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Conservation Today and Tomorrow
Remarks by Dana York, Associate Chief
Natural Resources Conservation Service, at
Soil and Water Conservation Society Conference
Keystone, CO
July 25, 2006
Thank you, Craig (Cox). I appreciate the opportunity to join you in Colorado.
It’s wonderful to see so many old friends here this morning.
I bring greetings from NRCS Chief Bruce Knight as well as his regrets that he
couldn’t be here. He deeply appreciates and values our partnership with SWCS and
is sorry he can’t be with you.
As you know, President Bush has nominated him to serve as USDA Under Secretary
for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. So I’m filling in, since his confirmation
hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.
This morning I want to talk with you about conservation today—in 2006—and where
we are headed with conservation in the future—2007 and beyond.
For more than 70 years, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and its
predecessor, the Soil Conservation Service, have been helping people help the
land. Our focus is cooperative conservation on working agricultural lands.
Working lands conservation programs are unique among agricultural programs in
that they are specifically designed to produce multiple benefits. First, farmers
or ranchers who install conservation practices improve their land and enhance
their natural resources. Second, the public also receives many benefits: a
cleaner environment, increased biological diversity and a scenic landscape, to
name just a few. Conservation investments also lead to stronger rural economies.
Accomplishments under the 2002 Farm Bill
Before we look ahead, I want to give you a brief assessment of where we stand
today. Working with our partners and the farmers and ranchers we serve, we’ve
accomplished a great deal over the past four years under the 2002 farm bill.
Just to mention a few highlights, we have:
• Assisted one million farmers and ranchers.
• Applied conservation on more than 130 million acres of working farm and
ranchland—that’s under EQIP alone!
• Helped farmers apply more than 14,000 Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans.
• Invested $6.6 billion directly with farmers and ranchers.
• Worked with more than 2,500 Technical Service Providers to extend our staff
and our expertise.
Management Improvements
In addition, we’ve made a number of management improvements at NRCS to
strengthen our day-to-day operations, improve service to our customers and save
time and money. These include:
• Creating a transparent allocations process using resource base and resource
concern factors to allocate funds to states.
• Establishing a process for rapid watershed assessment to provide initial
estimates of where conservation investments can best address resource concerns.
• Streamlining the payment processes for EQIP.
• Reducing required paperwork for customers through a common computer database
in USDA Service Centers.
• Establishing a single centralized web authentication service.
• Developing software to provide natural resource information, make map
development easier and track conservation contracts.
• Beginning work on an automated application ranking tool.
• Instituting programmatic reforms such as a pilot sign-up process for technical
assistance and common easement and cost-share provisions where possible.
Consolidating the Gains
I’m sure it comes as no surprise that NRCS has been very busy over the past four
years. That’s one reason we’ve declared 2006 as the year of “consolidating the
gains.” Very simply, that means completing the work we’ve begun. So we have
designated 2006 as a season of follow-up and follow-through.
We’ve experienced a time of change with new programs, new tools, new structures
and new leaders in many offices. Now it’s time to consolidate the gains.
By that I don’t mean taking a time out or a rest period. I mean wrapping up old
business, completing the contracts we’ve signed and getting conservation on the
ground. This year we’re focused on finishing what we’ve started.
Consolidating the gains also means spending time fine-tuning our business tools
so we can accurately and fully account for all the progress we’ve made. We want
to make sure everything works smoothly—for our employees, our partners and, most
importantly, our customers.
Our work this year will pave the way for what lies ahead—the farm bill of 2007.
We want to complete the work under the 2002 farm bill to get ready for even
greater challenges to come.
2007 Farm Bill
Last summer and fall Secretary Johanns and other top USDA officials held a
series of 53 listening sessions all around the country to hear directly from
farmers and ranchers about what they’d like to see in the next farm bill. USDA
staff analyzed the information shared in these forums as well additional public
comments submitted.
Drawing upon these recommendations, Secretary Johanns is issuing a series of
theme papers that discuss how USDA programs operate and options for changes.
The conservation theme paper came out June 8.
I’m sure you’ll want to read it for yourself, and perhaps you have already. It’s
available on the USDA website at www.usda.gov and there’s a link to it from the
NRCS site as well. So I’ll just mention the highlights here.
Currently, USDA programs address conservation and environmental concerns
through:
1. education and technical assistance,
2. financial incentive payments that
• help pay for conservation projects on working lands, OR
• help fund conversion of lands to conservation uses to achieve specific
environmental benefits, OR
• help protect agricultural lands from conversion to other uses.
3. conservation compliance—fulfilling certain requirements to be eligible for
other USDA programs, and
4. regulatory requirements—such as the clean air, clean water and endangered
species laws.
The conservation theme paper includes a careful analysis of where conservation
funds go. For example,
• Conservation Reserve Program funds go mostly to the Plains and Corn Belt while
Environmental Quality Incentive Program payments are more concentrated in
Western states where livestock producers are.
• 15 percent of all farms received conservation payments in 2004, averaging
$5,330 per farm.
The paper also examines conservation payments by the type of farm—rural
residence, intermediate or commercial—and by the income level of the farm. It
includes information on program costs and distribution as well as economic and
market effects. There’s a discussion of world trade implications and what types
of conservation payments qualify for “green box” treatment—in other words, don’t
count against the U.S. because they aren’t considered to distort trade.
The conservation theme paper also lists some of the specific benefits achieved
through our current conservation programs:
• 43 percent decline in soil erosion from 1982 to 2003
• Net gain of 260,000 acres of wetlands from 1997 to 2003
• Increases in wildlife habitat and populations
• Improvements in water quality through reduced sediment and comprehensive
nutrient management plans, and
• Gains in air quality along with reductions in carbon emissions
Perhaps the most interesting section of the theme paper is the final one, which
outlines four alternatives for changes in the conservation programs in the next
farm bill. These, of course, are just possible options, not USDA or
Administration policy or proposals.
The first option is to improve existing conservation programs by
• Making greater use of watershed or landscape approaches and “pay for
performance” strategies, increasing the use of market mechanisms such as reverse
auctions and bidding.
• Consolidating programs and delivery where there are common purposes and
incentives.
• Balancing investments between working lands and conservation use, and
• Enhancing contributions to energy management and alternative energy sources.
The second option involves providing green payments for environmental benefits
and income support. With this option, the goal is to create a market for
environmental gains. If payments exceed costs, then farmers receive the extra
dollars as income.
The third option described in the theme paper is to encourage private sector
markets for environmental services. With this option, USDA would:
• Work with regulatory agencies to ensure that environmental goods produced by
agriculture can be used to offset regulatory requirements on other sectors.
• Authorize development of consistent standards for estimating environmental
goods provided by agriculture and forestry.
• Foster emerging markets through loans and grants.
The final option involves expanding conservation compliance or establishing a
standard of care. Essentially this option calls for strengthening the link
between price and income support and environmental benefits. It would require
producers who receive support to control soil erosion, manage nutrients or meet
soil and water quality requirements at a level similar to the requirements for
Tier I of the Conservation Security Program.
Strategic Plan
We’ve talked about current conservation programs and consolidating the gains and
possibilities for the next farm bill. But NRCS is also looking at the
long-term—where conservation on working agricultural lands needs to go 5, 10, 15
and even 20 years from now. That’s the focus of the new NRCS Strategic Plan.
We launched the plan this spring after involving NRCS employees at all levels as
well as customers and partners in developing it. As an agency, NRCS has a simple
and clear mission: helping people help the land. And our ultimate objective is
productive lands and a healthy environment.
To help us move from vision to reality, we have identified six goals—three
foundation goals and three venture goals. Our foundation goals cover traditional
NRCS concerns:
• high quality, productive soils;
• clean and abundant water; and
• healthy plant and animal communities.
The venture goals focus on emerging resource concerns related to current
economic and demographic trends. These include:
• air quality,
• an adequate energy supply and
• working farms and ranch lands.
The plan also identifies three strategies we will use to address these concerns:
• cooperative conservation,
• a watershed approach and
• a market-based approach.
We believe we have a solid blueprint to drive us forward. But the plan also
provides sufficient flexibility to enable us to adjust to the inevitable changes
that will occur—including whatever the next farm bill brings—and to recognize
local priorities.
Human Capital Strategic Plan
Aligned with our strategic plan is our new Human Capital Strategic Plan. We call
it “Conservation First, People Always.”
The plan recognizes that our success depends upon a workforce with the technical
expertise, dedication and ability to work collaboratively with a diverse
customer base. It provides strategic thinking and guidance for managing our
workforce following careful analysis of the changes we can expect with the
coming retirement wave.
It outlines our response in terms of priorities for the next 12 months as well
as goals and objectives for the next five to ten years. Our human capital goals
focus on five key areas:
• Recruitment and retention
• Leadership
• Performance culture
• Talent development and knowledge management, and
• Human capital effectiveness
Perhaps more importantly to many of you, we will be looking beyond current NRCS
employees and new hires to get the job done. The plan envisions drawing upon
partners, volunteers, technical service providers and retirees as well as NRCS
employees. If you’re interested in volunteering or working in conservation,
we’re going to have opportunities for you.
Expanding Opportunities
I mentioned earlier the Technical Service Provider program, which has helped us
respond to the unprecedented demand for technical assistance that the 2002 farm
bill brought. Last year, we obligated nearly $52 million in technical
assistance, through TSPs—more than 60 percent to private individuals. We
estimate that by the end of this fiscal year, we will have invested $163.5
million since 2003in technical assistance through TSPs.
As I said earlier, we have about 2,500 TSPs. But we could use more—especially to
help write comprehensive nutrient management plans. The recently proposed EPA
rule on concentrated animal feeding operations sets a deadline of July 31, 2007,
for CAFOs to apply for permits and have nutrient management plans in place.
We’ll need help meeting the expected demand for CNMPs.
I’m also excited about another opportunity—the ACES program. ACES stands for
Agricultural Conservation Enrollees/Seniors. Last October NRCS signed an
agreement with the National Older Worker Career Center to manage ACES for us.
Right now this is a pilot in seven states—Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Utah and Virginia—and headquarters in Washington and the NRCS West
National Technology Support Center in Portland, Oregon.
ACES is perfect for retirees—you work 20 to 40 hours per week for a stipend.
You don’t replace NRCS employees, nor are you considered a federal employee.
The National Older Worker Career Center posts vacancies that we’re seeking to
fill. NOWCC reviews applications and refers qualified candidates to NRCS for
interviews.
Right now we have 146 ACES positions identified with 103 of them filled. But
we’d love to expand this program.
Some of you may not be aware that NRCS has reinstituted Conservation Boot Camp.
Last summer, we held three pilot six-week camps. This year, we’re holding eight
camps.
This training for new NRCS employees has been very well received—both by the new
hires and their State Conservationists. But there’s a problem. We need more
seasoned, expert instructors.
That’s where some of you and ACES could come in. We would love to have
experienced, committed conservationists to fill our teaching slots, freeing our
field people to remain in their jobs. I see this as a real opportunity for
retirees who’d like to keep their hand in, but don’t want to be employed
full-time.
Technology Advances
I’ve talked about our vision and our plans for staff to accomplish it. Another
top priority for NRCS is developing and sharing new technology to better inform
the decisions our customers make.
I hope all of you have tried our Web Soil Survey, launched last summer. Now
every landowner can access soil data 24/7 from the farm office or the kitchen
table via a home computer.
Not only is this much more convenient for farmers and ranchers, it’s much more
efficient for NRCS. Through the Web Soil Survey, we have distributed more soil
survey information to more customers in the past year than we accomplished with
our printed copies over the past 5 years.
Another real boon to our customers is our trio of three-click energy
estimators—which have received more than 1.5 million hits from over 45,000
visitors. With the help of these computer programs, farmers are figuring out,
based on their own inputs, whether they can save fuel and money by switching to
no-till, adjusting their fertilizer applications or increasing irrigation
efficiency. These estimators are helping our customers manage their costs and
boost their incomes and save energy, water and soil.
We’re continuing to develop enhancements for our PLANTS database—incorporating
information on pollinator and plant relationships and wildlife habitat values.
PLANTS is the major plant resource database for the United States—easily
accessible from the NRCS website.
Another example of new technology is the Carbon Management Evaluation Tool for
Voluntary Reporting—known as COMET-VR. NRCS developed this tool to help
landowners estimate the carbon sequestration potential of their land.
A farmer or rancher using COMET-VR could calculate estimates of annual soil
carbon fluxes along with fuel and fertilizer use. Producers can input current
and alternative farming and grazing practices into COMET-VR, which then
estimates changes in fuel use, fertilizer and carbon storage from each
alternative.
In 2005, the Agricultural Research Service transferred its Wind Erosion
Prediction System model to NRCS. NRCS is now testing the WEPS model and
preparing databases needed at the field office level.
With WEPS, NRCS and Extension Service, as well as individual farmers, will be
able to formulate specific wind erosion control practices. We expect to make
WEPS available for field use in 2007.
Demonstrating Results
I mentioned earlier that we have experienced a 43-percent reduction in soil
erosion from 1982 to 2003. That finding comes from our National Resources
Inventory.
It’s exciting and gratifying to see that the work we are doing in partnership
with landowners is paying off. This is a broad statistical survey of natural
resource conditions and trends.
But we are eager to learn what specific conservation practices contribute most
to reducing erosion, sequestering carbon or improving water quality. That’s why
I’m even more excited about the partnership that we have with SWCS on the
Conservation Effects Assessment Project. As you know, CEAP is USDA’s effort to
quantify the environmental benefits of conservation practices under our
conservation programs.
SWCS is partnering with us as technical experts to help us develop databases and
models and plan the research for this assessment. In addition to specific
practices, CEAP will examine benefits on a watershed level.
We called on SWCS because of the Society’s appreciation for science and
commitment to taking a science-based approach to conservation. SWCS also
encompasses a wide variety of agricultural and environmental interests. And we
appreciate the work you have done—and are doing—to ensure that CEAP works to
capture the information that will benefit us all.
Conclusion
I am convinced this is a great time to be a conservationist. We have a vision
for the future, new opportunities ahead in the next farm bill and cutting edge
technology and tools to move us forward. We know that what we are doing today
will make a difference tomorrow.
I like what high-flying investor—and recent philanthropist—Warren Buffet said,
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree long ago.”
I’m proud to be among those who are helping people help the land today to
preserve and enhance our natural resources for the citizens of tomorrow.
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