Government Conservation Programs

1. Government Conservation Programs Ethan Massey Waterfowl Biologist, Ducks Unlimited Inc.

2. Outline • Intro • Why the government offers conservation programs • Why people would enroll in them • Farm Bill updates • Most important programs for waterfowl • WRE/WRP • CRP • EQIP • CSP

3. Introduction • Biologist with DU • Jointly funded by NRCS and AGFC • Provide technical assistance to private landowners • Masters from UAM; Bachelors from LSU • I have worked on various waterfowl research projects in LA, AR, ND, and Canada

4. Why Conservation Programs? • 65% of land in the US is privately owned • 88% in Arkansas • Conservation must be done on private land to be successful • Wildlife habitat • Sustainable water use • Reduction of water pollutants • Conservation programs create financial incentives for private landowners to implement these changes

5. Farm Bill • The Agricultural Improvements Act of 2018 (Farm Bill) is an important piece of legislation that provides funding for many conservation programs • Updated every 4 years • Most recent was just approved • $428 billion budget over 5 years • Conservation gets 6.8% • 29.1 billion dollars

6. Farm Bill Updates • ACEP – Agricultural Conservation Easement Program • Funding increased by 2 billion • WRE county enrollment cap increased from 10 to 15% • CRP – Conservation Reserve Program • Enrollment cap raised from 24 to 27 million acres • Grazing allowed on enrolled lands • EQIP – Environmental Quality Incentives Program • Funding set aside from EQIP budget for wildlife increased from 5 to 10%

7. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) • Formerly WRP • Established in 1990 • Under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) • Targets marginal, frequently flooded croplands • Long term easements • 30-year or permanent • Restores them by creating wetlands and planting trees • Paid for by NRCS • Over 700,000 acres enrolled in AR, LA, & MS • Administered by NRCS

8. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) • Objectives: • Habitat for migratory birds and other wetland-dependent wildlife, including endangered or threatened species and species of concern. • Protection and improvement of water quality. • Attenuation of floodwater. • Recharge of ground water. • Protection and enhancement of open space and aesthetic quality. • Carbon sequestration. • Protection of native flora and fauna contributing to the Nation's natural heritage. • Contribution to educational and scientific scholarship

9. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)

10. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) • Competitive enrollment • Not everyone gets in • Eligibility: Farmed Lands, Former Wetlands, Grasslands, CRP • Enrollment points: Easement Duration- perpetual or 30 yr. Hydrology Restoration- restoration or enhancement & restoration diversity Water Quality- Riparian Corridor & Floodwater Attenuation Location Significance- Proximity & Size of protected lands Wildlife Habitat- Contiguous Forest, Forest Bird Conservation Areas, & Declining, Threatened, or Endangered Species

11. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) • This is a real estate transaction • Gov. is basically buying the surface rights • Rights retained by the landowner: • Quiet Enjoyment • Undeveloped Hunting & Fishing • Mineral rights • Control of Access • Title

12. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)

13. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)

14. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)

15. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)

16. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)

17. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) 2017

18. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)

19. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) • Program aimed at removing marginal farm ground from production • Administered by Farm Service Agency (FSA) • 10 or 15 year contracts • After the contract ends the owner can re-enroll or go back to farming • Landowner is paid an annual rental rate per acre enrolled • 22 million acres in US • ~215,000 acres in AR • Established in 1985

20. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Important Initiatives for Waterfowl: • Wintering Grounds • Wetland Restoration (CP23) • Bottomland Timber Establishment (CP31) • Breeding Grounds • Duck Nesting Habitat (CP 37) • Establishment of Grasslands (CP 1 and 2)

21. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) • Rental rates vary widely based on location and soil type • Often there is a $150/acre sign-up bonus • Typically 90% of restoration costs are paid • Tree planting • Wetland creation • Native grasses establishment • Accomplishments: • 25.7 million additional ducks from 1992-2003 • Reduced over 8 billion tons of soil erosion • Filtered 365 million pounds of nitrogen and 72 million pounds of phosphorous

22. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

23. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

24. Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) • Financial and technical assistance provided to producers to implement conservation practices • Administered by NRCS • Paid for specific practice • Goals: • Improve air and water quality • Conserve water • Reduce soil erosion / sedimentation • Create wildlife habitat • Examples of practices: • Prescribed burning • Irrigation improvements • Wetland creation and restoration • Cover crops

25. Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) • Pretty similar to EQIP • Financial and technical assistance for producers to maintain and improve existing conservation plans • The higher the conservation performance the more you get paid • Administered by NRCS • Both EQIP and CSP are promoted by DU’s Rice Stewardship Program

26. Rice Stewardship • Partnership between Ducks Unlimited and USA Rice Federation • Aides producers in navigating and adhering to EQIP and CSP practices • Winter flooding for waterfowl • Improved water management • Improved nutrient management • Acres affected so far ~400,000

27. Summary • WRE – long-term land retirement, large lump sum, gov. owns surface rights • CRP – 10 to 15 year land retirement, annual rental payments, important in PPR • EQIP – working lands, paid according to practices implemented • CSP – working lands, paid to improve existing conservation practices

28. Questions?