2009 Workshop STCs 7 23 09

Brad Redlin Director, Agricultural Programs USDA - NRCS State Technical Committees

IWLA Ag Programs: STC Workshop 1. Why? 2. What? 3. How?

52 percent of total U.S. land is in agricultural use.
Urban land use is 2.6 percent.
Parks and wildlife areas are 13.1 percent.

Farm policy directly impacts environment.

Highest payments per acre correspond to highest runoff risk.
2008 Gulf Hypoxic zone 20,720 sq. kilometers, 8,000 sq. miles
May-June Mississippi River basin nitrogen 7,761 metric tons/day

Title I Commodity Programs
Title II Conservation
Title III Trade
Title IV Nutrition Programs
Title V Credit
Title VI Rural Development
Title VII Research
Title VIII Forestry
Title IX Energy
Title X Horticulture and Organic Agriculture
Title XI Livestock
Title XII Crop Insurance and Disaster Assistance
Title XIII Commodity Futures
Title XIV Miscellaneous
Title XV Tax Provisions
2008

2008 Farm Bill spends $35 billion Title I, $25 billion Title II.
2008 Farm Bill increased conservation $4 billion

Conservation Title
contains a suite of
programs.
Specific programs
serve different goals
and utilize different
methods.

Farm participation in USDA programs.

Without USDA Conservation:
48 million more tons of carbon dioxide.
450 million tons of topsoil lost every year.
170,000 miles of unprotected streams.
40 million fewer acres of wildlife habitat.
2.2 million fewer ducks.
13.5 million fewer pheasants.

The NRCS mission is to promote the long-term sustainability of all agricultural lands, including cropland, forestland, and grazing lands; and to include improving water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, wetlands, and unique natural areas.
The Secretary must establish a technical committee in each State to assist in making technical considerations related to the implementation of conservation provisions.
State Technical Committees work closely with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service in an advisory capacity.

USDA will seek State Technical Committee recommendations including, but not limited to, the following:
Wetland protection, restoration, and mitigation requirements;
Criteria for evaluating bids for CRP enrollment;
Guidelines for haying, grazing and weed control to protect nesting wildlife;
Wetland and highly erodible land conservation compliance exemptions and the appeals process;
Guidelines for planting perennial cover for water quality and wildlife habitat improvement on set-aside lands;
Criteria and priorities for state initiatives under EQIP;
Criteria for defining a large confined livestock operation;
Determination of cost share and incentive payment limits;
Implementation of the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program;
Statewide guidelines applicable to WRP easement compensation, restoration planning, priority ranking, and related policy matters.

General Process
NRCS State Technical Committees & Local Working Groups

2008 Farm Bill revised State Technical Committee standards and composition.
2008 Farm Bill aligned Local Working Group membership diversity to match STC’s.
As of July ’09, USDA is operating under Interim Final Rule implementing 2008 Farm Bill changes*
*see IWLA comments at: www.iwla.org/agconservation

‘‘ (c) COMPOSITION.—Each State technical committee shall be composed of agricultural producers and other professionals that represent a variety of disciplines in the soil, water, wetland, and wildlife sciences. The technical committee for a State shall include representatives from among the following:
‘‘ (1) The Natural Resources Conservation Service.
‘‘ (2) The Farm Service Agency.
‘‘ (3) The Forest Service.
‘‘ (4) The National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
‘‘ (5) The State fish and wildlife agency.
‘‘ (6) The State forester or equivalent State official.
‘‘ (7) The State water resources agency.
‘‘ (8) The State department of agriculture.
‘‘ (9) The State association of soil and water conservation districts.
‘‘ (10) Agricultural producers representing the variety of crops and livestock or poultry raised within the State.
‘‘ (11) Owners of nonindustrial private forest land.
‘‘ (12) Nonprofit organizations within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with demonstrable conservation expertise and experience working with agriculture producers in the State.
‘‘ (13) Agribusiness.
Ikes participation in State Technical Committees.

(b) Local Working Groups .
(1) A Local Working Group shall be composed of conservation district officials, agricultural producers representing the variety of crops and livestock or poultry raised within the local area, nonindustrial private forest land owners , and other professionals representing relevant agricultural and conservation interests and a variety of disciplines in the soil, water, plant, wetland, and wildlife sciences who are familiar with private land agricultural and natural resource issues in the local community ;
(2) Local Working Groups provide recommendations on local natural resource priorities and criteria for conservation activities and programs.
Ikes participation in Local Working Groups.

No standard application; request to NRCS State Conservationist.
Written request explaining your interest & outlining your credentials.
Must receive response in 60 days.
State Technical Committee membership (per IFR*).
*USDA’s Interim Final Rule for standard operating procedures

Local Working Group membership (per IFR*).
No standard application; request to Local Working Group Chairperson and NRCS District Conservationist.
Written request explaining your interest & outlining your credentials.
District Conservationist assists Soil and Water Conservation District in selecting members.
*USDA’s Interim Final Rule for standard operating procedures

Participation, with preparation, pays off.

“ Decisions are made by those who show up.” --a committee truism http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/organization/regions.html http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/
Go to NRCS website:
Click “States and Regions”:
Find your state NRCS & State Conservationists: --Ikes with the Chief of the NRCS, Dave White

www.iwla.org State Technical Committees IWLA Staff Assistance: www.iwla.org /agconservation Brad Redlin 651.649.1446 ext.13 651.270.0564 mobile [email_address]
Check resources at IWLA website
Call and/or email me anytime

2009 Workshop STCs 7 23 09

by Izaak Walton League of America on Aug 10, 2009

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2009 Workshop STCs 7 23 09 — Presentation Transcript