NRCS Conservation Planning Astor Boozer Regional Conservationist Wayne

NRCS Conservation Planning Astor Boozer Regional Conservationist Wayne Honeycutt Deputy Chief for Science & Technology USDA NRCS Washington, DC USDA-NRCS Washington, DC Slide 1

Objectives for today - the role of USDA • Voluntary Conservation • Local - Private Landowners are the Decision Makers • Farm Bill Programs – Providing Conservation Incentives • Providing Technical Assistance – Science Based • Must provide opportunities for ALL producers to go through OBJECTIVE ranking Slide 2

NRCS Conservation Planning • Help growers plan and implement conservation measures that maintain and improve agricultural, forest & range land, and protect the environment and our natural resources. • Work with landowners on a voluntary basis. Use science and experience for making informed decisions. Slide 3

Types of NRCS Conservation Programs “Conservation Portfolio” • • • Technical Assistance Easement Programs Financial Assistance Stewardship Program Grants for Innovation Slide 4

Technical Assistance • Conservation Technical Assistance Program • Voluntary • Help land owners make sound management decisions • Available on private, Tribal and other nonfederal lands • Protect and improve water quality & quantity • Develop sustainable agricultural systems

Financial Assistance • NRCS Financial Assistance Programs • Voluntary • Offered to eligible landowners and agricultural producers • Contract to provide financial assistance • Help with planning and implementation • Save energy, improve soil, water, plant, air, animal and related resources on agricultural and non-industrial private forest land

Conservation Benefits • • • Soil health Carbon sequestration Water quality Wildlife habitat diversity Improved air quality Scenic amenity Slide 7

NRCS Planning Process ag e me nt Phase I Collection and Analysis M an Determine Objectives Ad ap t ive Identify Problems Inventory Resources Analyze Resource Data Phase III Application & Evaluation Implement the Plan Evaluate the Plan Phase II Decision Support Formulate Alternatives Evaluate Alternatives Make Decisions

Objectives for today – Science in NRCS • Scientific Basis for Conservation Practice Standards • Nutrient Management • Systems Approach • Listen and Learn Slide 9

Foundation: Sound Science

Technology Acquisition and Development • • • Ecological Sciences Division Conservation Engineering Division (including CIG) National Soil Health & Sustainability Team National Air Quality & Atmospheric Change Team National Manure Management Team National Water Quality & Quantity Team National Plants Data Team National Wildlife Team National Energy Team National Grazing Lands Team National Wetlands Team Technology Transfer • National Technology Support Centers (East, Central, West)

Tool for Conservation Planning: Conservation Practice Standards (160) All available at: www. nrcs. usda. gov

NRCS Conservation Practice Standards establish minimum acceptable levels of quality for: • • • Planning Design Installation Operation Maintenance

Conservation Practice Standards incorporate information from… Universities Government research Practical experience Conservation field trials

New Standards are written when… …new technology can solve a resource problem Small Watershed Program …increased emphasis is placed on a resource concern. Energy Initiative …a State identifies a resource concern that is specific to their State. Dune protection

Conservation Practice Standards – Scientific Peer-Reviewed Research Universities Government research

Drainage Water Management Outlet lowered for planting Outlet raised after planting Outlet lowered for harvest Outlet raised after harvest

NITRATE LOAD REDUCTION (%) 80 60 40 20 0 0 20 40 60 80 DRAINAGE OUTFLOW REDUCTION (%)

BIOREACTOR RESEARCH

Wood chips: Inexpensive Effective > 20 yr

BIOREACTORS Photo courtesy of ACWA

Nutrient Management Practice Standard (590) • Routinely revised every 4 -5 years ü Coordinated with USDA objectives ü Latest science and technology ü Improved clarity • The Standard helps growers apply manure and fertilizer to agricultural lands with minimal impact on the environment. • It is shaped by comments received from public and private sector reviewers.

National 590 Revision Process Old 590 New 590 1 st Draft 3 rd Draft NRCS Review FR 45 days 2 nd Draft Slide 26

Who Commented? • Hundreds of responses were received from the public and private sector: – – Federal agencies Land grant universities Consultant and research groups Ag Industry, cattlemen’s and dairymen’s organizations, grower advocacy groups – SWCDs, conservation advocacy groups, TSPs – Independent growers and concerned citizens (Full Range of NRCS Customers) Slide 27

Balancing Food Production with the Environment ü Emphasizes 4 Rs (amount, source, placement, timing) ü Nutrient applications based on yield goal AND risk assessments

Revised Standard Directs Nutrient Management Planners to: • Apply nutrients when crops are most likely to take them up • Avoid over-application of nutrients • Avoid application when there is a high risk of nutrient loss to air or water • Improve recordkeeping

Revised Standard Encourages Use and Improvement of Available Conservation Tools • Risk Assessment Tools ü Erosion Risk (RUSLE 2) ü Nitrogen Leaching Index ü Phosphorus Index • Soil and tissue testing for nutrients

Issue – Winter Application of Manure Previous Standard (2006) “To minimize nutrient losses: … Nutrients shall not be applied to frozen, snowcovered or saturated soil if the potential risk for runoff exists. ” Slide 31

Revised Standard (2012) “Nutrients must not be surface-applied if nutrient losses offsite are likely. This precludes spreading on: • frozen and/or snow-covered soils, and • when the top 2 inches of soil are saturated from rainfall or snow melt. Exceptions for the above criteria can be made for surfaceapplied manure when specified conditions are met and adequate conservation measures are installed to prevent the offsite delivery of nutrients. Slide 32

The adequate treatment level and specified conditions for winter application of manure must be defined by NRCS in concurrence with the water quality control authority in the State. At a minimum, the following site and management factors must be considered: • • slope, organic residue and living covers, amount and form of nutrients to be applied, and adequate setback distances to protect local water quality. ” Slide 33

Issue – Application of Manure on Frozen, Snow-covered, or Saturated Soil • 12 states already prohibit application • 13 states easily avoid application then • Many others have defined conditions for winter spreading Slide 34

SUMMARY Revised Standard Benefits Producers • FA through USDA programs • Increases nutrient recovery by crops, thereby reducing production costs and increasing profit • Nutrient plans that are defensible • Better records to help document they are doing things right

SUMMARY Revised Standard Benefits the Environment • Reduced erosion • Reduced nutrient losses to air • Reduced nutrient losses to water (FA to achieve public value) Slide 36

Systems Approach to Nutrient Management Planning: Avoid, Control, Trap Slide 37

Avoid ü Avoid nutrient losses from agricultural operations • Principle preventative approach is the nutrient management plan (CPS 590). Slide 38

Control - Erosion • Practices commonly used: § Crop Rotation § Residue Management § Cover Crops § Strip Cropping § Contouring Slide 39

Control - Runoff • Practices commonly used: § § § Terraces Contour Buffers Grassed Waterways Strip Cropping Runoff Control Structures Irrigation Water Management Slide 40

Control – nutrient leaching • Practices commonly used: § Irrigation Water Management § Cover Crops § Crop Rotations Slide 41

Trap • Practices Commonly used: § § § Filter Strips Riparian Buffers Contour Buffer Strips Constructed Wetlands Drainage Water Management Bioreactors (emerging technology) Slide 42

Avoid, Control and Trap Avoid: ü 590 Nutrient plan Control: üWell Buffers üCover crop üFilter strip üResidue management Trap: üField border Slide 43

Evaluating Our Impact

Conservation Effects Assessment Project: 42 Watersheds, 13 Million acres Conservation Practices Work Compared to no conservation practices: – Sediment loss reduced by 47 -73% – Phosphorous loss reduced by 33 -59% – Nitrogen loss in runoff reduced by 35 -58% – Nitrogen loss through leaching reduced by 9 -45% Suites of Practices More Effective than Individual Practices Alone

Systems for Multiple Benefits 1990 1994 Bear Creek, Story County, Iowa Ecosystem Services: Water Quality C Sequestration Wildlife Habitat 1996

Conservation Practices NRCS standardizes its conservation practices to integrate science-based solutions into farm planning

Erosion Control - Examples Crop Rotation Residue Management Cover Crops Contouring Strip Cropping 49

Why Revise the Standard? Challenges Facing American Agriculture ↑ ↑ ↑ World population Demand for food and fiber Demand for clean water Demand for productive farmland Demand for skilled farmers Regulatory pressure