmer (BF) A Beginning Farmer or Rancher means an individual or entity who: Has not operated a farm or ranch, or who has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 consecutive years. This requirement applies to all members of an entity, Will materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch.  In the case of a contract with an individual, individually or with the immediate family, material and substantial participation requires that the individual provide substantial day-to-day labor and management of the farm or ranch, consistent with the practices in the county or State where the farm is located  In the case of a contract with an entity, all members must materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch. Material and substantial participation requires that each of the members provide some amount of the management, or labor and management necessary for day-to-day activities, such that if each of the members did not provide these inputs, operation of the farm or ranch would be seriously impaired.

Historically Underserved (HU)  Socially Disadvantaged Farmer (SDF) According to Section 2501(e)(2) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 USC 2279(e)(2)), a Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher (SDA) is defined as a farmer or rancher who is a member of a “Socially Disadvantaged Group". Therefore a "Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher" is defined as:Section 2501(e)(2) Socially disadvantaged group- a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. The definition that applies to Titles I, V, and VI includes members of a group subject to gender prejudice, while the definition that applies to Titles II, IX, XII, and XV does not. Title XIV and the Education and Risk Management Assistance provision in Title XII do not make specific reference to the statutory definition of socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher. Socially disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher- a farmer or rancher who has been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudices because of their identity as a member of a group without regard to their individual qualities. This term means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. Specifically, a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. Those groups include African Americans, American Indians or Alaskan natives, Hispanics, and Asians or Pacific Islanders.

Payment Rates  EQIP Payment rates for HU Producers are 15-20% above the traditional payment rate for all practices. Funds allocated to separate fund pools  Application competes in regular fund pool and HU fund pool  CSP Funds allocated to separate fund pools  Application competes in regular fund pool and HU fund pool

NRCS – Natural Resources Conservation Service FSA – Farm Service Agency EQIP – Environmental Quality Incentives Program CSP – Conservation Stewardship Program GRP – Grassland Reserve Program WRP – Wetland Reserve Program

How to participate in NRCS Programs EQIP Programmatic Overview CSP Programmatic Overview

How to Participate Basic Eligibility Requirements (EQIP and CSP): FSA Farm Number Highly Erodible Land (HEL) Wetland Conservation Provisions Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Proceed to your county NRCS office to sign an application, then go to the county FSA office to begin this process

Environmental Quality Incentives Program Payments are made to producers once conservation practices are completed according to NRCS requirements Develops and implements contracts with agricultural producers to implement conservation practices to address natural resource problems.

Nutrient Management Alley Cropping Rotational Grazing Systems Windbreak/Shelterbelt Stripcropping Hedgerow Planting

Pollinator Habitat Riparian Forest Buffer Contour Buffers Terrace Cover Crop Filter Strip

Grassed Waterway Brush Management Pest Management Field Border Conservation Crop Rotation Seasonal High Tunnel

Environmental Quality Incentives Program …And Much More!

Environmental Quality Incentives Program Regular EQIP and EQIP National Initiatives… Funding is competitive Applications are ranked based upon national, state and local criteria – developed annually EQIP National Initiatives & Regular EQIP General Fund – Statewide funding pools, participants compete statewide Regular EQIP Grazing & Forestland Funds – County funding pools, participants compete within a county (land use pools)

Environmental Quality Incentives Program Deadlines: FY14 EQIP Continuous sign up Application cutoff Funding cutoff Obligation cutoff Janurary 17March 14April 11 March 21May 18June 6 April 11May 30June 27

Environmental Quality Incentives Program Eligibility for EQIP Persons engaged in livestock or agricultural production Land: cropland, pastureland, private non-industrial forestland

EQIP Payment Rates Conservation Practice Practice Lifespan (years) UnitPractice Code Regular Payment Amount HU Payment Amount Description Brush Management 10Acre314$310.85$373.01Biological control with grazing animals (goats) Conservation Crop Rotation 1Acre328$76.60$77.38Add small grain to rotation Cover Crop1Acre340$37.13$44.55Species Mix Field Border10Acre386$580.58$618.88Pollinator Habitat Grassed Waterway 10Acre412$ $ ’ top width with checks Integrated Pest Management 1Acre595$7.35$8.82Basic IPM with 1RC Nutrient Management 1Acre590$10.81$12.97Basic NM Seasonal High Tunnel for Crops 4Sq Ft 789$2.74$3.29SHT Windbreak Establishment 15Ft380$0.33$0.351 row – bare-root seedling planting stock

Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Conservation Stewardship Program Five Year Contracts, annual per acre payments for maintaining existing conservation activities and implementing new activities (enhancements) Conservation Stewardship Program encourages maintenance of existing conservation activities and adoption of additional conservation activities – called enhancements

Water Quality: Integrated Pest Management for Organic Farming Examples of Enhancements Energy: Locally grown and marketed farm products Plant: Habitat development for beneficial insects for pest management Intensive Management of Rotational Grazing Soil Erosion: Continuous No Till Soil Quality: Use of Cover Crop Mixes Water Quantity: Mulching for moisture conservation

Conservation Stewardship Program Applicants are ranked using an interactive tool – Conservation Measurement Tool Continuous sign up FY14 Application Deadlline: February 7 Tool generates points based upon existing level of stewardship and new enhancement activities. Annual payment based upon points. National Average $18/ac maximum Evaluate applications Fund Applications Obligate Contracts March 20March 21May 9

Conservation Stewardship Program CSP Eligibility Applicants: Must be the operator of record on FSA farm records Land: cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pastureland, nonindustrial private forestland

Conservation Stewardship Program CSP Resources NRCS- CSP website: Programmatic information Enhancements Farmers’ Guide to the Conservation Stewardship Program content/uploads/2008/08/CSP_FarmersGuide_final_September_2009.pdf

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Phone Book Government Listings Federal – US Government Services USDA – US Dept of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Call and make an appointment to visit with your local NRCS conservationist! Since 1935

35 Equal Opportunity 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) (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 or call (800) (voice) or (202) (TDD). Helping People Help the Land