1. The Conservation Reserve Program Program Review, Update and Recommendations

2. Overview CRP is authorized by the Food Security Act of 1985 and was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. A voluntary program that contracts with agricultural producers so that environmentally sensitive agricultural land is not farmed, but instead used for conservation benefits. CRP participants establish long-term conservation practices in exchange for rental payments and cost-share assistance.

3. Benefits CRP: Protects topsoil from erosion Safeguards natural resources Protects groundwater Helps to improve lake, river, pond and stream conditions by reducing water runoff and sedimentation. Is a major contributor to increased wildlife populations

4. Historical Stats Since it was established on Dec. 23, 1985, CRP has: Prevented more than 9 billion tons of soil from eroding, enough soil to fill 600 million dump trucks; Reduced runoff relative to tilled cropland by: 95% for nitrogen 85% for phosphorous Sequestered an annual average of 49 million tons of greenhouse gases, equal to taking 9 million cars off the road. Since 1996, CRP has created nearly 2.7 million acres of restored wetlands. As of 2015, CRP is protecting more than 170,000 stream miles with riparian forest and grass buffers.

5. CRP Enrollment There are three types of CRP a producer can enroll in. Each type offers different conservation practices. General CRP Continuous CRP Grasslands CRP

6. Eligible Producers To be eligible, a producer may be a(n): Individual Association Trust Other Legal Entity Local Government Indian Tribal Venture Corporation Joint Stock Company Estate State Government Joint Operation And must have owned or operated the land for 12 months before the close of signup for general signup offers submitting the offer for continuous signup (unless they are a BF or SDA)

7. Eligible Land – General and Continuous CRP For General and Continuous CRP: Land must be cropland that is: planted or considered planted to an agricultural commodity for four of six crop years from 2008 to 2013 physically and legally capable of being planted in a normal manner to an agricultural commodity. For General CRP, land also must meet one of the following criteria: Have a weighted average erosion index of eight or higher; Be enrolled in a CRP contract that expires Sept. 30, or; Be located in a national or state CRP conservation priority area.

8. Eligible Land – CRP Grasslands For CRP Grassland: The land must: Contain forbs or shrubland for which grazing is the predominant use Be located in an area historically dominated by grasslands And may also: Provide habitat for animal and plant populations of significant ecological value if the land is retained in its current use or restored to a natural condition Be expiring CRP without tree practices Be expiring GRP. Forestland or Woodland is not eligible to be enrolled in CRP Grasslands

9. General CRP Enrollment Producers can “offer” land for CRP general enrollment only during announced enrollment periods. Each eligible offer is ranked in comparison to all other offers (nationally) and selections made from that ranking. Offers are ranked based upon their Environmental Benefits Index (EBI) score.

10. Ranking Offers During General Enrollment The Environmental Benefits Index (EBI) There are 5 environmental ranking factors and a cost factor that make up the EBI for General CRP. The EBI factors used to rank each offer are: N1 - Wildlife habitat benefits resulting from covers on contract acres; N2 - Water quality benefits from reduced erosion, runoff and leaching; N3 - On-farm benefits from reduced erosion; N4 - Benefits that will likely endure beyond the contract period; N5 - Air quality benefits from reduced wind erosion and; N6 - Cost. Where N1+N2+N3+N4+N5+N6 = National EBI Score

11. Continuous CRP Enrollment Open enrollment Smaller acreages of environmentally sensitive areas Eligible land must meet planted or considered planted cropland requirements or meet the definition of marginal pastureland (not cropland, not forestland, not water) Producer eligibility is the same as previously discussed. Offers are not subject to competitive bidding.

12. Grasslands CRP Enrollment Helps protect grasslands while maintaining grazing practices Emphasizes support for: grazing operations plant and animal biodiversity grasslands under the greatest threat of conversion. CRP Grasslands uses an offer and ranking process similar to General CRP with its own EBI. Enrollment periods for CRP Grasslands are designated at the National level, but conducted by continuous signup batches.

13. Payments and Incentives Annual Rental Payments Provided in return for establishing long-term, resource-conserving covers Determined by county and based on the relative productivity of the soils and the average dry-land cash rent using data provided by NASS Cost-Share Assistance –not more than 50 percent of the participants’ costs in establishing approved practices. Incentives Practice Incentives (PIP) – equal to 40% of the total eligible cost of practice installation. Signup Incentives (SIP)– a one-time incentive of $10 or $15 per acre made to participants that enroll in certain practices Rental Rate Incentive - additional financial incentive of up to 20% of the annual payment for certain continuous enrollment practices may also be offered.

14. NH FSA State Committee The State Committee reviews state office operations and makes decisions on administrative and program application for the state. The New Hampshire State Committee consists of: James Taylor, Chair Bruce Clement, Member Joshua Jennings, Member

15. FSA State Committee Responsibility Direct the administration of CRP, including: Approve State research projects Approve Soil Rental Rates Establish the primary nesting season Approve management activities Approve CRP Conservation Priority Areas (CPAs)

16. State Technical Committee Roles Assists the FSA State Committee by providing consultation and recommendation on numerous program activities, including: The primary nesting season Per acre maintenance rates for Continuous CRP practices Management activities (job sheets) State specific actions not addressed by the National Handbook 2-CRP Haying and grazing provisions Conservation Priority Areas / Zones for CRP purposes

17. Primary Nesting Season NRCS recognizes the primary nesting season as June 1 st – August 15 th. Considering birds in the local area that are economically significant, in significant decline, or conserved according to Federal or State law, would you recommend this same time frame for CRP?

18. Maintenance Rates for Continuous Signup Practices Per acre maintenance incentive rates: Shall be established to reimburse participants for the average annual cost of practice maintenance. Above $0 shall only be established when the participant will be required to perform substantial maintenance.

19. Maintenance Rates for Continuous Signup Practices – Policy Guidelines If the practice is…AND it includes…THEN the maintenance rate shall not exceed… CP5A - Field Windbreak Establishment, Non-easement CP16A - Shelterbelt Establishment, Non-easement CP17A - Living Snow Fences, Non-easement $2 CP21 - Filter Strips CP29 - Marginal Pastureland Wildlife Habitat Buffer CP30 - Marginal Pastureland Wetland Buffer No fencing or water facility development$0 Permanent fencing with no water facility development, or No permanent fencing with a water facility $5 Permanent fencing and water facility development $10 CP22 - Riparian BufferNo fencing or water facility development$2 Permanent fencing with no water facility development, or No permanent fencing with a water facility $5 Permanent fencing and water facility development $10

20. A review of a CRP plan at the Cheshire County Farm, Westmoreland, NH. SPOTLIGHT:

21. CRP Training - 2008 Located on the banks of the Connecticut River in Westmoreland, the Cheshire County Farm (outlined in red) occupies and maintains several different ecological environments. Everything from open cropland and pasture to forestland and wetland are all represented within their boundaries.

22. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND This aerial photo taken in 1939 shows the pasture (outlined in black) as it looked over 65 years ago. Even back then, the erosion and gulleying (showing up as a depressed area to the north) is evident.

23. In 1975, the pasture shows signs of continued erosion, (with more definition of the eroded banks which show up as lighter lines around the edges) as it has been kept open and clear for use as a pasture.

24. Notice the areas pointed to in RED: this is an example of the bank erosion experienced in this pasture. The area pointed to in BLUE shows the drainage that runs through the site, and how it has become churned up by the cows.

25. The years of use as a pasture has severely reduced the grass cover that is necessary to hold the soils in place.

26. In this photo, we see the bank erosion in RED and the compromised drainage in BLUE.

27. The soils, water quality, and the unique riverine ecosystems on this site will benefit from the reduction of animal wastes, silty soil deposits, and the rehabilitation of the natural habitats. This photo shows the wetland into which the pasture drains. The wetland then drains into the Connecticut River.

28. The Plan The plan developed for this area involved 3 steps: 1.Fencing off the stream and surrounding area from animal traffic, 2.Creating a crossing to keep the animals out of the water, and 3.Repairing the erosion damage existing at the site with plantings and installation of filter strips.

29. This sketch of the CRP design for the pasture shows the location of the site boundaries (RED), the fenced walkway (BLUE), and the bridge crossing (YELLOW).

30. AFTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION This 2003 color photo shows the pasture several years after practice implementation. The new growth is evident, the ground cover and plantings have become well established, and now that the animals are no longer able to walk through the brook, the banks have stabilized.

31. This cattle crossing along with the fenced trail gives the animals a single route through the site, over the brook instead of through it. Notice the regeneration of the natural ground cover in the background.

32. By fencing off this area and keeping the animals from grazing, the local flora returns and blankets the former pasture.

34. Thank You Marilyn Milne NH Farm Service Agency marilyn.milne@nh.usda.gov 603-224-7941