United States Department of Agriculture
2008 Farm Bill (Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008)
New Opportunities for Forestry-related
Conservation Assistance to Private Landowners
Indiana Forests in the Farm Bill Implementation
Workshop
April 23, 2009
United States Department of Agriculture
Presenters:
NRCS - Shannon Zezula, Teresah Caire,
Ken Collins, Jill ReinhartFSA - Gail PeasIDNR DOF – Zach Smith
New Opportunities for Forestry-related
Conservation Assistance to Private Landowners
United States Department of Agriculture
Workshop participants will recognize:1. The importance of forest management plans2. USDA eligibility requirements and sign-up
process3. Key forestry-related provisions in the 2008
Farm Bill, and how landowners can apply for specific programs in Indiana
4. Information they can use to outreach to landowners through workshops/webinars, one-on-one meetings, etc.
Presentation Objectives Indiana Forests in the Farm Bill
Implementation Workshop
United States Department of Agriculture
Create your Plan
Sign-up with USDA
Find a Program for you
Steps to USDA Conservation Assistance
1.
2.
3.
4. Other Farm Bill Programs
United States Department of Agriculture
Steps to USDA Conservation Assistance
1.
Create your Plan
United States Department of Agriculture
1. Create Your Plan Work with a Professional Forester
OPTIONS:• Forest Stewardship Plan
– From IDNR Div. of Forestry– Meets requirements for Farm Bill programs
• Other forestry plans– Foresters listed with NRCS as a TSP– ACF and SAF Certified Foresters– Consulting Foresters
United States Department of Agriculture
1. NRCS/EQIP Assistance to Develop a Plan = Forest Management Plan (106)
• Payment to get a plan developed• Must have at least 10 acres of forest land
after plan is implemented• Must use a certified Technical Service
Provider (TSP)
United States Department of Agriculture
NRCS Plan Alternatives
• Plan from the IN DNR Div. of Forestry• Plan from a professional forester e.g.
consultant• Must meet NRCS Forest Management Plan
Criteria for 106 Conservation Activity Plan
United States Department of Agriculture
NRCS Plan Criteria
Background and Site Information• Location and map of parcel• Documentation of existing practices• Past harvest history• Identification of resource concerns such as:
plant condition (TSI), soil erosion, sensitive areas e.g. wetlands, streams, invasive species
United States Department of Agriculture
NRCS Plan Criteria
Client Objectives, which may include these and others:
• Potential income• Forest stand improvement• Tree planting• Wildlife habitat/riparian areas• Recreation
United States Department of Agriculture
NRCS Plan Criteria
Existing Conditions:• Identify resource concerns• ID forest stand boundaries• Treatment alternatives• Species info. volume, size classes, basal
area• Invasive species• Sensitive areas, streams, wetlands, etc.
United States Department of Agriculture
NRCS Plan Criteria
Desired Future Conditions:• Species composition• Basal area
United States Department of Agriculture
NRCS Plan Criteria
Document landowners decisions:• Separate sheet and a reference map• Location, size (acres), practices• Planned implementation date using
NRCS practice codes• TSI must meet EQIP criteria, 10 sq. ft.
of Basal Area Removed and/or 30 vines removed per acres
United States Department of Agriculture
Go to: offices.usda.gov
Click on your State
Click on your County Get Contact Info and Directions
2. Sign-up with USDA
United States Department of Agriculture
2. Sign-Up with USDA - EligibilityAdjusted Gross Income (AGI)
Limitation• Limits conservation benefits - persons or
legal entities with avg. non-farm AGI less than $1 million– Exceptions: unless 2/3 of average total AGI is
from farming, ranching, or forestry
• Limitation may be waived: if environmentally sensitive land of special significance is protected
United States Department of Agriculture
2. Sign-Up with USDA - Eligibility
Conservation Compliance• All persons receiving USDA
benefits must certify compliance with USDA highly erodible land and wetland compliance provisions.
United States Department of Agriculture
2. Sign-Up with USDA - Eligibility
Payment Limitation• Payments limited by direct
attribution to persons and entities• Each USDA program has specific
payment limitation levels
United States Department of Agriculture
2. Sign-up with USDA – Application Process
• Participant Eligibility forms at USDA Service Center:– Adjusted Gross Income Statement (CCC-926)– Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Determination (AD-
1026)– Entity Member Disclosure (CCC-901)
• Participant information: into Service Center Information Management System (SCIMS ID)– Name, address, etc.– Farm and Tract Number (need deed)
• Complete program application and submit to NRCS or FSA
United States Department of Agriculture
Find a Program for you - types
3.
Working Lands Conservation
United States Department of Agriculture
NRCS– Environmental Quality Incentives Program
(EQIP)– Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP)– Conservation Security Program (CSP)
3. Find a Program for You – Working Lands
Conservation
United States Department of Agriculture
EQIP (NRCS)• Funds available to address existing natural
resource concerns• Participant must have at least $1000 of gross
farm products sold, or expected to be sold. – Nonindustrial private forest land (NIPF) is eligible if
it meets this definition, or has a Forest Management Plan, or has had improvements completed (trees planted, FSI, etc.)
3. Find a Program for You – Working Lands Conservation
United States Department of Agriculture
EQIP (NRCS)• Assistance for wide range of forestry-related
conservation practices • Applications accepted throughout the year• Participants enter into a contract to
implement one or more practices• A forest management plan is required for
NIPF (could be an existing Forest Stewardship or other forestry plan),
3. Find a Program for You – Working Lands Conservation
United States Department of Agriculture
EQIP (NRCS) Forestry Practices
Forest Management Plan (106)
FY09 Rates (one plan per FSA tract):• less than 20 ac $225• 20-79 ac $338• 80+ ac $413
United States Department of Agriculture
Forest Stand Improvement (666)• Minimum of 10 acres
– At least: 200 diameter inches/acre, – or 10 sq. ft. of Basal Area/acre, – or at least 30 grapevines/acre must be
needed to be removed to be eligible.• Forest management plan required• $34 per acre FY09 payment rate
EQIP (NRCS) Forestry Practices
United States Department of Agriculture
Forest Trails and Landings (655)• Minimum 10 acres• Forest management plan required• $317 per acre FY09 payment rate• Payment only for the actual treatment
acres.
EQIP (NRCS) Forestry Practices
United States Department of Agriculture
Pest Management (595)• Must have a Forest Management Plan• Japanese and Bush Honeysuckle,
Ailanthus, Multi-Flora Rose, BuckthornAutumn Olive, Periwinkle
• $77 per acre FY09 payment rate – eligible for up to 3 payments
EQIP (NRCS) Forestry Practices
United States Department of Agriculture
EQIP (NRCS) Forestry Practices
• Tree & Shrub Establishment (612)• After implementation, contiguous acres must =:
– Upland =10 ac; Bottomland or Wetland = 5 ac
• 1 acre minimum• Forest management plan required• FY09 Payment rate (per acre):• $395 - cropland, $321 - pastureland
United States Department of Agriculture
Riparian Forest Buffer (391)• $407 per acre FY09 payment rateWindbreak/Shelterbelt Est. (380)• $0.58 per lineal foot FY09 payment
rate
EQIP (NRCS) Forestry Practices
United States Department of Agriculture
WHIP (NRCS)• Assistance to develop wildlife habitat,
including T&E species. • Eligibility Changes: private ag land, NIPF,
Tribal land, (govt. land NOT eligible)
3. Find a Program for You – Working Lands Conservation
United States Department of Agriculture
Pest Management (595)• Kudzu• Shrubs and Vines• Grasses• Payment rates based upon 100% infestation• Percent cover is estimated and prorated
payment is applicable
WHIP (NRCS) Forestry Practices
United States Department of Agriculture
Pest Management (595) Kudzu• Plan will be developed by IDNR-Div. of
Entomology• Maximum of 3 acres unless approved by NRCS• Payment rates:
Year 1 - $2325Year 2 - $1275 Year 3 - $1275Year 4 - $750Year 5 - $500
WHIP (NRCS) Forestry Practices
United States Department of Agriculture
Pest Management (595) Shrubs and Vines
Species Include: Asian Bush Honeysuckle, Tree of Heaven, Glossy Buckthorn, Multi-flora Rose, Japanese Honeysuckle,
PeriwinkleFY09 Payment Rates: Year 1 - $516;Year 2 - $299; Year 3 - $149
WHIP (NRCS) Practices
United States Department of Agriculture
Riparian Forest Buffer (391)• $400 per acre payment rate
Tree Shrub Establishment (612)• $383 per acre payment rate
Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (380)
• $0.66 per lineal foot payment rate
WHIP (NRCS) Forestry Practices
United States Department of Agriculture
CSP (NRCS) Forestry Practices
• Focus is on additional conservation activities and to maintain, improve, manage existing activities
• Final Rules are still under development, but Non-Industrial Private Forest Land is expected to be eligible
United States Department of Agriculture
Find a Program for you - types
3.
Conservation Easement/ Reserve
United States Department of Agriculture
3. Find a Program for You – Conservation
Easement/Reserve• NRCS
– Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP)– Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
• Farm Service Agency (FSA)– Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
• Forest Service in cooperation with IN DNR Forestry– Forest Legacy Program
United States Department of Agriculture
HFRP (NRCS)• Restore and enhance forest ecosystems
through easements, 30-year contracts, and 10-year cost share agreements:
1. Promote recovery of T&E species2. Improve plant and animal diversity3. Enhance carbon sequestration
• $1 million AGI limit does not apply to HFRP
3. Find a Program for You – Conservation
Easement/Reserve
United States Department of Agriculture
HFRP (NRCS)• In Indiana, only in the St. Joseph River
(Maumee) Watershed • Focus - biodiversity, carbon sequestration,
and habitat for:– Copperbelly Watersnake– Indiana Bat– Mussels
3. Find a Program for You – Conservation
Easement/Reserve
United States Department of Agriculture
WRP (NRCS)• Assistance to restore and protect wetlands
through permanent or 30-year easements and/or restoration cost-share agreements
• Eligible lands include floodplain forests• Existing forestland is eligible if considered a
component of the wetland being protected (buffer or forested wetlands)
• Governments not eligible• Ownership change within 7 years – not
eligible
3. Find a Program for You – Conservation
Easement/Reserve
United States Department of Agriculture
WRP (NRCS)• 3 million acre cap through 2012
(~ 766,000 new acres)• FY 2009 – up to 250,000 acres• In Indiana, easement payments range
from $1,000 - $4,687 (depending on county cap)
3. Find a Program for You – Conservation
Easement/Reserve
United States Department of Agriculture
CRP (FSA)• CRP consists of two types of signups: general
and continuous• Land offered for enrollment must be cropland
and have cropping history (as determined by FSA)
• CRP provides producers with cost-share for establishment, annual rental payments and incentives for certain practices.
3. Find a Program for You –
Conservation Easement/Reserve
United States Department of Agriculture
CRP (FSA) – “General Sign-Up”• ‘Whole-Field’• National Competition• Only available during announced sign-up
periods (none anticipated in FY09)• Eligible Forestry-Related Practices
– CP3A (Hardwood Tree Planting)– CP3 (Softwood Tree Planting)– CP25 (Rare and Declining Habitat)– CP32 (Tree Planting on Marginal
Pastureland)
3. Find a Program for You – Conservation
Easement/Reserve
United States Department of Agriculture
CRP (FSA) – “Continuous Sign-Up”• Land determined automatically eligible
due to ‘Environmentally-Sensitive’ • Automatic funding if eligibility is met
– Some practices also eligible on Marginal Pastureland and Wellhead Protection areas
• Available continuously with additional incentives and payments
3. Find a Program for You –
Conservation Easement/Reserve
United States Department of Agriculture
CRP (FSA) – “Continuous Sign-Up”• Eligible Forestry-Related Practices
– CP3 and CP3A (Tree Plantings in Wellhead Protection Areas)
– CP5A (Windbreaks)– CP16A (Shelterbelts)– CP17A (Living Snow Fence)– CP22 (Riparian Forest Buffer)
• Also eligible on Marginal Pastureland– CP23, CP23A, CP27/CP28 (Wetlands with Riparian
Buffers)– CP30 (Wetland Buffer on Marginal Pastureland)– CP31 (Hardwood Tree Establishment on Wetlands)– CP38C (SAFE – Indiana Bat Habitat)
3. Find a Program for You –
Conservation Easement/Reserve
United States Department of Agriculture
3. Find a Program for You – Conservation
Easement/Reserve
• SAFE (State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement)– Continuous CRP program
available in four priority areas in Indiana which were determined based on state threatened and endangered species.
– Forestland restoration is the focus of the Indiana Bat priority area
– Continuous CRP practice CP38C
United States Department of Agriculture
3. Find a Program for You – Conservation
Easement/Reserve• Tree Thinning of CRP Practices
– New provision provided in 2008 Farm Bill – will be available later in 2009.
– Provides cost-share to perform tree thinning, prescribed burning, pruning and vegetation management necessary to improve the condition on the land
– CRP practices eligible for tree thinning include: CP3, CP3A, CP4B, CP5A, CP11, CP16, CP31, CP32, CP38C
– FSA will provide cost-share to participant and annual rental payment will not be reduced. In addition participant can make commercial use of the forest refuse.
United States Department of Agriculture
CREP (FSA) – “Continuous Sign-Up”
Partnership between USDA and State of Indiana• FSA provides cost-share, annual rental payment and incentives.
Plus an additional 40% annual rental payment incentive is available.
• State of Indiana provides a $400/A incentive for forestry practices ($100/A for other practices)
• Land must be located within three priority watersheds and meet all other CRP eligibility requirements.
• Available until the acreage cap is met (7,000 Acres)• Eligible Forestry Practices
– CP22 (Riparian Forest Buffer) and CP3A (as an aquatic a buffer)– CP23 and CP23A (Wetlands)– CP31 (Hardwood Tree Plantings on Wetlands)
3. Find a Program for You – Conservation
Easement/Reserve
United States Department of Agriculture
3. Find a Program for You – Conservation
Easement/ReserveCREP (FSA) – “Continuous Sign-Up”
Available Watersheds for CREP:
United States Department of Agriculture
3. Find a Program for You – Conservation
Easement/Reserve
Forest Legacy (USFS)• In cooperation with IN DNR Forestry• Grants to States to protect important forest areas• Conservation easements and fee-simple
purchases• National competitive selection process• 6,422 acres protected to date in Indiana
United States Department of Agriculture
Find a Program for you - types
3.
Wood Energy
United States Department of Agriculture
3. Find a Program for You –Wood Energy
BCAP Biomass Crop Assistance Program (FSA)
• Assistance for establishment, production, harvest, storage and transport of renewable biomass
• Requires:– Establishment of BCAP project areas– Producer contracts with USDA: Non Industrial Private
Forestland is eligible• Payments:
– Annual contract payments to producers in BCAP– Delivery payments to collect or harvest eligible materials
delivered to conversion facility in BCAP project area.
• Approximately 2010 before program is available.
United States Department of Agriculture
4. Other Farm Bill Programs
Landscape/Watershed & Innovation Opps.
Emergency Programs
State Technical Committees & Technical Service Providers
United States Department of Agriculture
4. Other Farm Bill Programs - Landscape/Watershed & Innovation
Opportunities
• NRCS– Cooperative Conservation Partnership
Initiative (CCPI)– Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)
United States Department of Agriculture
CCPI (NRCS)• Address conservation priorities in
targeted geographic areas on a local, state, multi-state, regional level.
• NIPF is eligible• Priority is given to applications that
– leverage non-Federal resources and coordinate with local, State, or Federal efforts
4. Other Farm Bill Programs - Landscape/Watershed & Innovation
Opportunities
United States Department of Agriculture
CCPI (NRCS)• Operates under the specific program rule
(EQIP, WHIP, CSP)• Directs 6 percent of funds in EQIP & WHIP
and 6% of CSP acres for conservation activities
• Projects selected competitively• Request for Proposals due to Indiana NRCS
by April 23, 2009
4. Other Farm Bill Programs - Landscape/Watershed & Innovation
Opportunities
United States Department of Agriculture
CIG (NRCS)• Stimulate the development and adoption of
innovative conservation approaches and technologies
• FY 2009 – up to $20 million available for national competition.
• Four CIG categories in FY 2009:– Natural Resource Concerns (includes Forest Health)– Technology– Chesapeake Bay Watershed– Grant Leveraging
4. Other Farm Bill Programs - Landscape/Watershed & Innovation
Opportunities
United States Department of Agriculture
4. Other Farm Bill Programs
Landscape/Watershed & Innovation Opps.
Emergency Programs
State Technical Committees & Technical Service Providers
United States Department of Agriculture
4. Other Farm Bill Programs - Emergency Programs
• NRCS– Floodplain Easement Program (FEP)
• Operates under Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP)
• FSA– Emergency Forest Restoration
Program (EFRP)
United States Department of Agriculture
FEP (NRCS)• Available to lands that have flooded at
least once in the last 12 months, or at least twice in the last 10 years.
• Funding subject to appropriation.• Permanent Easements and restoration
costs (100%) to restore floodplain functions and values
4. Other Farm Bill Programs - Emergency Programs
United States Department of Agriculture
EFRP (FSA)• Available to Non-Industrial Private Forest
owners to restore landscapes damaged by fire, drought, flood, & other natural disasters.
• Funding subject to appropriation.• Funds available until expended. Up to 75%
cost-share.• Regulations to be issued within 1 year of
enactment
4. Other Farm Bill Programs - Emergency Programs
United States Department of Agriculture
4. Other Farm Bill ProgramsLandscape/Watershed & Innovation Opps.
Emergency Programs
State Technical Committees & Technical Service Providers
United States Department of Agriculture
4. Other Farm Bill Programs - Opportunities for Foresters/Forestry
NRCS• State Technical Committees• Technical Service Providers (TSPs)
United States Department of Agriculture
State Technical Committees (NRCS)• 2008 Farm Bill expanded agricultural and
forestry involvement on committees• NIPF owners are now explicitly members of
State Technical Committees and Local Working Groups
• Indiana State Technical Committee represented by IDNR Division of Forestry, US Forest Service, Tree Farm.
4. Other Farm Bill Programs - Opportunities for Foresters/Forestry
United States Department of Agriculture
TSPs (NRCS)• TSPs are certified professionals
qualified to provide technical services to USDA customers
• For info: http://techreg.usda.gov/
4. Other Farm Bill Programs – Opportunities for
Foresters/Forestry
United States Department of Agriculture
TSPs (NRCS)• Opportunity for to write forest
management plans AND/OR to
• Provide Technical Assistance to Implement Forestry Practices
4. Other Farm Bill Programs - Opportunities for
Foresters/Forestry
United States Department of Agriculture
KEY POINTS• There are new opportunities for landowners
to apply for forestry-related assistance through USDA programs.
• To learn more about programs and priorities: Participate on your State Technical Committee and contact agency officials.
• Please use this information to outreach to landowners through workshops/webinars, one-on-one contacts, etc.
Indiana Forests in the Farm Bill Implementation Workshop
United States Department of Agriculture
Questions?