Conservation Security Program Producer SelfAssessment Workshop Conservation Security

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Conservation Security Program Producer Self-Assessment Workshop

Conservation Security Program Producer Self-Assessment Workshop

Conservation Security Program l Self Assessment process will assist producer in determining eligibility prior

Conservation Security Program l Self Assessment process will assist producer in determining eligibility prior to completing application at NRCS office l Self Assessment involves answering a series of questions (Yes, No or NA) relating to the land being offered into CSP l NA = Not Applicable

Self Assessment Workbook Available in NRCS offices Hardcopy § CD-ROM § Available on-line §

Self Assessment Workbook Available in NRCS offices Hardcopy § CD-ROM § Available on-line § www. ut. nrcs. usda. gov/programs/csp/index. html

Self Assessment Process Step 1 - Determine Initial Eligibility Step 2 - Assess Land

Self Assessment Process Step 1 - Determine Initial Eligibility Step 2 - Assess Land Use Step 3 - Describe Your Operation Step 4 - Submit Application

Step 1 – Determine Initial Eligibility l Initial eligibility looks at: l Producer Eligibility

Step 1 – Determine Initial Eligibility l Initial eligibility looks at: l Producer Eligibility (4 questions) l Land Eligibility (4 questions) l Underlined word(s) in questions are in glossary for further explanation l Glossary begins on page 25 of workbook

Producer Eligibility 1. Do you share in the risk of producing crops or livestock

Producer Eligibility 1. Do you share in the risk of producing crops or livestock on this operation? Definition: An owner, operator, landlord, tenant, or sharecropper who materially participates and shares in the risk of producing any crop or livestock; and is entitled to share in the crop or livestock available for marketing from a farm (or would have shared had the crop or livestock been produced).

Producer Eligibility 2. Are you entitled to share in the crop or livestock available

Producer Eligibility 2. Are you entitled to share in the crop or livestock available for marketing from the agriculture operation? Definition: “Agricultural land, and other lands determined by the NRCS Chief, under the control of the participant and operated with equipment, labor, accounting systems, and management that is substantially separate from any other unit. ”

Producer Eligibility 3. Do you have control of some or all of the land

Producer Eligibility 3. Do you have control of some or all of the land you manage for the life of the proposed 5 to 10 year contract period? Definition: The CSP participant does not need to own eligible land, but must demonstrate control of the land for the life of the CSP contract through ownership, lease or proof of a long-standing relationship as determined by NRCS. If the applicant is a tenant, the applicant must provide NRCS with the written evidence or assurance of control from the landowner.

Producer Eligibility 4. Is your average adjusted gross income less than or equal to

Producer Eligibility 4. Is your average adjusted gross income less than or equal to $2. 5 million, or if greater than $2. 5 million, did 75% come from farming, ranching or forestry? Definition: 3 -year average of the adjusted gross income or comparable measure of the individual or entity over 3 preceding tax years (3 years before the year for which benefits are requested)

Land Eligibility 5. Is at least part of your land private agricultural land or

Land Eligibility 5. Is at least part of your land private agricultural land or Tribal land? Definition: Land must be private agricultural land (including cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pasture land rangeland), land under jurisdiction of an Indian tribe or forested land that is an incidental part of an agricultural operation.

Land Eligibility 6. Is your land in compliance with the highly erodible land wetland

Land Eligibility 6. Is your land in compliance with the highly erodible land wetland conservation provisions of the 1985 Farm Bill? l Answer NA if not Highly Erodible Land (NHEL) or if not considered wetlands

Land Eligibility 7. Was your cropland used for crop production or considered cropland as

Land Eligibility 7. Was your cropland used for crop production or considered cropland as part of a longterm rotation for 4 out of the last 6 years prior to May 13, 2002? l Must be planted or considered planted to an agricultural commodity l Considered cropland if land is in cropland or set aside for cropland. May be hayland that is part of a long-term rotation.

Land Eligibility Is this land currently enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve

Land Eligibility Is this land currently enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program or Grassland Reserve Program? 8. • Land enrolled in CRP, WRP or GRP cannot be part of the CSP contract. Other land in your operation may be eligible. End of Initial Eligibility Assessment

Initial Eligibility Answers Yes If answers vary from those shown, Yes you may not

Initial Eligibility Answers Yes If answers vary from those shown, Yes you may not be eligible for CSP at Yes this time Yes or na – In compliance OR none of this land is HEL or considered wetlands 7. Yes or na – Cropland meets criteria OR land is not cropland 8. No or na 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Step 2 – Assess Land Use l What kind of land uses do you

Step 2 – Assess Land Use l What kind of land uses do you manage? l l l Cropland (including hayland), Vineyards or Orchards Pastureland Rangeland Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas Each land use has a series of questions to determine if the land you wish to enroll in CSP meets the basic requirements

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards l Managing l 8 questions l Managing l

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards l Managing l 8 questions l Managing l 4 Crops and Soil questions l Managing l 5 Pests questions l Managing l 9 Fertilizers and Nutrients Irrigation questions

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards Managing Fertilizers and Nutrients 1. Do you keep

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards Managing Fertilizers and Nutrients 1. Do you keep written records or documentation of your nutrient management activities for each field, such as yields, soil analysis, plant tissue analysis and nutrients applied – including animal waste? l At least two years of records must be provided from two out of the last three years

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 2. Are you managing nutrients (for example, adding

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 2. Are you managing nutrients (for example, adding supplemental nitrogen) by following a nutrient management plan or schedule that budgets nutrients based on soil and crop needs, and environmental risks? l Plan accounts for amount, source, timing and method of applying nutrients

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards Do you conduct soil tests and/or plant tissue

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards Do you conduct soil tests and/or plant tissue tests? 3. • • A minimum of once every five years on fields where fertilizers or animal manures are applied Answer N/A if no fertilizers or manure applied

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 4. If you have abandoned or active water

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 4. If you have abandoned or active water wells in your cropland, orchard or vineyard, have you taken adequate steps to protect ground water? Abandoned wells should be capped for future use or decommissioned l Wells should have an anti-siphon device installed l Nutrient and chemical setbacks should be in place (100 feet) l

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 5. If you land apply animal manure or

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 5. If you land apply animal manure or waste, are you following a waste utilization plan that includes adequate setbacks from surface waters and other hydrologically-active areas (including sinkholes, karst topography, ground water recharge areas, wetlands and wellheads)?

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 6. If cropland, vineyards or orchards are grazed,

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 6. If cropland, vineyards or orchards are grazed, are you managing livestock access to rivers, streams and other surface water? l Are you preventing degradation of the river, stream, or other surface water through such activities as fencing, herding, watering ramps or points, managing riparian pastures separately, timing of access, or use exclusion

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 7. If cropland, vineyards or orchards are grazed,

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 7. If cropland, vineyards or orchards are grazed, are you following a grazing plan which includes the following? § Selecting kinds of domestic animals suited to the terrain, climate and other existing grazing area conditions

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards • Other grazing plan criteria § Optimizing grazing

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards • Other grazing plan criteria § Optimizing grazing distribution through placement of watering facilities, fences or herding techniques § Are all areas grazed evenly

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards l Other grazing plan criteria § Identifying periods

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards l Other grazing plan criteria § Identifying periods of grazing, rest and other treatment for each management unit § § As shown by records Identifying and maintaining adequate cover on sensitive areas (riparian, wetland other habitats of concern) Minimum of 4 -6” stubble height § Is there evidence of erosion occurring in sensitive areas due to livestock grazing? § Plant community is intact §

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards l Other grazing plan criteria Not negatively impacting

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards l Other grazing plan criteria Not negatively impacting any cultural resource or sensitive species § Identifying and monitoring key areas and key plants to evaluate grazing management decisions § § Be able to compare the stubble height of key plants in your fields with stubble heights listed in the Prescribed Grazing standard

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 8. If cropland, vineyards or orchards are grazed,

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 8. If cropland, vineyards or orchards are grazed, are livestock prevented from direct access to sinkholes, unprotected wells, or other direct conduits to ground water?

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards Managing Pests 9. Do you keep written records

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards Managing Pests 9. Do you keep written records or documentation of your pesticide application and pest control methods for each field? At least two years of records out of the last three years are required l N/A if pesticides are not used l

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 10. Are you following a pest management plan

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 10. Are you following a pest management plan or schedule that includes, as needed, insects, invasive species and weeds? l Pest management plan may include rate, method, timing, risk assessment, integrated pest management, appropriate mitigation and recordkeeping

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 11. • Are you scouting for pests and

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 11. • Are you scouting for pests and using the information as a basis for applying pesticides? N/A if pesticides are not used

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 12. Have you assessed the environmental risks of

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 12. Have you assessed the environmental risks of pesticide use on your cropland, vineyards or orchards, and addressed any risks with appropriate measures? l l l Assessing risk may include analyzing soil characteristics, pesticide properties, management factors and climate Addressing risks may include scouting, spot treatment, biological controls and selecting reducedrisk chemicals See list of pesticide/soil interactions and appropriate measures

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards Managing Crops and Soil 13. Do you grow

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards Managing Crops and Soil 13. Do you grow high residue crops at least 1 in 3 years in rotation, apply a mulch, use a cover crop annually, and/or have hay/pasture in rotation? l High residue crops can include corn, small grains, alfalfa, and or grass

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 14. Do you maintain cover between the rows

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 14. Do you maintain cover between the rows of your vineyards or orchards? This is not an issue in our watershed l Should be answered N/A l

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 15. Do you include any of the following

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 15. Do you include any of the following in your crop rotation: A. B. C. D. E. No-till, strip-till, direct seeding or mulch-till Perennial sod or hay in rotation Add organic soil amendments such as manure or compost Grow cover and green manure crops to improve the soil If none of the above, do your soil tests indicate an increase in organic matter?

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 16. If you are in an area of

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 16. If you are in an area of saline or sodic soils, do you monitor soil salinity levels? • Must meet 50% IWM enhancement criteria

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 17. If you have saline soils, do you

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 17. If you have saline soils, do you use one or more of these techniques to manage salinity: managing your irrigation and drainage water, deep tillage, crop selection, reduction in fallow, and/or soil amendments or planting salt tolerant crops?

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 18. Do you avoid operating equipment in your

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 18. Do you avoid operating equipment in your cropland, vineyards or orchards when soils are wet to reduce soil compaction?

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 19. Is sheet and rill erosion controlled? Sheet

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 19. Is sheet and rill erosion controlled? Sheet erosion is the removal of a uniform thin layer of soil from the land surface by rainfall and surface runoff l Rill erosion refers to the numerous small channels formed from surface runoff l Rusle 2 is used to determine the amount of erosion occurring. Ask an NRCS employee for assistance with the Rusle 2 program. l

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 20. Is wind erosion controlled? l The Wind

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 20. Is wind erosion controlled? l The Wind Erosion Equation is used to determine the amount of wind erosion occurring. Ask an NRCS employee for assistance with the wind erosion equation.

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 21. Have you stabilized or treated ephemeral erosion

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 21. Have you stabilized or treated ephemeral erosion or classic gullies on your operation? l l Ephemeral erosion is formed from the concentration of surface water when rills converge. Generally removed with tillage operations and re-formed again (Normally treated by installing terraces or mulch till practices) Classic gullies are well-defined, permanent drainageways that cannot be crossed by ordinary farming operations (Is there vegetation growing in the gully bottom and no active head cutting)

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards Managing Irrigation 22. Do you inspect and make

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards Managing Irrigation 22. Do you inspect and make repairs to your irrigation system at least annually? 23. Do you keep records of irrigation dates and irrigation amounts applied relative to the crop growth stage?

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 24. Do you adjust your irrigation management for

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 24. Do you adjust your irrigation management for nutrient and pesticide applications? • By adjusting timing of irrigation or timing of nutrient or pesticide application

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 24. Do you control irrigation induced erosion, by

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 24. Do you control irrigation induced erosion, by using a cover crop, perennial cover, polyacrylamide (PAM), residue management or irrigation water management?

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 26. • Are you following an irrigation water

Cropland (including Hayland), Vineyards or Orchards 26. • Are you following an irrigation water management plan? Must meet an irrigation index rating of 50% (Ask an NRCS employee for assistance with this) End of Self Assessment for Cropland If you answered “no” to any of the previous questions, you may not be eligible for CSP at this time.

Pastureland l Managing l 9 questions l Managing l 4 Forage and Soil questions

Pastureland l Managing l 9 questions l Managing l 4 Forage and Soil questions l Managing l 4 Pests questions l Managing l 7 Fertilizers and Nutrients Irrigation questions

Pastureland Managing Water Quality 1. Are you following a grazing plan which includes the

Pastureland Managing Water Quality 1. Are you following a grazing plan which includes the following? § Selecting kinds of domestic animals suited to the terrain, climate and other existing grazing area conditions

Pastureland Managing Water Quality • Other grazing plan criteria § Optimizing grazing distribution through

Pastureland Managing Water Quality • Other grazing plan criteria § Optimizing grazing distribution through placement of watering facilities, fences or herding techniques § No areas of the pasture are overused § Using techniques such as salt block placement and shade and shelter placement to optimize grazing distribution

Pastureland l Other grazing plan criteria § Identifying periods of grazing, rest and other

Pastureland l Other grazing plan criteria § Identifying periods of grazing, rest and other treatment for each management unit § § As shown by records Identifying and maintaining adequate cover on sensitive areas (riparian, wetland other habitats of concern) Minimum of 4 -6” stubble height § Is there evidence of erosion occurring in sensitive areas due to livestock grazing? § Plant community is intact §

Pastureland l Other grazing plan criteria Not negatively impacting any cultural resource or sensitive

Pastureland l Other grazing plan criteria Not negatively impacting any cultural resource or sensitive species § Identifying and monitoring key areas and key plants to evaluate grazing management decisions § Identify the key plants in the pasture § Be able to compare the stubble height of key plants in your fields with stubble heights listed in the Prescribed Grazing standard §

Pastureland 2. Is forage availability balanced with livestock and wildlife demands (forage and animal

Pastureland 2. Is forage availability balanced with livestock and wildlife demands (forage and animal balance, including a forage production estimate, has been made, livestock numbers are identified and wildlife numbers are estimated)? • As shown by records

Pastureland 3. • Do you keep written records or documentation of your pasture management

Pastureland 3. • Do you keep written records or documentation of your pasture management activities for each field, such as grazing intensity, frequency, and duration of grazing periods, forage yields, livestock needs, soil analysis and nutrients applied, including manure? Records for at least two of the last three years

Pastureland 4. Are you managing livestock access to rivers, streams, and other surface water?

Pastureland 4. Are you managing livestock access to rivers, streams, and other surface water? l 5. Are you preventing degradation of the river, stream, or other surface water through such activities as fencing, herding, watering ramps or points, managing riparian pastures separately, timing of access, or use exclusion Do you conduct soil tests and/or plant tissue tests? • At least once every five years if nutrients are applied

Pastureland Are you managing nutrients (for example, adding supplemental N) by following a nutrient

Pastureland Are you managing nutrients (for example, adding supplemental N) by following a nutrient management plan or schedule that budgets nutrients based on soil and plant needs and environmental risk? 6. • • As shown by records N/A if not applying nutrients

Pastureland 7. If you have abandoned or active water wells in your pasture, have

Pastureland 7. If you have abandoned or active water wells in your pasture, have you taken adequate steps to protect ground water? 8. Are livestock prevented from direct access to sinkholes, unprotected wells, or other direct conduits to ground water to protect water quality?

Pastureland 9. If you land apply animal manure or waste, are you following a

Pastureland 9. If you land apply animal manure or waste, are you following a waste utilization plan that includes adequate setbacks from surface waters and other hydrologically-active areas (including sinkholes, karst topography, seeps, ground water recharge areas, wetlands and wellheads, etc. )?

Pastureland Managing Pests Have you assessed the environmental risks of pesticide use on your

Pastureland Managing Pests Have you assessed the environmental risks of pesticide use on your pasture and addressed any risks with appropriate measures? 10. l l • Assessing risk may include analyzing soil characteristics, pesticide properties, management factors and climate Addressing risks may include scouting, spot treatment, biological controls and selecting reducedrisk chemicals See list of pesticide/soil interactions and appropriate measures

Pastureland 11. Do you keep written records or documentation of your pesticide application and

Pastureland 11. Do you keep written records or documentation of your pesticide application and pest control methods for each grazed area – pertaining to pesticide use and insect populations? • At least two of the last three years of records

Pastureland Do you control noxious weeds and undesirable brush species? 12. • 13. With

Pastureland Do you control noxious weeds and undesirable brush species? 12. • 13. With pesticides or other measures such as hand weeding, spot treatment, or grazing management When you control noxious weeds and undesirable brush species, are you following a pest management plan that includes measures to protect water quality?

Pastureland Managing Forage and Soil Do you manage grazing on pastureland to avoid soil

Pastureland Managing Forage and Soil Do you manage grazing on pastureland to avoid soil compaction? 14. • Schedule irrigation and grazing to avoid grazing when the soil is wet 15. Is sheet and rill erosion controlled? 16. Is wind erosion controlled?

Pastureland Have you treated or stabilized classic gullies on your operation? 17. • Includes

Pastureland Have you treated or stabilized classic gullies on your operation? 17. • Includes gullies at the end of the field If you are in an area of saline or sodic soils, do you monitor soil salinity levels? 18. • If irrigated, must meet 50% IWM enhancement criteria

Pastureland 19. • 20. Do you manage salinity through one or more of the

Pastureland 19. • 20. Do you manage salinity through one or more of the following: subsurface drainage, use of soil amendments or use appropriate crops (salt tolerant forage)? Or irrigation water management Do you manage pasture access roads and trails to limit soil erosion?

Pastureland Managing Irrigation 21. Do you control irrigation induced erosion? 22. Do you inspect

Pastureland Managing Irrigation 21. Do you control irrigation induced erosion? 22. Do you inspect and make repairs to your irrigation system at least annually?

Pastureland Managing Irrigation Do you adjust your irrigation management for nutrient and pesticide applications?

Pastureland Managing Irrigation Do you adjust your irrigation management for nutrient and pesticide applications? 23. • By adjusting timing of irrigation or timing of nutrient or pesticide application Are you following an irrigation water management plan? 24. • Must meet an irrigation index rating of 50% (Ask an NRCS employee for assistance with this)

Pastureland End of Pastureland Assessment If you answered “no” to any of the previous

Pastureland End of Pastureland Assessment If you answered “no” to any of the previous questions, you may not be eligible for CSP at this time.

Rangeland l Managing l 7 questions l Managing l 4 Pests questions l Managing

Rangeland l Managing l 7 questions l Managing l 4 Pests questions l Managing l 4 Water Quality Forage and Soil questions

Rangeland Managing Water Quality 1. Are you following a grazing plan which includes the

Rangeland Managing Water Quality 1. Are you following a grazing plan which includes the following? § Selecting kinds of domestic animals suited to the terrain, climate and other existing grazing area conditions

Rangeland Managing Water Quality • Other grazing plan criteria § Optimizing grazing distribution through

Rangeland Managing Water Quality • Other grazing plan criteria § Optimizing grazing distribution through placement of watering facilities, fences or herding techniques • No areas of the pasture are overused § Using techniques such as salt block placement and shade and shelter placement to optimize grazing distribution

Rangeland l Other grazing plan criteria § Identifying periods of grazing, rest and other

Rangeland l Other grazing plan criteria § Identifying periods of grazing, rest and other treatment for each management unit § § As shown by records Identifying and maintaining adequate cover on sensitive areas (riparian, wetland other habitats of concern) Minimum of 4 -6” stubble height § Is there evidence of erosion occurring in sensitive areas due to livestock grazing? § Plant community is intact §

Rangeland l Other grazing plan criteria § Not negatively impacting any cultural resource or

Rangeland l Other grazing plan criteria § Not negatively impacting any cultural resource or sensitive species § § Ask NRCS for list of sensitive species Identifying and monitoring key areas and key plants to evaluate grazing management decisions Identify the key plants in the grazing area § Utilization of key plants doesn’t exceed 50 to 60% § Photographs or other records that show the range trend §

Rangeland 2. Is forage availability balanced with livestock and wildlife demands (forage and animal

Rangeland 2. Is forage availability balanced with livestock and wildlife demands (forage and animal balance, including a forage production estimate, has been made, livestock numbers are identified and wildlife numbers are estimated)? • As shown by records

Rangeland 3. Do you keep written records or documentation of your range management activities

Rangeland 3. Do you keep written records or documentation of your range management activities for each grazed area, pertaining to intensity, frequency, and duration of grazing periods, forage production, and livestock needs? • Records should include type and number of animals, time in, time out, and stubble heights after grazing

Rangeland 4. If you have abandoned or active water wells in your rangeland, have

Rangeland 4. If you have abandoned or active water wells in your rangeland, have you taken adequate steps to protect ground water? 5. Are livestock prevented from direct access to sinkholes, unprotected wells, or other direct conduits to ground water to protect water quality?

Rangeland Are you managing livestock access to rivers, streams and other surface water to

Rangeland Are you managing livestock access to rivers, streams and other surface water to maintain water quality? 6. • Are you preventing degradation of the river, stream, or other surface water through such activities as fencing, herding, watering ramps or points, managing riparian pastures separately, timing of access, or use exclusion

Rangeland 7. If you land apply animal manure or waste, are you following a

Rangeland 7. If you land apply animal manure or waste, are you following a waste utilization plan that includes adequate setbacks from surface waters and other hydrologically-active areas (including sinkholes, karst topography, seeps, ground water recharge areas, wetlands and wellheads, etc. )?

Rangeland Managing Pests 8. Do you keep written records or documentation of your pesticide

Rangeland Managing Pests 8. Do you keep written records or documentation of your pesticide application and pest control methods for each grazed area, such as chemical use and invasive plant populations? • At least two of the last three years of records

Rangeland Have you assessed the environmental risks of pesticide use on your pasture and

Rangeland Have you assessed the environmental risks of pesticide use on your pasture and addressed any risks with appropriate measures? 9. • See list of pesticide/soil interactions and appropriate measures

Rangeland Do you control noxious weeds and undesirable brush species? 10. • 11. With

Rangeland Do you control noxious weeds and undesirable brush species? 10. • 11. With grazing management, pesticides or other measures such as hand weeding, or spot treatment When you control noxious weeds and undesirable brush species, are you following a pest management plan that includes measures to protect water quality?

Rangeland Managing Forage and Soil 12. • Do you manage grazing on rangeland to

Rangeland Managing Forage and Soil 12. • Do you manage grazing on rangeland to avoid soil compaction? By minimizing the concentration of animals on small areas

Rangeland Managing Forage and Soil 12. Have you stabilized or treated classic gullies on

Rangeland Managing Forage and Soil 12. Have you stabilized or treated classic gullies on your operation? l Have you installed gully plugs, ponds, spreading structures, or implemented prescribed grazing, or other practices to stabilize the gullies

Rangeland 14. Do you manage pasture access roads to limit soil erosion? 15. If

Rangeland 14. Do you manage pasture access roads to limit soil erosion? 15. If you burn, are you following a prescribed burning plan?

Rangeland End of Pastureland Assessment If you answered “no” to any of the previous

Rangeland End of Pastureland Assessment If you answered “no” to any of the previous questions, you may not be eligible for CSP at this time.

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas l This section is not required,

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas l This section is not required, except for the highest level of CSP l Questions in this section pertain if you wish to enroll your entire operation in CSP and help to determine if other areas within your operation meet basic program requirements

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas l Wells l Fertilizer/Pesticide Areas Storage

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas l Wells l Fertilizer/Pesticide Areas Storage and Handling

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas 1. Do you inspect for leaks

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas 1. Do you inspect for leaks in pipelines, manure storage or transfer facilities and equipment? l May include but not limited to: lagoons, ponds, cement storage bunkers, and collection pits

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas 2. Do you manage runoff from

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas 2. Do you manage runoff from manure handling and feed handling areas? Manure handling areas are where manure is loaded or moved for transport or storage (i. e. feedlot, compost piles, staging areas) l Feed handling areas where foodstuffs for livestock are stored and where livestock are fed (i. e. storage areas, silage pits, feed lanes) l

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas 3. Do you control runoff from

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas 3. Do you control runoff from traps, lots and other livestock concentration areas? l l 4. Traps/lots may include areas such as corrals, holding areas, turkey runs, and chutes Must be controlled up to a 25 yr, 24 hr storm Do you properly dispose of livestock mortalities? • Through proper burial, rendering, composting, or disposal in the county land fill

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas Wells 5. Is the wellhead location

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas Wells 5. Is the wellhead location appropriate and protection components in place for all potential sources of contamination? Well is capped and protected from entry of contamination l Surface is graded to direct runoff away from the well l

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas Is your well cased? 7. Does

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas Is your well cased? 7. Does the well casing extend above the ground (meets State and local standards)? 6. l 8. 1 foot above ground or above the 100 year flood level Are all abandoned wells properly plugged? l Sealed and permanently closed

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas Fertilizer/Pesticide Storage and Handling Areas Is

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas Fertilizer/Pesticide Storage and Handling Areas Is the well located a safe distance from the fertilizer/pesticide storage site and/or mixing and loading areas? 9. • 10. 50 -100 feet from well, downslope if applicable If the fertilizer/pesticide storage site is located on highly permeable soil (sandy soil), is there secondary containment?

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas 11. • 12. • Is rinse

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas 11. • 12. • Is rinse water from cleaning fertilizer/pesticide application equipment properly disposed of? According to label and/or MSDS instructions Are used pesticide containers properly disposed of? According to label and/or MSDS instructions

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas End of Assessment for Farmstead, Headquarters

Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas End of Assessment for Farmstead, Headquarters or Livestock Feeding and Handling Areas l If you answered “no” to any of the previous questions, you may not be eligible for Tier III at this time.

Evaluation Complete l If you are not eligible at this time l Use the

Evaluation Complete l If you are not eligible at this time l Use the assessment to identify a smaller portion of land that may be eligible l Identify remaining conservation work outlined in your conservation plan l Work with NRCS office to develop plan if you do not have one in place l Look at other conservation programs for assistance in completing conservation practices that may help you become eligible l Obtain technical assistance from NRCS

Step 3 – Describe your operation l Describe the fields or portion of your

Step 3 – Describe your operation l Describe the fields or portion of your farm that you are proposing for CSP l Describe crop rotation and associated tillage l Pasture rotation and associated grass management l Describe any new or innovative activities, techniques or methods in your operation l For sample record keeping sheets refer to the assessment workbook, see an NRCS representative, or refer to the Utah NRCS website at: www. ut. nrcs. usda. gov/programs/CSP/index. html

Step 4 - Application l Bring following to local NRCS office l Completed self

Step 4 - Application l Bring following to local NRCS office l Completed self assessment workbook l Plan map or aerial photo of your operation l Identification and location of practices installed l Number of acres and crop rotations for each field l Management activities and practices being used on each field (i. e. irrigation water, nutrient, pest, and grazing management, terraces, filter strips, wildlife habitat, etc. ) l Written records and documentation of management activities (at least 2 yrs)

Application l Additional office: items to bring to the NRCS l Location of wells,

Application l Additional office: items to bring to the NRCS l Location of wells, roads, windbreaks, storage buildings, etc. l If you do not own the land, copies of agreements that refer to the land being offered in CSP Lease l Power of attorney l Assurance (letter or certification) that you have control of farming operation for the life of the contract l Agreements regarding distribution of payments l

Congratulations SELF ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN COMPLETED l For those not eligible at this time,

Congratulations SELF ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN COMPLETED l For those not eligible at this time, identify those missing components and begin preparation for a future signup