united states department of agriculture 2008 farm bill (food, conservation, and energy act of 2008)...

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


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


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


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


Steps to USDA Conservation Assistance

1.

Create your Plan


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


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)


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


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


NRCS Plan Criteria

Client Objectives, which may include these and others:

• Potential income• Forest stand improvement• Tree planting• Wildlife habitat/riparian areas• Recreation


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.


NRCS Plan Criteria

Desired Future Conditions:• Species composition• Basal area


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


Go to: offices.usda.gov

Click on your State

Click on your County Get Contact Info and Directions

2. Sign-up with USDA


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


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.


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


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


Find a Program for you - types

3.

Working Lands Conservation


NRCS– Environmental Quality Incentives Program

(EQIP)– Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP)– Conservation Security Program (CSP)

3. Find a Program for You – Working Lands

Conservation


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


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),



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


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



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.



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




• 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


Riparian Forest Buffer (391)• $407 per acre FY09 payment rateWindbreak/Shelterbelt Est. (380)• $0.58 per lineal foot FY09 payment

rate



WHIP (NRCS)• Assistance to develop wildlife habitat,

including T&E species. • Eligibility Changes: private ag land, NIPF,

Tribal land, (govt. land NOT eligible)



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


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



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


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



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



3.

Conservation Easement/ Reserve


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


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


Easement/Reserve


HFRP (NRCS)• In Indiana, only in the St. Joseph River

(Maumee) Watershed • Focus - biodiversity, carbon sequestration,

and habitat for:– Copperbelly Watersnake– Indiana Bat– Mussels


Easement/Reserve


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


Easement/Reserve


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)


Easement/Reserve


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


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)


Easement/Reserve


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




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)





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



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.


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)


Easement/Reserve



Easement/ReserveCREP (FSA) – “Continuous Sign-Up”

Available Watersheds for CREP:



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



3.

Wood Energy


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.



Landscape/Watershed & Innovation Opps.

Emergency Programs

State Technical Committees & Technical Service Providers


4. Other Farm Bill Programs - Landscape/Watershed & Innovation

Opportunities

• NRCS– Cooperative Conservation Partnership

Initiative (CCPI)– Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)


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


Opportunities


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


Opportunities


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


Opportunities



Landscape/Watershed & Innovation Opps.

Emergency Programs



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)


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



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 ProgramsLandscape/Watershed & Innovation Opps.

Emergency Programs



4. Other Farm Bill Programs - Opportunities for Foresters/Forestry

NRCS• State Technical Committees• Technical Service Providers (TSPs)


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


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


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


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


Questions?

united states department of agriculture 2008 farm bill (food, conservation, and energy act of 2008)...

Documents