Gerber

Status of a USDA NRCS Conservation Program:

Yes, there can be money for Implementing IPM

Financial Incentives for Implementing IPM

Ag productivity Nutrients, growing conditions

Pest control

Resource conservationEnvironmental/pesticide regulations

Resource conservation (soil, water, air, plants, animals)

Challenge: Implementing practices that achieves resource conservation and Ag productivity

Financial Incentives for Implementing IPM

Implementation barriers

Start up costs: Difficult to recover from near-term sales Need incentives for initial grower implementation

• Pest management:Monitoring / forecasting tools

Reduced risk pesticides

Reduced risk methods of application

Biological-based controls

Cultural controls

• Crop management practicesNutrient management

Incentives: Education (MSU), Financial (NRCS)

Financial Incentives

The goal: Increase implementation of IPM and other on-far, conservation practices to

Address resource concerns

Maintain good agricultural productivity

The opportunity: participation in a federal voluntary conservation program for ‘working lands’--EQIP

Objectives:

EQIP process: status of procedures and funding

Modifications: increase attractiveness for clientele

Partnering on-the-ground: partnerships with consultants, commodities, MSUE, and NRCS

Review EQIP

Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)Provide financial incentives to demonstrate use of practices, like IPM, to conserve resources (3 yr contracts)

2000: $3.1 M (Mi)2002: $6.8 M (Mi)2004: $13.6 M (Mi)2005: $ 13.6 M (Mi)

Conservation Security ProgramAssist growers with continued maintenance of

conservation practices (5 yr contracts)

2004: $41 M nationwide, watershed (1 in MI) 2005: $200 M nationwide, watershed (4 in MI)

Review EQIP Practices

– Pest management

– Nutrient management

– Shelterbreak establishment

– Riparian buffer/Filter strips

– Heavy use area protection

– Irrigation water management

– Ag chemical containment facility

– Field border

– Residue management

– Cover crops

Resource Concerns– Groundwater– Surface water (riparian)– Soil quality/conservation– Air quality– Habitat protection

Review EQIP Fund allocation to pest management (97-02) Low percentage range: less than 0.2% for 19 states to 3.5% for one state—

0.77% national average 1.3% Michigan average

Legislative intent Increased funding in the new Farm Bill More participation expected by specialty crop grower Address pest and nutrient management

What’s needed Modifications to program: increase attractiveness

Partnering on-the-ground: partnerships with consultants, commodities, MSUE, and NRCS

Modify program NRCS advisory process

Ranking: application priority increased for IPM 2004/5: address 4 resource concerns (ground/surface

water, soil and air quality) 2003: address 2 resource concerns (ground/surface

water))

Modify program NRCS advisory process

Incentive rates: Incentive commitment to IPM 2005 fruit/nursery/Xmas tree/sod: $60/acre, up to $5,500/yr vegetables: $30/acre, up to $4,500/yr field crops: $4/acre, up to $3,500/yr 2004 fruit/nursery/Xmas tree: $20/acre, up to $2,000/yr

vegetables: $10/acre, up to $2,000/yr field crops: $3/acre, up to $2,000/yr 2002 long season crops: $5.00/acre short season crops: $2.50/acre

Partnering on-the-ground

Pilot counties: Oceana, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Antrim 2005: expand to Ottawa

Goal: More fruit / vegetable participation in EQIP as a means to implement IPM and other practices as conservation tools

Partners: Grower groups and MSU Extension: organize grower meetings, education and awarenessConsultants: work with growers to collect farm data for applicationNRCS: complete application requirements for 2004

Partnering on-the-ground

46 EQIP applications submitted All approved (>2-fold increase)

Over $1.7 million contracted

Funds to support IPM increased (as high as 13 %, 10% average) Last Farm Bill: 0.77% (US), 1.3% (MI)

Gerber

Pest management incentive rates in the regionWisconsin: ~$2-3 per acreIndiana: ~$4 per acreMinnesota: ~$2 per acreIowa: ~$4 per acreMichigan: $4 to $60 per acre

Oregon: $7.50 to $27 per acre