Doing HEL Status Reviews In the Field

1. Doing HEL Status Reviews In the Field

2. Before going to the field…… • Review the producers’ conservation plans • If producer does not have a signed plan, review the ACS list. (producer must be following one of the ACS’s or its equivalent)

3. In the field….. 7 steps 1. Review the HEL determination 2. Determine the crop rotation 3. Measure crop residue levels

4. In the field….. 7 steps (cont.) 4. Discuss with producer the tillage operations that were done 5. Measure row grades if needed

5. In the field…. 7 steps (cont.) 6. Determine if existing practices are maintained 7. Determine if there are ephemeral gullies or gullies that need to be treated.

6. 1. Review the HEL determination • Measure slope & length for each HEL and PHEL map unit • Determine if the Erosion Index (EI) is greater than 8 for each map unit EI = R x K x LS (USLE) T

7. 1. Review the HEL Determination Document measurements on the “HEL Status Review Documentation Worksheet”

8. 1. Review the HEL Determination The field is HEL if: -it has >50 acres of HEL soils -HEL soils comprise 1/3 of the field

9. 1. Review the HEL Determination If the field is not HEL: -revise the CPA-26 form, provide FSA & the producer with a copy -code the status review database for the tract as “NN” (not needed)

10. 2. Determine crop rotation • Observe the crop residue in the field • Observe the planted or growing crop • Discuss with the producer any other crops that are grown

11. 3. Measure crop residue levels • If the plan requires NO-TILL and it’s obvious the crop was no-tilled: NO RESIDUE MEASUREMENTS NEED TO BE TAKEN!

12. 3. Measure Crop Residue Levels • If the field has been tilled: -take 3 residue measurements -if residue is within 5% of the planned amount, document in the case file and move on

13. 3. Measure Crop Residue Levels • If residue levels are more than 5% less than the planned amount: -take 2 more measurements -document the location and cover with some digital photos

14. 4. If residue is lacking….. • Ask producer what tillage operations were done: -type of tillage tool -dates that operations were done -average yield for that field or use U of I Bulletin 810 for avg. yields of the predominant HEL soil

15. 5. Contouring or cross-slope? • If so, measure the average row grade of the planted rows in the area of the predominant HEL soil map unit

16. 6. Practice maintenance • Are existing practices being maintained? -terraces -grass waterways

17. 6. Practice maintenance • If practices have not been maintained: • Code the status review “CA”* • Tract will be on review list next year • Explain to the producer the maintenance that needs to be performed *assumes that sheet & rill are controlled

18. 7. Ephemeral or gullies • If there are gullies that need to be treated: -Producer is in compliance if sheet & rill is controlled and all structural practices have been applied & maintained---code “AA”

19. 7. Ephemeral or gullies • Notify producer in writing that they have 45 days to modify their plan to address the gully erosion • They have one year to implement the gully treatment • Add tract to list for next year

20. 7. Ephemeral or gullies • If the practices to address gullies do not get applied the following year, the producer is out of compliance then.

21. Before leaving the field: • Look for sodbusted areas • Look for manipulated wetlands • Check the wetland determination’s accuracy on cropland only

22. 8. Back home: Run RUSLE2 • Use slope measurements, tillage, yields, row grade, etc. • Compare RUSLE2 yield levels with field measurements---adjust if needed

23. 8. Run RUSLE2 • Run the planned system. If there’s no signed plan: -if crop rotation matches an approved ACS, run this ACS. -if the rotation does not match, run “corn-soybeans no-till”

24. 9. Determine compliance • Compare planned soil loss w/ actual -if actual soil loss exceeds the planned soil loss by 1 ton, the producer is “not actively applying” -send producer a letter, give mediation and appeal rights

25. 9. Determine compliance • When a final technical determination is made (after appeal & mediation rights have expired): Input the appropriate code into the status review database

26. 9. Determine compliance • Input the appropriate code: -UA if the producer is using an approved system -NA if the producer is exceeding the required soil loss level

27. 9. Determine compliance • For variances that can be used, see NFSAM 518.11 • Utilize the “Illinois Worksheet for Granting HELC Variances”

28. Documentation of Non-compliance • Complete the “HEL Status Review Documentation Worksheet” • Save the RUSLE2 comparisons of the actual and planned system • Save / print copies of digital photos

29. 11. Notify producer • Send producers that are using an approved conservation system notification that they are in compliance—thank them! • Producers “not” using a conservation system get more…

30. 11. Notify producer • Within 10 calendar days following our determination of the potential violation • Notify all persons with an interest in the farm or tract • Send copies to FSA, SWCD • Request FSA-569 from FSA