Agroforestry Assistance §History §Technical §Financial

Conservation Programs

NRCS Mission: To provide leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, improve and sustain our natural resources and environment NRCS Vision: A productive Nation in Harmony with a Quality Environment

Overview Program Objectives: l Conserve our nation’s natural resources: soil, water, air, plants, and animals on private lands. l Grass-roots Conservation…locally led initiatives Tailor conservation program to meet local needs and priorities. »County level »Watershed level »Statewide level

Technical, financial, and educational assistance to implement structural, vegetative, and management practices on private land. Overview Program Provides:

How the Program WORKS! §Conservation Tools (technical, financial, & educational) §Local Conservation Leadership §Conservation Plans §Contracts §Technical and Financial Assistance to Apply Practices. §Conservation of our Natural Resources!

Overview Eligibility §Persons engaged in livestock or agricultural production. §American Indian Tribes §Must have control of land for duration of contract §Applications having most environmental benefit are funded first

Overview Conservation Contracting § year conservation contract l Obligates financial assistance l Reimburses up to 75% cost of practice l Incentives payments to try something new l Application and follow-up assistance l LRF and BF provisions

Overview NRCS provides Technical Assistance l Conservation Plan Development l Standards and Specifications Provided l Planning and Design of Practice l Assistance During Application l Certification Practice meets Specifications l Follow-up on Operation and Maintenance

Program Objectives: §Enhance Wildlife Habitat §Address Local Wildlife Habitat Needs §Provide Technical and Financial Assistance The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private lands.

Program Outcomes: §Wildlife Habitat Enhancement §Natural Resource Enhancement l water, plants, soil, air §Aesthetics - Quality of Life The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private lands.

How the Program Works: §Conservation Plans and Contracts with Land Stewards §Local Wildlife Habitat Development Projects The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private lands.

Conservation Contracts with Land Stewards Conservation Contracting § year conservation contract §Obligates financial assistance §Reimburses up to 75% cost of practice §Application and follow-up assistance The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private lands.

Overview WHIP is: §Locally Led Program §Competitive §Technical, Financial, and Educational Assistance §Delivered Through Conservation Plans or Cooperative Agreements §Local, State, and National Objectives Met The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private lands.

Eligibility: §Cropland planted to commodity crop 2 of last 5 years §Be in ownership for one-year §Highly erodible land §Cropped wetlands §CRP priority area

Program Benefits: §Offers annual rental payments for years §Cost-shares 50% of the vegetative establishment §Some Practice Incentive Payments

Program Participation: §Apply during sign-up periods, or for Continuous Sign Up Practices §Producer must determine the amount of conservation he/she wishes to achieve. §Each applications is ranked to identify those having high environmental benefit. §Applications compete nationally. §Vegetative cover is established. §Natural resources are improved!

New Conservation Programs Conservation Security Program Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program Grasslands Reserve Program Title II Conservation

Through FY06 to assist agricultural operators in adoption of conservation practices on working lands. Conservation Security plans and contracts to provide land and payment amounts. Payment level is based on level of treatment. Three Tiers (Maximum payments) Tier I - $20,000 Tier II - $35,000 Tier III - $50,000

Changes to Existing Programs New Conservation Programs