adding value to your farm through conservation

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Dan Solomon, NRCS, Dan Solomon, NRCS, Richmond Richmond

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Page 1: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

Dan Solomon, NRCS, Dan Solomon, NRCS, RichmondRichmond

Page 2: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

Conservation can help you increaseConservation can help you increasethe value of your greatest assetthe value of your greatest asset

Your LandYour Land!

Page 3: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

The first step to building your wealth is to know The first step to building your wealth is to know everything you can about your land. NRCS everything you can about your land. NRCS can help you develop a conservation plan. can help you develop a conservation plan.

Consult Conservation ProfessionalsConsult Conservation Professionals

Page 4: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

• Map of the farmMap of the farm

• Soils informationSoils information

• Planned practicesPlanned practices

• TimelineTimeline

Plan for SuccessPlan for Success

The best part is … it’s free!The best part is … it’s free!

Page 5: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

Put the Plan Put the Plan into Actioninto Action

NRCS has many NRCS has many programs available in programs available in 2011 to help with the 2011 to help with the cost of installing cost of installing conservation conservation practices.practices.

Page 6: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

Environmental Quality Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)Incentives Program (EQIP)

• Natural Resource Problems Natural Resource Problems – – Fix Them Fix Them

• Environmental DegradationEnvironmental Degradation

• PrioritiesPriorities

• Ranking is CompetitiveRanking is Competitive

Page 7: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

EQIP PrioritiesEQIP Priorities•Grazing ManagementGrazing Management

•Animal NutrientsAnimal Nutrients

•Sustainable Cropping Sustainable Cropping

•Soil ErosionSoil Erosion

•Soil QualitySoil Quality

•Forest ManagementForest Management

•Wildlife HabitatWildlife Habitat

Page 8: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

EQIP Special Initiatives/PilotsEQIP Special Initiatives/Pilots

• Certified Organic and Certified Organic and Transitioning Producers Transitioning Producers

• Seasonal High Tunnels Seasonal High Tunnels

• Energy ConservationEnergy Conservation

• Aquaculture Pilot- ShellfishAquaculture Pilot- Shellfish

Page 9: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

Chesapeake Bay Watershed InitiativeChesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative

• Priority Funding for Priority Funding for Farmers in the Watershed Farmers in the Watershed

• Focus on minimizing Focus on minimizing excess nutrients and excess nutrients and sediments in the Bay sediments in the Bay

Page 10: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

Wildlife Habitat Incentives ProgramWildlife Habitat Incentives Program

• Wildlife Habitat CreationWildlife Habitat Creation

• Declining HabitatsDeclining Habitats

• Invasive Species ControlInvasive Species Control

• Hardwood ManagementHardwood Management

• Stream and Streamside HabitatsStream and Streamside Habitats

• Wetlands HabitatWetlands Habitat

Page 11: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

PaymentsPayments• Contracts of 2 to 10 Years Contracts of 2 to 10 Years

• Up to $300,000 total payment 2008 – 2013Up to $300,000 total payment 2008 – 2013

• 75% of cost of practices in a contract75% of cost of practices in a contract

• Higher Incentives for Special Groups – 90%Higher Incentives for Special Groups – 90%

• Organic Initiative (USDA Certification) :Organic Initiative (USDA Certification) :

• $20,000 Per Year$20,000 Per Year

• $80,000 Over 6 Years $80,000 Over 6 Years

Page 12: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

Socially Disadvantaged FarmerSocially Disadvantaged Farmer

A farmer who has been A farmer who has been subjected to racial or subjected to racial or ethnic prejudices ethnic prejudices because of his/her because of his/her identity as a member of identity as a member of a group without regard a group without regard to his/her individual to his/her individual qualities.qualities.

• Native PeoplesNative Peoples

• AsiansAsians

• African AmericansAfrican Americans

• Pacific IslandersPacific Islanders

• HispanicsHispanics

Page 13: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

Beginning FarmerBeginning Farmer

Has Not Operated a Has Not Operated a Farm for 10 Farm for 10 Consecutive Years. Consecutive Years.

Applies to all Members of a Applies to all Members of a Business or Partnership Business or Partnership

Page 14: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

Limited Resource FarmerLimited Resource Farmer

• Direct or Indirect Farm Sales < $155,200 Direct or Indirect Farm Sales < $155,200 for the Previous Two Years for the Previous Two Years

• Total Household Income at or Below the Total Household Income at or Below the National Poverty Level for a Family of Four National Poverty Level for a Family of Four or Less Than 50 Percent of County Median or Less Than 50 Percent of County Median Household Income for the Previous Two Household Income for the Previous Two Years Years

Page 15: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

EligibilityEligibility• Individual, Business or Joint OperationIndividual, Business or Joint Operation

• Active Agricultural, Livestock or Active Agricultural, Livestock or Forestry Operation Forestry Operation

• Minimum of $1,000 of Agricultural Minimum of $1,000 of Agricultural Products Produced or on Farm Inventory Products Produced or on Farm Inventory

• Register with Farm Service AgencyRegister with Farm Service Agency

• Adjusted Gross Income of $1 Million Adjusted Gross Income of $1 Million or Less or Less• Farm and Tract NumberFarm and Tract Number• Conservation ComplianceConservation Compliance

Page 16: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

Where to Go for HelpWhere to Go for HelpContact Your Local NRCS Field Contact Your Local NRCS Field Office to Learn More About:Office to Learn More About:

• Conservation PlansConservation Plans

• Available ProgramsAvailable Programs

• What Works for You andWhat Works for You and Your Farm Your Farm

Page 17: Adding Value to Your Farm through Conservation

USDA NRCS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND PROVIDER