State Technical Committee Meeting Summary
Oct. 16, 2012
Cheryl Grapes, assistant state conservationist (Programs) welcomed State
Technical Committee members. Cheryl provided the members with the handout that
reflected the recommendations to the state conservationist from local work
groups for consideration by the State Technical Committee for 2013 programs.
Astrid Martinez, state conservationist, gave the following welcoming
remarks: Farm Bill update; Title II House – Senate comparison
(handout); continuing resolution, sequestration; agency streamlining &
improvements efforts; last year’s budget brief discussion; soils
sequestration; 24 soils offices were closed.
Cheryl reviewed the procedures for State Technical Committee meeting
(handout) and commented that membership is very broad & open and more
inclusive than exclusive.
Environmental improvement programs:
EQIP;
WHIP;
AMA; continuing
resolution funding and programs are based on FY2012; deadline for state
level partnership proposals is Nov. 16; and invited an ad hoc committee
to meet with
NRCS to make recommendations for funding to the state
conservationist. Discussion on Working Lands For Wildlife initiative in
2012, incorporates multiple programs; addresses sage grouse & 6 other
species. Cheryl informed the members that the 2012 ranking spreadsheets
are posted on the web-site as follows: Wyoming
NRCS; Partnerships tab;
State Technical Committee tabs.
Presentation by Mary Schrader, Resource Conservationist – Farm
Bill (handout):
Mary briefly discussed the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP);
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP); and Agricultural Management
Assistance (AMA) state priorities for each program.
Wyoming currently has the following State priorities:
·
Grazing land management
·
Water quality
·
Irrigation water management
·
Wetlands
·
Prevention of the conversion of agricultural lands to non-agricultural
use
·
Excessive erosion
·
Streambank/riparian area protection
·
Fish and wildlife habitat
·
Forest health
·
Energy
A recommendation was made to add drought mitigation and invasive species
as state concerns.
Mary went over 2012
EQIP obligations and accomplishments.
The following items were discussed:
·
EQIP wildfire recovery – funding was received late in the year to assist
landowners who had rangeland impacted by the wildfires.
·
EQIP State Energy initiative expanded to include tillage system
conversion; inefficient pumping plants; windbreak plantings; expiring
CRP.
·
EQIP National Energy Initiatives: guidelines followed from National
Energy Initiative are that on-farm initiative be completed by a certified
person. It was pointed out that there are currently none in Wyoming.
·
EQIP National Seasonal High Tunnel was moved from a pilot program to a
National initiative in 2012; out of the 18 applications that were received, 15
applications were funded in 2012; for eligibility the ground needs to be able to
be cropped.
·
National Water Quality Incentive: The Ocean Lake watershed in Fremont
County was funded in FY 2012; a total of 8 applications were funded for
irrigation system improvements to reduce runoff into Ocean Lake.
·
Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI): Establishing a maximum payment cap for 528
Prescribed Grazing Management practice was discussed.
It appears that the highest interest has come from Johnson and Carbon
Counties. The point was made that more contracts could be funded if cap was
implemented. Out of 61 applications, 29 were funded. A practice can be capped,
not a total contract. Consensus was to not apply a payment cap to the 528
practice. A suggestion was made to pay on
AUM, however the national standard
requires unit for 528 to be acres.
·
A discussion was held on providing practice payments for 528 Prescribed
Grazing Management on federal land. Currently, Wyoming
NRCS does not provide
payment for grazing on federal land because of feedback from the State Technical
Committee and federal land agencies. Colorado and Utah do and Idaho does not.
An ad-hoc committee was formed to discuss the issue further and make
recommendation to the State Conservationist. The following members volunteered
for the committee: Mark Hogan, Bobbie Frank, Marty Griffith, and Frank Eathorne.
·
An announcement for proposals was sent out for a Wyoming Conservation
Partner Initiative. This includes project proposals for the National Watershed
Initiative as well as any other special projects that partners would like to
have considered for funding. Proposals will be accepted until November 16th.
An ad-hoc committee was formed to review applications and make recommendations
for funding to the state conservationist. Volunteers were: Larry Bentley,
Bobbie Frank, Jennifer Zygmut, and Ginger Paige.
·
Recommendations for FY2013
EQIP State Accounts: Livestock Waste, Wildfire
Recovery, Energy, Forestry, and Wildlife (if
WHIP is not funded)
·
Steve Jones stated for the record that Park County Local Working Group encourages
NRCS to limit state initiative funds to no more than 2012 levels and maximize funding
provided to local counties.
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW)
discussion. It was pointed out that 2013 funding will likely only be for
WLFW.
In Wyoming the Greater Sage-grouse was the species of concern.
Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA): 2012 accomplishments
were discussed. 14 applications were funded treating 501 acres in Hot Springs
County for Russian olive and Salt Cedar control. In the past ten years,
AMA has
been used to assist in treatment of 12,500 acres of Russian olive and Salt Cedar
in the Big Horn River Basin area with assistance provided by numerous partners.
Payment Practice Schedules (PPS) discussion. Mary stated that the PPS
is in progress and is in the final state. It was pointed out that most
practices for FY2012 are set at 75%, which is the highest we can go. There was
a discussion on this point and the consensus by the members was to keep it at
75%.
Conservation Stewardship Program (CStP) discussion. Members were
reminded that applicants must address at least one resource concern at the time
of the application and at least one additional priority resource concern for
each land use during the contract period. The following were listed as
priority resource concerns for Wyoming: animals, plants, soil quality, water
quality, water quantity. Mary said that in Fiscal Year 2012, 57 applications were
funded. Enhancements such as pollinators (wildflowers) were discussed.
Cheryl provided information/highlights on Conservation Innovation Grants
(CIG). Three State-level applications were funded in 2012. It was suggested
that a CIG be showcased at the next State Technical Committee meeting. Members
agreed.
Keith Kennedy (Wyoming Ag Business Association) gave a presentation
on the “4R Nutrient Stewardship Program.” “4R” represents use of fertilizer
Best Management Practices to ensure the right rate, right time, right placement,
and right source. The goal is to improve productivity and efficiency that
benefits water and air quality.
Presentation by Evan Murray, Resource Conservationist – Conservation
Easement Programs:
Evan provided information on the following two programs: Wetland
Reserve Program (WRP), and Grassland Reserve Program (GRP). Authorization for
these programs expired on September 30, 2012.
NRCS is waiting to see how they
are incorporated under the new farm bill. The Senate and House bills provide
for one new easement program with separate components identified under the
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.
For WRP, Evan stated that 5 easement applications were received and 3
were able to be funded. For restoration-only contracts, 8 applications were
received, 5 were funded and 3 cancelled. For GRP, Evan stated that for
easements, out of the 7 applications received, 1 was funded and out of the 8
applications received for rental agreements, 6 were funded. It was pointed out
that GRP offers permanent easements or 10, 20 and 30 year
rental agreements. WRP
offers permanent easements or 30 year easements.
Brief discussion on Geographic Rate Caps (GARC): NRCS is unsure if
GARCs will be used for easements under the new farm bill. We were required to
develop GARCs so they will be in place as needed. The State Technical Committee
approved the GARCs as developed for 2013 (handout).
Presentation on Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) by Cheryl
Grapes
Handout titled “Factsheet for Wyoming Landowners” was given to all
present and discussed. 2012 accomplishments along with the challenge of closing
parcels pending from 2010 and 2011 were highlighted. It was pointed that the
2013 priority was to focus on working agricultural lands. Cheryl informed the
group that all FRPP applications received during the year were able to be turned
into contracts. Cheryl stated that non-working ag land requests were going to
be considered on a case by case basis at the end of the year.
Presentation by Casey Sheley, State Resource Conservationist on
Regulatory Certainty through the Working Lands for Wildlife Initiative.
The Chief of
NRCS and Director for the Fish and Wildlife Service
recently signed letters of agreement for regulatory certainty up to thirty
years. In short, if the Sage-grouse is listed, producers will be allowed
incidental take if they are implementing and maintaining conservation practices
listed in the Conference Report, regardless of program participation, according
to
NRCS practice standards. The
NRCS and Fish and Wildlife Service at the national level are
currently developing the mechanics of how this will work. More information will
be shared as available.
Cheryl informed the Committee that a Black-Footed Ferret (BFF)
initiative is still being considered for 2013 funding under the Working Lands
For Wildlife. NRCS is anticipating additional information. Members expressed
the following concerns: 1) Need to explain the program completely to producers,
and 2) Keeping prairie dog population in check. Members requested an ad-hoc
committee to discuss and provide recommendations on any proposed BFF
initiative. Steve Jones and Frank Eathorne agreed to serve on the committee.
Astrid asked Jeri Trebelcock send suggestions relating to the drought
mitigation to Cheryl.
Cheryl asked the committee to send any agenda items they would like to
see included in the next meeting to her. Cheryl thanked everyone for coming and
for their participation.
Meeting was adjourned.
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