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NEWS
USDA INITIATIVE BENEFITS FARMERS AND TSP'S
Contact: Gary Smith (717)237-2204
HARRISBURG, PA, June 14, 1007− Pennsylvania Farmers and Technical Service
Providers (TSPs) will now have an opportunity to work together to develop
Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) under a new USDA initiative.
CNMPs have been developed through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
contracts for many years. What differs is the incentive for farmers to receive
EQIP dollars through a contract that will then be used by the farmer to hire a
private industry person to complete the plan rather than a USDA employee.
This initiative is for the planning stages of a CNMP. Farmers will not only
benefit from the value of the content in the CNMP, but it will also put farmers
in a better position to apply for an additional EQIP contract that will go
towards incentive payments to apply the practices shown in the CNMP. Funding for
EQIP is limited, so farmers can take this step to make their EQIP applications
more competitive in the ranking process.
According to USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist
Craig Derickson, “TSPs stand to benefit from this program because it will put
more dollars in the hands of the private sector that will do the planning work.
It will help to build the capacity and expertise for doing conservation work for
non-USDA employees. The more people we have involved in doing quality
conservation work, the better it is for the farming community and the
environment. NRCS welcomes TSPs to assist us in getting conservation work
accomplished.”
Four issues are addressed in a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan: 1) Manure
and Wastewater Storage and Handling Plan, 2) Nutrient Management Planning, 3)
Land Treatment Conservation Planning, and 4) Record Keeping. Nutrient Management
Planning and
Commission’s Act 38 Nutrient Management Planning process. There should be no
duplication of services or confusion between the state and federal programs
since the two agencies have worked together to make the programs compatible.
EQIP is a continuous sign up program so farmers who wish to participate can sign
up now at their USDA Service Center for funding in 2008. Since TSPs need to be
certified by NRCS to do the work, starting the process early will better ensure
certification by the time farmers begin to receive contracts and are seeking
qualified TSPs to do their CNMP plan. An information meeting for TSPs will be
held in Harrisburg on July 13. For information about the meeting, please call
Gary Smith at 717-237-2204.
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a
partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural
resources and environment. Additional information about USDA NRCS programs can
be obtained through the website at www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov or by contacting the
local USDA Service Center. The Spanish/English toll free number is
1-866-232-0690.
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