Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions aim to reduce soil loss on erosion-prone lands and to protect wetlands for the multiple benefits they provide. HELC and WC provisions apply to all land that is considered highly erodible or a wetland, and that is owned or farmed by persons voluntarily participating in USDA programs, unless USDA determines an exemption applies.
What's New with Conservation Compliance?
The 2014 Farm Bill re-established the applicability of the Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation provisions to crop insurance subsidies, but the Farm Bill did not change in how these were implemented in conservation programs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Conservation Compliance for Crop Insurance Participants (web | pdf)
August 21 Webinar for Specialty Crop Producers(web | pdf)
FSA Notice to Field Offices, Form AD-1026 - FSA website
Form AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification - USDA Forms website (PDF, 217KB)
Producers, and any affiliated individuals or entities who participate in most programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Risk Management Agency (RMA) are required to comply with these provisions. Non-compliance may affect the following types of USDA program benefits:
FSA loans and disaster assistance payments
NRCS and FSA conservation program benefits
Federal crop insurance premium subsidies
Comment Period Extended: State Offsite Methods (SOSM) Notice In Federal Register
NRCS published a Notice for Public Comment in the Federal Register, on the proposed revisions to State Offsite Methods (SOSM) in completing wetland determinations, for the following states: Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. The comment period has been extended to February 20. Read and comment the proposed revisions on Regulations.gov.
Compliance with HELC and WC Provisions
To comply with the HELC and WC provisions, producers must fill out and sign form AD-1026 certifying they will not:
Plant or produce an agricultural commodity on highly erodible land without following an NRCS approved conservation plan or system;
Plant or produce an agricultural commodity on a converted wetland; or
Convert a wetland which makes the production of an agricultural commodity possible.
In addition, producers planning to conduct activities that may affect their HEL or WC compliance, for example removing fence rows, conducting drainage activities, or combining fields, must notify FSA by filing form AD-1026. FSA will notify NRCS, and NRCS will then provide highly erodible land or wetland technical evaluations and issue determinations if needed.
An agricultural commodity is any crop planted and produced by annual tilling of the soil, including one-trip planters and sugarcane.
Highly Erodible Land
Highly erodible land is any land that can erode at excessive rates because of its soil properties. Highly erodible land is designated by field and based on the proportion of the total field acreage that contains highly erodible soils.
Producers who produce agricultural commodities on land identified as highly erodible are required to farm such land in accordance with a conservation plan or system that is approved by NRCS and that substantially reduces soil loss. Producers proposing to produce agricultural commodities on highly erodible land that has no crop history prior to Dec. 23, 1985, (known as Sodbusting) are required to farm such land in accordance with a conservation plan or system that provides for no substantial increase in soil erosion. A conservation plan or system to reduce soil erosion is not required for land that is not highly erodible.
Wetland
A wetland is an area that:
Has a predominance of hydric soils (wet soils);
Is inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater (hydrology) at a frequency and duration sufficient to support a prevalence of hydrophytic (water tolerant) vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions and
Under normal circumstances supports a prevalence of such vegetation except that this term does not include lands in Alaska identified as having a high potential for agricultural development and a predominance of permafrost soils.
NRCS and FSA Roles in Making Determinations
When making HELC and WC compliance determinations:
NRCS responsibilities include:
For HELC compliance:
Making highly erodible determinations;
Working with producers to develop conservation plans and systems; and
When required, determining if highly erodible land is being farmed in accordance with a conservation plan or system approved by NRCS.
For WC compliance:
Making wetland determinations, including establishing if certain technical exemptions apply, such as prior converted cropland; and
Determining if a wetland conversion has occurred.
FSA makes eligibility determinations, such as who is ineligible based upon NRCS technical determinations of HELC or WC non-compliance. FSA also acts on requests for the application of certain eligibility exemptions, such as the good faith relief exemption.
Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Identification
FSA maintains the official USDA records of highly erodible land and wetland determinations. The determinations are recorded within the geographic information system and the automated farm and tract records maintained by FSA; however, it is important to know that determinations may not include all of the producer's land. Producers may obtain aerial imagery of their farms and a printout of their farm and tract records from the FSA office servicing their farm. If a producer is uncertain of the highly erodible land and wetland determinations applicable to their land, the producer should contact the appropriate USDA Service Center for assistance. The following link will help in locating local USDA Service Centers: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.
HELC and WC Non-Compliance
The 2014 Farm Bill re-established the applicability of the HELC and WC provisions to crop insurance subsidies. The Act made no change in HELC and WC implementation with respect to NRCS and FSA programs.
FSA and NRCS Programs
Producers who are not in compliance with HELC and WC provisions are not eligible to receive benefits for most programs administered by FSA and NRCS. If a producer received program benefits and is later found to be non-compliant, the producer may be required to refund all benefits received and/or may be assessed a penalty.
In particular, unless specific exemptions apply, a producer participating in FSA and NRCS programs must be in compliance with an NRCS approved conservation plan or system for all highly erodible land used for agricultural commodity production; not have planted or produced an agricultural commodity on a wetland converted after Dec. 23, 1985; and after Nov. 28, 1990, must not have converted a wetland making the production of an agricultural commodity possible on such converted wetland.
A producer who violates HELC or WC provisions is ineligible for applicable FSA and NRCS benefits for the year(s) in violation. A planting violation, whether on highly erodible land or a converted wetland, results in ineligibility for benefits for the year(s) when the planting occurred. A wetland conversion violation results in ineligibility beginning with the year in which the conversion occurred and continuing for subsequent years, unless the converted wetland is restored or mitigated before January 1 of the subsequent year.
HELC and WC Non-Compliance - Risk Management Agency – Policies Reinsured by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation
Producers obtaining federally reinsured crop insurance will not be eligible for any premium subsidy paid by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) for any policy or plan of insurance if the producer:
Has not filed an accurately completed AD-1026 with FSA certifying compliance with HELC and WC provisions; or
Is not in compliance with HELC and WC provisions. Unless specific exemptions apply, a producer must:
Be in compliance with a NRCS-approved conservation plan for all highly erodible land;
Not plant or produce an agricultural commodity on a wetland converted after Feb. 7, 2014; and
Not have converted a wetland after Feb. 7, 2014, to make possible the production of an agricultural commodity.
A producer is ineligible for any premium subsidy paid by FCIC on all policies and plans of insurance for the reinsurance year(s) (July 1 – June 30) following the reinsurance year of a final determination of a violation of HELC or WC provisions, including all administrative appeals, unless specific exemptions apply. Further, a producer will be ineligible for any premium subsidy paid by FCIC on all policies and plans of insurance for the reinsurance year if they do not have a completed form AD-1026 on file with FSA certifying compliance on or before June 1 prior to the beginning of the subsequent reinsurance year (July 1), unless otherwise exempted.
Regaining Eligibility for Benefits Lost Because of a Violation
Producers who are found to be in violation of HELC or WC provisions, but acted in good faith and without the intent to violate, may file a request to regain eligibility for the period in violation at the FSA office where their farm records are administered. If the request is approved, producers are required to take corrective action within an established period. There are exemptions that may apply in limited circumstances.
