Pennsylvania
Natural Resources Conservation Service
2014 Farm Bill:
changes and what it means to the
Headwaters Region
November 5, 2014
2
Agriculture Act of 2014
• Or otherwise know as the 2014 Farm Bill
• Signed by the President on February 7th, 2014
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The $956 billion farm bill, in one graph
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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.
5
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!
6
The following Conservation Programs no
longer exist:
• Chesapeake Bay Watershed Iniative (CBWI)
• Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP)
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Agricultural Conservation
Easement Program ACEP
• ACEP has 2 components
• Agricultural Land Easement Component (ALE)
• Replaces
o Farm & Ranchland Protection Program FRPP
o Grassland Reserve Program GRP
• Wetland Reserve Easement Component (WRE)
• Replaces
o Wetland Reserve Program WRP
• Prior executed easements remain valid and enforceable.
8
Farm Service Agency
Conservation Programs
Available
• Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program-CREP
• Conservation Reserve Program-Continuous CRP
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Common Types of Projects
• Cropland
o Erosion Control
o Water Quality
o Agronomic
• Pasture
o Water Quality
o Grazing Systems
• Livestock/Animal Operations
o Manure Management
o Water Quality
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2015 AMA and EQIP
Pennsylvania Signup Cycles
Signup Number
Application received by
1
Friday
October 17, 2014
2
Friday
December 19, 2014
3
Friday
February 20, 2015
4
Friday
April 17, 2015
5
Friday
May 15, 2015
Conservation Stewardship
Program - CSP
o CSP will be available
o Currently working with producers who wish to renew their 2010 contracts
o 2015 Signup period for other new participants not yet
announced
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AMA, CSP, EQIP Practices
• 14 EQIP Conservation Activity Plans
• 103 AMA and EQIP Conservation Practices
• 74 CSP Conservation Enhancements
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14 Conservation Activity Plan
Proposed 2015 EQIP Options
• Agricultural Energy Management Plan
o (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
103 AMA and EQIP Conservation Practices
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74 CSP Conservation Enhancements
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Agricultural Management
Assistance (AMA)
• PA commonly receives a low sllocation
• FY2015 allocation to be determined
• Anticipate targeting for Irrigation
Fiscal Year 2015
Potential National EQIP Initiatives
• Required in 2014 Farm Bill
o Beginning Farmers
• Veteran Farmers’ preference
o Socially Disadvantaged Farmers
o Organic Initiative
• NRCS Agency Initiatives
o On-Farm Energy Conservation
o Seasonal High Tunnel
o Water Quality Initiative
• Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
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High Tunnel
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PA State EQIP Priorities
• Local Ranking Pools
o Cropland
o Pasture
o Livestock/Manure Management
• Statewide or Regional Ranking Pools:
o Forestry
o Forest Management Plan Development
o Stream Corridor Management
o Working Lands for Wildlife/Golden Winged
Warbler
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EQIP Local Fund Pools
Cropland
Pasture/Grazing Land
Livestock/Manure Management
On Farm Energy Conservation
• Energy Audit meeting
o NRCS Ag Energy Mgt Plan (122 or 128) OR
o American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers
ASABE S612 standard
• With an energy audit, NRCS can fund:
o Farmstead Energy Improvement (374)
• Dairy
• Grain Dryers
• Motors
• Maple Syrup
o Lighting System Improvement (670)
o Building Envelope Improvement (672)
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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.
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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
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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
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Soil Health Initiative
Consider program options such as
CSP - Ag Land
cropland and pasture enhancements
EQIP
cropland fund pool
grazing/pasture fund pool
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Cover Crop
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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
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
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.
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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
o Forest Stand Improvement
o Tree/Shrub Establishment
o Early Successional Habitat Management
o Brush Management
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Golden-Winged Warbler Priority Area
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Waste Storage Facility
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Heavy Use Area
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Windbreak
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Access Road
Agrichemical Handling Facility
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Animal Trail
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Grass Waterway
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Terrace
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Streambank Protection
How To Participate in 2015
• Be in USDA Farm Service Agency record system as
owner or operator
o 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
Adjusted Gross Income AGI
• required for AMA, CSP, EQIP in 2015
• Average AGI does not exceed $900,000
o For previous 3 tax years
• For 2015 Program Year/Fiscal Year, consider the
participant or members’ AGI for:
o 2013
o 2012
o 2011
FSA verifies with IRS before certifying compliance
Entities must have
DUNS and be
registered in SAM.Gov
Authentic free SAM.Gov site
Pennsylvania
Natural Resources Conservation Service
For More Information, contact
Your local NRCS Field Office
www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov