2014 Farm Bill: changes and what it means to the Headwaters Region

1. 2014 Farm Bill:changes and what it means to the Headwaters Region PennsylvaniaNatural Resources Conservation Service November 5, 2014

3. Agriculture Act of 2014 • Or otherwise know as the 2014 Farm Bill • Signed by the President on February 7th, 2014

4. The $956 billion farm bill, in one graph

5. Summary of Conservation Portion • Would assist farmers/landowners addressing resource concerns on their property through conservation financial assistance programs, CREP administered through FSA or easement programs, etc.. • 23 different conservation programs were consolidated into 13 programs.

6. 2015 Financial Assistance Programs • NRCS Conservation Programs Available Under the 2014 Farm Bill to fund conservation practices: • Agricultural Management Assistance AMA • Conservation Stewardship Program CSP • Environmental Quality Incentives Program EQIP • Federal govt. operating under Continuing Resolution budget through December 11 2014 – Final Funding To Be Determined!

7. The following Conservation Programs no longer exist: • Chesapeake Bay Watershed Iniative (CBWI) • Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP)

8. Agricultural Conservation Easement Program ACEP • ACEP has 2 components • Agricultural Land Easement Component (ALE) • Replaces • Farm & Ranchland Protection Program FRPP • Grassland Reserve Program GRP • Wetland Reserve Easement Component (WRE) • Replaces • Wetland Reserve Program WRP • Prior executed easements remain valid and enforceable.

9. Farm Service Agency Conservation Programs Available • Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program-CREP • Conservation Reserve Program-Continuous CRP

11. Common Types of Projects • Cropland • Erosion Control • Water Quality • Agronomic • Pasture • Water Quality • Grazing Systems • Livestock/Animal Operations • Manure Management • Water Quality

12. 2015 AMA and EQIP Pennsylvania Signup Cycles

13. Conservation Stewardship Program - CSP • CSP will be available • Currently working with producers who wish to re-new their 2010 contracts • 2015 Signup period for other new participants not yet announced

14. AMA, CSP, EQIP Practices • 14 EQIP Conservation Activity Plans • 103 AMA and EQIP Conservation Practices • 74 CSP Conservation Enhancements

15. 14 Conservation Activity Plan Proposed 2015 EQIP Options • Agricultural Energy Management Plan • (energy audit) • Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan • Conservation Plan Supporting Organic Transition • Drainage Water Management • Feed Management Plan • Fish and Wildlife Habitat Mgt Plan • Forest Management Plan • Grazing Management Plan • Integrated Pest Management Plan • Irrigation Water Management Plan • Nutrient Management Plan • Pollinator Habitat Enhancement Plan • Prescribed Burning Plan • IPM Herbicide Resistant Weed Plan

16. 103 AMA and EQIP Conservation Practices

17. 74 CSP Conservation Enhancements

18. Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) • PA commonly receives a low sllocation • FY2015 allocation to be determined • Anticipate targeting for Irrigation

19. Fiscal Year 2015 Potential National EQIP Initiatives • Required in 2014 Farm Bill • Beginning Farmers • Veteran Farmers’ preference • Socially Disadvantaged Farmers • Organic Initiative • NRCS Agency Initiatives • On-Farm Energy Conservation • Seasonal High Tunnel • Water Quality Initiative • Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

20. High Tunnel

21. PA State EQIP Priorities • Local Ranking Pools • Cropland • Pasture • Livestock/Manure Management • Statewide or Regional Ranking Pools: • Forestry • Forest Management Plan Development • Stream Corridor Management • Working Lands for Wildlife/Golden Winged Warbler

22. EQIP Local Fund Pools Cropland Pasture/Grazing Land Livestock/Manure Management

23. On Farm Energy Conservation • Energy Audit meeting • NRCS Ag Energy Mgt Plan (122 or 128) OR • American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers ASABE S612 standard • With an energy audit, NRCS can fund: • Farmstead Energy Improvement (374) • Dairy • Grain Dryers • Motors • Maple Syrup • Lighting System Improvement (670) • Building Envelope Improvement (672)

24. EQIP Organic Initiative • Two Options: • Producers with Certified Organic acreage • Includes those exempt from certification requirements because <$5,000 in sales. • Producers with no certified acreage, who are transitioning to become certified.

25. EQIP Organic Initiative • Range of Practices for common livestock, grazing, and cropland operations • Statutory payment limit of <= $20,000/year; $80,000 over 6 years applies • But, less competition than regular EQIP fund pools

26. Soil Health Initiative Erosion, Runoff, Ponding and Drought Stress might be signs of Poor Soil Health! Key Points Reduce Tillage Cover Crops Diversity of Crop Rotation Something growing through the year

27. Soil Health Initiative Consider program options such as CSP - Ag Land cropland and pasture enhancements EQIP cropland fund pool grazing/pasture fund pool

28. Cover Crop

29. CSP Enhancements-Soil Health • ANM03-Incorporate native grasses or legumes into 15% or more of forage base • ANM23-Multispecies native perennials for biomass/wildlife habitat • PLT20-High residue cover crop for weed suppression and soil health • SOE05-Intensive no-till

30. CSP Enhancements-Soil Health • SQL04- Cover crop mixes • SQL05-Deep rooted crops to break up soil compaction • SQL08-Intercropping to improve soil quality and increase biodiversity • SQL09-Conversion of cropped land to grass-based agriculture

31. CNMP Plan Requirement • Producers receiving EQIP funds to implement waste storage, handling or treatment practices must have a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) • Plan can be developed by private consulant/TSP, NRCS, other qualified person, or combinations • Must be in place before beginning the practice. • Preference given to applicants who have a current CNMP plan in place when they apply.

32. EQIP Forestry • Funding to hire consultant (TSP) to develop a Forest Management Plan • Funding to implement practices recommended in a Forest Management or Forest Stewardship Plan • Common practices • Forest Stand Improvement • Tree/Shrub Establishment • Early Successional Habitat Management • Brush Management

33. Golden-Winged Warbler Priority Area

34. Waste Storage Facility

35. Heavy Use Area

36. Windbreak

37. Access Road

38. Agrichemical Handling Facility

39. Animal Trail

40. Grass Waterway

41. Terrace

42. Streambank Protection

43. How To Participate in 2015 • Be in USDA Farm Service Agency record system as owner or operator • Must be operator for CSP • Be in compliance with Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation requirements • Have control of land for length of the contract. • Review or develop your conservation plan

44. Adjusted Gross Income AGI • required for AMA, CSP, EQIP in 2015 • Average AGI does not exceed $900,000 • For previous 3 tax years • For 2015 Program Year/Fiscal Year, consider the participant or members’ AGI for: • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 FSA verifies with IRS before certifying compliance

45. Entities must have DUNS and be registered in SAM.Gov Authentic free SAM.Gov site

47. For More Information, contactYour local NRCS Field Officewww.pa.nrcs.usda.gov PennsylvaniaNatural Resources Conservation Service