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Presenters : NRCS - Shannon Zezula, Teresah Caire, Ken Collins, Jill Reinhart FSA - Gail Peas IDNR DOF – Zach Smith

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.

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Presenters : NRCS - Shannon Zezula, Teresah Caire, Ken Collins, Jill Reinhart FSA - Gail Peas IDNR DOF – Zach Smith

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  1. 2008 Farm Bill(Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008) New Opportunities for Forestry-related Conservation Assistance to Private LandownersIndiana Forests in the Farm Bill Implementation Workshop April 23, 2009

  2. 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

  3. Presentation Objectives Indiana Forests in the Farm Bill Implementation Workshop Workshop participants will recognize: • The importance of forest management plans • USDA eligibility requirements and sign-up process • Key forestry-related provisions in the 2008 Farm Bill, and how landowners can apply for specific programs in Indiana • Information they can use to outreach to landowners through workshops/webinars, one-on-one meetings, etc.

  4. Steps to USDA Conservation Assistance 1. Create your Plan 2. Sign-up with USDA 3. Find a Program for you 4. Other Farm Bill Programs

  5. Steps to USDA Conservation Assistance 1. Create your Plan

  6. 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

  7. 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)

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. NRCS Plan Criteria Client Objectives, which may include these and others: • Potential income • Forest stand improvement • Tree planting • Wildlife habitat/riparian areas • Recreation

  11. 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.

  12. NRCS Plan Criteria Desired Future Conditions: • Species composition • Basal area

  13. 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

  14. 2. Sign-up with USDA Go to: offices.usda.gov Click on your State Click on your County Get Contact Info and Directions

  15. 2. Sign-Up with USDA - Eligibility Adjusted 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

  16. 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.

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. Find a Program for you - types 3. Working Lands Conservation

  20. 3. Find a Program for You – Working Lands Conservation NRCS • Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) • Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) • Conservation Security Program (CSP)

  21. 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.)

  22. 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),

  23. 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

  24. EQIP(NRCS) Forestry Practices 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

  25. EQIP (NRCS) Forestry Practices 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.

  26. EQIP(NRCS)ForestryPractices Pest Management (595) • Must have a Forest Management Plan • Japanese and Bush Honeysuckle, Ailanthus, Multi-Flora Rose, Buckthorn Autumn Olive, Periwinkle • $77 per acre FY09 payment rate – eligible for up to 3 payments

  27. EQIP(NRCS) ForestryPractices • 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

  28. EQIP(NRCS) ForestryPractices Riparian Forest Buffer (391) • $407 per acre FY09 payment rate Windbreak/Shelterbelt Est. (380) • $0.58 per lineal foot FY09 payment rate

  29. 3. Find a Program for You – Working Lands Conservation WHIP(NRCS) • Assistance to develop wildlife habitat, including T&E species. • Eligibility Changes: private ag land, NIPF, Tribal land, (govt. land NOT eligible)

  30. WHIP(NRCS)ForestryPractices Pest Management (595) • Kudzu • Shrubs and Vines • Grasses • Payment rates based upon 100% infestation • Percent cover is estimated and prorated payment is applicable

  31. WHIP(NRCS) ForestryPractices Pest Management (595) Kudzu • Plan will bedeveloped by IDNR-Div. of Entomology • Maximum of 3 acres unless approved by NRCS • Payment rates: Year 1 - $2325 Year 2 - $1275 Year 3 - $1275 Year 4 - $750 Year 5 - $500

  32. WHIP(NRCS) Practices Pest Management (595) Shrubs and Vines Species Include: Asian Bush Honeysuckle, Tree of Heaven, Glossy Buckthorn, Multi-flora Rose, Japanese Honeysuckle, Periwinkle FY09 Payment Rates: Year 1 - $516;Year 2 - $299; Year 3 - $149

  33. WHIP(NRCS) ForestryPractices 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

  34. CSP(NRCS) ForestryPractices • 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

  35. Find a Program for you - types 3. Conservation Easement/ Reserve

  36. 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

  37. 3. Find a Program for You – Conservation Easement/Reserve HFRP(NRCS) • Restore and enhance forest ecosystems through easements, 30-year contracts, and 10-year cost share agreements: • Promote recovery of T&E species • Improve plant and animal diversity • Enhance carbon sequestration • $1 million AGI limit does not apply to HFRP

  38. 3. Find a Program for You –Conservation 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

  39. 3. Find a Program for You –Conservation Easement/Reserve WRP(NRCS) • Assistance to restore and protect wetlands through permanent or 30-year easementsand/orrestoration cost-share agreements • Eligible lands includefloodplain 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

  40. 3. Find a Program for You –Conservation 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)

  41. 3. Find a Program for You –Conservation 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.

  42. 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)

  43. 3. Find a Program for You –Conservation 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

  44. 3. Find a Program for You –Conservation Easement/Reserve 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)

  45. 3. Find a Program for You –Conservation 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

  46. 3. Find a Program for You –Conservation 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.

  47. 3. Find a Program for You – Conservation Easement/Reserve 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)

  48. 3. Find a Program for You – Conservation Easement/Reserve CREP(FSA) – “Continuous Sign-Up” Available Watersheds for CREP:

  49. 3. Find a Program for You – Conservation 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

  50. Find a Program for you - types 3. Wood Energy

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