Improving Lives, Communities and the Environment Through Natural Resources Conservation

1. Helping People Help the Land. Improving Lives, Communities and the Environment Through Natural Resources Conservation

2. NRCS Goals Abundant Water Supplies

3. NRCS Goals Clean Water Supplies

4. NRCS Goals Healthy Plant and Animal Communities

5. NRCS Goals ProductiveSoils andAg Land

6. NRCS Goals Adequate Energy Supply

7. NRCS Goals Working Farm and Ranch Lands

8. EQIP • AWEP • WHIP • WRP • CSP • CREP • FRPP Our programs

9. Questions: What are the NRCS on-farm programs that correspond to irrigation energy efficiency/Scientific Irrigation Scheduling? How does cost share work for the various programs? Are programs still open for applications? Can grant programs be bundled together?

10. EQIP – Environmental Quality Incentives Program • Environmental improvement program • Private working agricultural lands • Generally up to 50% of practice cost Regular EQIP is an on-going signup. Currently accepting applications for FY2012*. Application Cutoff will be in Dec. 2011. *We would like you to have a plan before applying, e.g. know what is needed to treat your resource problem Environmental Quality Incentives Program

11. Environmental Quality Incentives Program Wasco County EQIP Contracts address irrigation projects that show at least a 15% system efficiency improvement • Typically fund conversions from sprinkler to drip systems, hand lines to wheel lines or wheel lines to pivot along with irrigation water management

13. 2011 Regular EQIP Funding Pool for Water Quantity $225,000 for Water Quantity related projects in the Fifteenmile Watershed and The Dalles Irrigation District

14. 2011 Regular EQIP Funding Pool for Water Quantity What was available for 2011 funding in general EQIP? Micro/Drip Sprinkler System Sprinkler System Upgrades or Replacements Irrigation Pipelines Filters Mulching

15. Why doesn’t EQIP help cost share my new pump? For 2011, the local policy is that For pump replacements, there are other funding opportunities available and 2) NRCS does not have the technical assistance time required to prove the efficiency/capacity of the existing pump 3) EQIP may fund pump replacements in the future. For pump replacements, a pump test will be required.

16. CCPI2011 Irrigation Funding in Fifteenmile Watershed under the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative Project Signup is on-going. If 2012 is funded, the application cutoff will be announced. For FY2011, the Application Cutoff was March 15, 2011

17. CCPI2011 Irrigation Funding in Fifteenmile Watershed under the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative Project $138,962 is available for Irrigation Projects in Fifteenmile Watershed this year Available irrigation practices are the same as Regular EQIP. Payments differ for IWM. -System upgrades, replacements -Irrigation Water Management Levels 1 - 10

18. CCPI2011 Irrigation Funding in Fifteenmile Watershed under the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative Project Irrigation Water Management Levels 1 – 10 -IWM payments range from $22 - $230 / ac -Payments are for Soil Moisture Stations, Flow Meters and Scientific Irrigation Scheduling Payments are based on the number of flow meters and soil moisture stations installed on non-orchard or orchards.

19. CCPI/AWEP2011 Irrigation Funding in The Dalles Irrigation District under the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative Project or the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program For FY2011, the Application Cutoff was March 15, 2011 Do we need another year of funding for it?

20. CCPI/AWEP2011 Irrigation Funding in The Dalles Irrigation District under the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative Project or the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program $106,000 is available for Irrigation Projects in TDID this year Available irrigation practices include Irrigation Water Management Levels 1 – 8

21. CCPI2011 Irrigation Funding in The Dalles Irrigation District under the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative Project or the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program IWM Levels 1-8 per acre payments IWM Level 1 $25.5 IWM, Level 2 $73.5 IWM, Level 3 $129.75 IWM, Level 4 $159.75 IWM, Level 5 $83.21 IWM, Level 6 $219.75 IWM, Level 7 $253.5 IWM, Level 8 $404.25

22. What are IWM Levels 1 – 8? • Payments are for Automated Telemetric Flow Meters, Automated Telemetric Soil Moisture Stations and Scientific Irrigation Scheduling NRCS will work with you to determine your level. Generally, the more flow meters and soil moisture stations, the higher the payment per acre. Rule of thumb = 1 SMS/ 10 acres

23. Assistance for Organic Growers Many of the same irrigation practices are offered under the Organic EQIP signup Structural Practices - conversion to drip only Management Practices – Irrigation Water Mgmt - IWM Organic $35.63/ac - IWM Intense Small Farm < 20 Ac - $907.5 /each - IWM Non-intense Small Farm < 20 Ac 501.75/each -Irrigation Water Management Plan Written CAP-IWMPW – Organic $1181.30/each

24. NRCS Oregon Energy Strategy An energy audit will be required before NRCS will provide cost share for a practice that has energy as it’s primary resource concern Energy audits may be included for funding under EQIP in 2012

25. NRCS Oregon Energy Strategy Energy audits must meet the requirements of the ANSI/ASABE S612, “Performing On-farm Energy Audits” standard.

27. NRCS Oregon Energy Strategy Energy Conservation Scenario Year One: Landowner requests an energy audit. If funded, NRCS develops an EQIP contract for the audit. NRCS will pay a flat rate. The audit will identify energy conservation and/or renewable energy practices that the landowner may implement to save energy on the farm.

28. NRCS Oregon Energy Strategy Energy Conservation Scenario Year Two: Landowner requests EQIP funding for the energy saving or generating practice(s) recommended in the audit. An energy funding pool may be used for this. The practice is installed to NRCS practice standards and applicable specifications.

29. NRCS Oregon Energy Strategy Under development: NRCS will determine those practices that NRCS will offer cost share on that have energy as their primary resource concern NRCS will develop the infrastructure to deliver technical assistance for those practices NRCS will identify firms that are available to do whole farm energy audits

30. NRCS Oregon Energy Strategy New Conservation Practices Under Development: Practice 374 - Energy Conservation and Efficiency Practice 671 – Renewable Energy Production

31. Conservation Stewardship Program USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service www.or.nrcs.usda.gov

32. Provides program payments to operators of working lands For maintaining existing conservation and adopting additional activities On cropland, grazing land and nonindustrial private forestland.

33. Is the program right for you? To help you decide, complete a Producer Self-Screening Checklist.

34. Conservation Measurement Tool - Inventory Current Conditions • Cropland & hayland rotations and acres • Pastureland plant species and acres • Rangeland acres • Forestland acres CMT - Example Questions

35. Schedule new activities in the CMT Enhancements: to exceed standard conservation levels Resource-conserving crop rotations:that reduces erosion; improve soil fertility and tilth; interrupt pest cycles; and save water Practices:to meet additional resource concerns at a standard level of stewardship Conservation Measurement Tool - Select New Activities

36. CMT – Enhancement Examples • Soil Erosion • Continuous No Till, high residue • Protection of cultural resource • Soil Quality • Continuous cover crops • Use of deep-rooted crops • Water Quality • Apply phosphorus below surface • Precision nutrients application • Water Quantity • Irrigation system automation • Mulching • Air Quality • Replace burning with chipping • Use drift-reducing nozzles • Animal • Extend filter strips/riparian areas • Grazing management • Energy • On Farm Energy Audits • Solar powered electric fence • Plant • Establish pollinator habitat • Forest stand improvement

37. 2012 Conservation Stewardship Program

38. 2012 Conservation Stewardship Program

39. 2012 Conservation Stewardship Program

40. 2012 Conservation Stewardship Program

41. 2012 Conservation Stewardship Program

42. 2012 Conservation Stewardship Program

43. 2012 Conservation Stewardship Program

44. 2012 Conservation Stewardship Program

45. Payment Limitations Regardless of number of contracts, a person or legal entity may not receive direct or indirect payments that in aggregate exceed: $40,000 during any fiscal year $200,000 during any five-year period Each contract is limited to $200,000 over the term of the initial contract period.

46. 2012 Conservation Stewardship Program Continuous sign-up is underway Cutoff Date: Approx. Jan. 1, 2012(yet to be determined) Get started by completing a Producer Self-Screening Checklist www.or.nrcs.usda.gov

47. Wherever you live, conservation … …has a positive impact on your life every day. Questions?

48. If you’d like to know more about NRCS or protecting natural resources, contact your local NRCS field office or go to: www.or.nrcs.usda.gov 2325 River Rd, Ste. 3 The Dalles, OR For More Information

49. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 49 49 49