Conservation Activity Plan - USDA

Helping People Help the Land

Conservation Activity PlanSupporting Organic Transition

December 2011

Supporting Organic Transition

An organic transition conservation activity plan is a site-specific strategy to help a landowner switch from conventional farming or ranching systems to organic production systems that meet USDA National Organic Program Standards.

NRCS Technical Service Providers (TSPs) prepare these plans using inputs such as: • Assessments of fertility, soil quality, and erosion control • Evaluations of seeds and planting options • Seedling production, transplants, and greenhouse crops

Conservation practices recommended in such a plan can include:

• Cover crop • Conservation cover • Nutrient management • Irrigation water management • Prescribed grazing • Residue management • Mulching

For more information, please visit www.nrcs.usda.gov and search for “Technical Service Providers.”

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Conservation Activity PlanSpill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure

December 2011

Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure

A spill prevention, control, and countermeasure conservation activity plan is a site-specific strategy for a landowner to manage 10,000 gallons or more of liquid storage capacity. Using this plan, landowners can meet Environmental Protection Agency regulations in the secondary containment of oil or oil products, such as diesel fuel, gasoline, lube oil, and crop oil.

NRCS Technical Service Providers (TSPs) prepare these plans using inputs such as: • Oil spill predictions • Types of oil and capacity of containers • Evaluations of facility drainage

• Assessments of site security • Assessments of bulk storage container compliance • Analyses of transfer procedures and piping • Assessments of secondary containment


• Agricultural secondary containment facilities • Pond sealing or lining • Dikes




Conservation Activity PlanPollinator Habitat Enhancement

December 2011

Pollinator Habitat Enhancement

A pollinator habitat enhancement conservation activity plan is a site-specific strategy that helps a landowner improve, restore, enhance, and expand flower-rich habitats that support native and managed pollinators. NRCS Technical Service Providers (TSPs) prepare these plans using inputs such as:

• Existing and planned Habitat Suitability Index models • Assessments of flowering plant populations • Recordkeeping • Monitoring


• Conservation cover • Field borders • Range planting • Riparian forest buffers • Tree/Shrub establishment • Vegetative barriers




Conservation Activity PlanNutrient Management

December 2011

Nutrient Management

A nutrient management conservation activity plan is a site-specific strategy to help a landowner protect soil and water quality by managing the use of all nutrients applied to cropland, hayland, and pastureland.

NRCS Technical Service Providers (TSPs) prepare these plans using inputs such as: • Analyses of field nutrient balances • Manure analyses and application calendars • Soil tests • Evaluations of crop and fertilizer use • Irrigation water testing

Conservation practices recommended in such a plan can include: • Conservation cover • Residue management • Grassed waterway • Contour buffer strips • Roof runoff structures • Vegetative barriers • Waste utilization




Conservation Activity PlanIrrigation Water Management

December 2011

Irrigation Water Management

An irrigation water management conservation activity plan is a site-specific strategy to help a landowner minimize soil erosion, improve water quality, and reduce energy consumption. NRCS Technical Service Providers (TSPs) prepare these plans using inputs such as: • Irrigation water requirements by crop • Soil and water tests for salinity and nutrients • Estimates of planned irrigation application volumes and flow rates

Conservation practices recommended by such a plan can include:

• Irrigation pipelines and ditch lining • Irrigation systems such as surface sprinklers, surface, and micro-irrigation • Salinity and sodic soil management • Pumping plants • Land leveling • Irrigation water management For more information, please visit www.nrcs.usda.gov and search for “Technical Service Providers.”



Conservation Activity Plan Integrated Pest Management, Herbicide Resistance Weeds

December 2011

Integrated Pest Management, Herbicide Resistance Weeds

An integrated pest management, herbicide resistance weeds conservation activity plan is a site-specific, ecosystem-based strategy to help a landowner suppress herbicide resistant weeds on cropland while protecting soil, water, air, and plant quality.

NRCS Technical Service Providers (TSPs) prepare these plans using inputs such as:

• Environmental risk assessments • Monitoring • Recordkeeping

Conservation practices recommended in these plans can include:

• Conservation cover • Irrigation water management • Mulching • Residue management • Prescribed grazing • Judicious herbicide use




Conservation Activity PlanIntegrated Pest Management

December 2011

Integrated Pest Management

An integrated pest management conservation activity plan is a site-specific strategy to help a landowner manage pests on agricultural lands while protectingsoil, water, air, and plant quality.


• Identification of pests, crop, and plant conditions • Assessments of crop-specific pest management needs • Environmental risk assessments • Monitoring guidelines • Recordkeeping


• Brush management • Conservation crop rotation • Field borders • Mulching • Residue management • Prescribed grazing




Conservation Activity PlanGrazing Management

December 2011

Grazing Management

A grazing management conservation activity plan is a site-specific strategy to help a landowner improve and sustain rangeland and pastureland resources.

NRCS Technical Service Providers (TSPs) prepare these plans using inputs such as: • Evaluations of existing and planned plant condition • Assessments of forage/animal balance • Analyses of grazing distribution • Contingency plans for drought, hail, flood, and fire • Assessments of forage yield, quality, and diversity • Monitoring plans

Conservation practices recommended by such a plan can include:

• Brush management • Fencing • Forage harvest management • Pasture, hay, and range planting • Prescribed grazing • Firebreaks • Watering facilities




Conservation Activity PlanForest Management

December 2011

Forest Management

A forest management conservation activity plan is a site-specific strategy to help a landowner manage forest lands while protecting wildlife habitat and soil, water, air, and plant quality.


• Analyses of past management activities • Existing and planned forest resource conditions including soil, water, site index, stand quality and health, and stocking level


• Forest stand improvement • Tree/Shrub establishment • Forest slash treatment • Firebreaks • Prescribed burning • Riparian forest buffers




Conservation Activity PlanFish and Wildlife Habitat

December 2011

Fish and Wildlife Habitat

A fish and wildlife habitat conservation activity plan is a site-specific strategy to help a landowner manage working lands to improve fish and wildlife resources.

NRCS Technical Service Providers (TSPs) prepare these plans using inputs such as: • Habitat assessment guides • Evaluations of carrying capacities for selected species and resources • Assessments of fish and wildlife populations


• Aquaculture ponds • Wetland restoration or creation • Fish passage • Upland and wetland wildlife habitat management • Wildlife watering facilities • Prescribed grazing • Prescribed burning




Conservation Activity PlanDrainage Water Management

December 2011

Drainage Water Management

A drainage water management conservation activity plan is a site-specific strategy to help a landowner improve water and soil quality while controlling soil water table elevations and water discharges from agricultural drainage systems.

NRCS Technical Service Providers (TSPs) prepare these plans using inputs such as: • Existing and planned drainage system maps • Contour maps • Soil and water tests for Nutrients

Conservation practices recommended in such a plan can include: • Structure for water control • Subsurface and surface drains • Denitrifying bioreactor • Wetland creation • Cover crop • Nutrient management • Drainage water management




Conservation Activity PlanComprehensive Nutrient Management

December 2011

Comprehensive Nutrient Management

A comprehensive nutrient management conservation activity plan is a site-specific strategy to help a landowner protect soil, water, and air quality on production and land treatment areas.

NRCS Technical Service Providers (TSPs) prepare these plans using inputs such as: • Assessments of existing and planned manure and waste water handling and storage systems • Soil and risk assessment analyses • Evaluations of land treatment practices • Assessments of farmstead safety and security

• Evaluations of farm and field nutrient balances • Recordkeeping

Conservation practices recommended in such a plan can include: • Diversion • Feed management • Waste treatment lagoon • Waste storage facility • Roof runoff structures • Manure transfer • Subsurface drain




Conservation Activity PlanComprehensive Air Quality Management

December 2011

Comprehensive Air Quality Management

A comprehensive air quality management conservation activity plan is a site-specific strategy to help a landowner improve air quality on or near agricultural operations.

NRCS Technical Service Providers (TSPs) prepare these plans using inputs such as assessments of: • Particulate matter • Ozone precursors • Odors • Greenhouse gases



• Land treatment • Manure management systems • Livestock feeding management



Conservation Activity Plan Agricultural Energy Management, Headquarters

December 2011

Agricultural Energy Management, Headquarters

An agricultural energy management conservation activity plan for farm or ranch headquarters is a site-specific evaluation to help a producer address on-farm energy conservation and efficiency issues and opportunities.


• Evaluations of current annual energy usage • Evaluations of primary agricultural energy users, such as lighting, ventilation, pumping, heating, and cooling

• Assessments of cost- effective alternatives and resulting estimated energy savings • Expected energy cost savings • Payback estimates

TSPs can recommend and plan energy conservation practices such as:

• Energy conservation and efficiency improvements • Pipelines • Pumping plants • Irrigation water management




Conservation Activity Plan Agricultural Energy Management, Landscape

December 2011

Agricultural Energy Management, Landscape

An agricultural energy management conservation activity plan for working lands in the landscape of farms and ranches is a site-specific evaluation to help a landowner address on-farm energy problems and opportunities.


• Evaluation of current energy audits • Evaluation of primary agricultural energy use for tillage, planting, harvesting, and other practices • Estimate of expected energy savings


Conservation practices recommended in the plan can include:

• Cover crop • Sprinkler irrigation systems • Irrigation water management • Mulching • Pipelines • Residue management practices • Windbreaks/Shelterbelts For more information, please visit www.nrcs.usda.gov and search for “Technical Service Providers.”


Conservation Activity PlanTransition from Irrigated to Dryland Farming and Ranching

December 2011

Transition from Irrigated to Dryland Farming and Ranching

A transition from irrigated to dryland farming and ranching conservation activity plan is a site-specific strategy to help a landowner conserve water and reduce soil erosion while sustaining crop yields.

NRCS Technical Service Providers (TSPs) prepare these plans using inputs such as: • Assessments of current fertility, soil quality, and erosion control • Evaluations of crop marketability and potential profitability • Assessments of crop water use patterns

Conservation practices included in such a plan can include:

• Water harvesting catchments • Residue and tillage management • Pasture and hayland planting • Mulching • Stripcropping • Conservation crop rotation • Prescribed grazing



Documents

Conservation Activity Plan - USDA