aaron lauster mission support services national ... to address landowners resource ... 9 to keep...
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Mission Support ServicesOperations Associate Chief Area
Aaron LausterNational Sustainable Agriculture LeadStrategic Natural Resource Initiatives
Aaron LausterNational Sustainable Agriculture LeadStrategic Natural Resource Initiatives January 2018January 2018
Resource Stewardship Evaluation (RSE)What is it?
The Resource Stewardship Evaluation (RSE) is a voluntary service provided to producers as part of the conservation planning process.
RSE pairs key stewardship indicators and evaluation methods for a defined subset of nationally important resource concerns.
All information is protected as part of the client’s individual conservation plan.
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RSE Objectives
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Improve Customer Service• Develop framework for Stewardship Recognition• Support Sustainability metrics producers need for buyers and export markets
• Efficient and Technically Credible to support Client Decision Making
Improve Efficiency• Integrate with Conservation Planning and CDSI• Information useable in Program Ranking and
Eligibility as part of conservation delivery
RSET StatusLand Use Evaluations Available• Crop In Use• Pasture & Range 2.0 Rolled out in April• Stand Alone Tool 3.0 Rolled out in Sept• Forestry 4.0 (March Expected)• Farmstead 4.0 (March Expected)• Associated Ag Land 4.0 (March Expected)
Completed • 1321 evaluations on 863 PLUs• 414 Clients• 268 Users• 70,000 Acres
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Mission Support Services
RSE Utilization
Take care of the land and the land will take care of you.– Hugh Hammond Bennett
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Stewardship Recognition
“If you’re going to be in farming today, you’re going to have to pay attention to detail. And I believe NRCS and soil conservation can really help, I really do.” – Maryland farmer
Maryland Farmpumpkin, corn,
soybeans, wheat
Existing no-till operation, with cover crops on highly erodible
soils achieved all stewardship thresholds
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Empowering ProducersNew Jersey Farm
corn, soybeans conversion to hay
Tenant farmer used RS to address landowners resource concerns and stay farming
“Using planning knowledge and the RS tool NRCS staff helped the producer evaluate alternative options that would meet the landowners DRCC easement restrictions but still allow agricultural production. Plan achieved the soil erosion, water quality, and habitat improvements the DRCC wanted while allowing the farmer to keep land vital to his business in production.” – District Conservationist9
Effects of Programs
-100,000
-50,000
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
Total Nitrogen(lbs)
Soil Carbon Loss(lbs)
Iowa RSE Pilot Results
Benchmark Planned RS Threshold
40%Reduction
60%Reduction
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
Sediment (tons) Total Phosphorus(lbs)
Iowa RSE Pilot Results
Benchmark Planned RS Threshold
70%Reduction
40%Reduction
Fields AcresChange in Key Environmental Indicators
Sediment (tons)
Total Nitrogen
(lbs)
Total Phosphorus
(lbs)
Soil Carbon
(lbs)
25 987 2,900 28,400 4,400 118,700
The referenced numbers reflect all RS evaluations which have completed a benchmark and planned alternative. Values are estimated from CEAP analysis of the effects of meeting thresholds and the RSE results of individual fields.
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Mission Support Services
RSE Partnerships
If we are bold in our thinking, courageous in accepting new ideas, and willing to work with instead of against our land, we shall find in conservation farming an avenue to the greatest food production the world has ever known.– Hugh Hammond Bennett
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Interoperability
• Metric Harmonization• Data Sharing• User Privacy• User Service
How do we best serve farmers and tell the Conservation Story together?
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Mission Support Services
RSE Trailblazers &Soil Health Champions
Out of the long list of nature’s gifts to man, none is perhaps so utterly essential to human life as soil.– Hugh Hammond Bennett
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