Click to edit Master title style,Click to edit Master text styles,Second level,Third level,Fourth level,Fifth level,*,*,*,Agriculture and Water Quality,Where Are We?And,Where Are We Going?,Dan D.LawsonBranch Chief,Conservation and Watershed Planning,NRCS,Its The Water WorkshopSeptember 13-15,2019,Hannibal,Missouri,1,Mission,The,Natural Resources Conservation Service,provides leadership in a,partnership,effort to help people conserve,maintain,and improve our natural resources and environment.,2,Where Are We?,3,Staffing,11,804 permanent full-time employees,93%at the state level or below,2,536 field offices,4,FY-2019 Funding,(Dollars in thousands),Discretionary Funds 1,241,662,Mandatory Funds 1,955,496,NRCS Reimbursables 70,467,TOTAL$3,267,625,5,FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS,6,Environmental Challenges-Agriculture,Water quality(nutrients,sediment,pathogens,etc.),Water quantity(too little or too much),Air quality(odor,particulates,etc.),greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration,Invasive Species,Energy production and conservation,Urban/rural interface,7,USDA Policy,“Food and Agricultural Policy:Taking Stock for the New Century”,(September 2019),A portfolio approach:,Land retirement,Stewardship,Conservation compliance,Regulatory assistance,“carefully designedeach where most appropriate.”,8,Types of Conservation Programs in the 2019 Farm Bill,“Conservation Portfolio”,Technical Assistance,Easement Programs,Cost-Share Programs,Stewardship Program,Grants for Innovation,9,Highlights,Implementation of the Conservation Title through Conservation Programs,21 major rules completed,National and local priorities established,New approaches implemented,Conservation Security Program,Grant Programs(CIG,Biomass),Technical Service Providers,Program management performance incentives initiated(EQIP),Program delivery costs reduced,NRCS reorganized for efficiency/effectiveness,10,Highlights,Science,Technology&Management Advancements,Producer self-assessment tool(CSP),ProTracts for contract management(EQIP,CSP,WHIP,AMA),Management intensity(EQIP and CSP enhancements),Soil Conditioning index(CSP),Conservation Effects Assessment Project,Conservation planning sign-up pilot project,11,Environmental Quality Incentives Program(EQIP),The conservation cost-share“work horse”in the NRCS tool box,Approximately$1 billion in 2019,Typically a 50-75%cost-share rate,Practices and rates determined on state level with local input,12,EQIP National Conservation Priorities,Reduction of non-point source pollutants,reduction of groundwater contamination,and conservation of ground and surface water resources,Reduction of emissions that contribute to air quality impairment,Reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptable levels on agricultural lands,Promotion of at-risk species habitat conservation,13,EQIP FY-2019 Applications&Contracts,14,EQIP FY-2019 Cost-Share Payments by Natural Resource Concerns,15,16,Stewardship Program,Conservation Security Program,17,CSP:A Three-Tiered Program,Protect,soil and water quality,on,part,of your operation,Protect,soil and water quality,on,all,of your operation,(Plus:Agree to address one other resource concern),Protect,all natural resources,on,all,of your operation,(Plus:Agree to additional activities),18,2019&2019 CSP Watersheds,19,CSP Implementation:FY-2019,First available in 2019 in 18 watersheds,2019 in 220,12,700 participants/contracts,9.0 million acres enrolled,$202 million available;$11,500/yr/average contract,51%in Tier I,28%in Tier II,21%in Tier III,20,CSP Implementation:FY-2019,States provided input to Chief on watershed priorities for 2019 on June 15,2019,Chief reviewed 2019 watershed selection proposals and made a recommendation on August 25,th,to USDA,USDA announced 110 watersheds for FY 2019,Watersheds represent 137,000 eligible farms and ranches covering 50 million acres,Sign-up period will take place early in FY 2019,21,CRP Contract Expiration,22,Planned CRP Activities,USDA will issue a policy on contract extensions/re-enrollments by end of FY-2019(General CRP),USDA will issue a policy on re-enrollment of Continuous CRP and CREP by end of FY-2019,USDA may postpone this years Fall General Sign-up until early in calendar year 2019,USDA is continuing to look at tasks/activities to streamline(all provisions of CRP),23,CEAP Watershed Assessment Studies 2019,24,Where Are We Going?,25,NEXT FARM BILL,(Per Chief Bruce Knight),Even more emphasis on:,Working lands(conservation and economic sustainability),Incentives,Voluntary efforts to negate need for additional regulation,Efficient program administration,Measurable results,Meeting water quality/quantity,wetlands,and forest health objectives,26,Preparation for Next Farm Bill,Programmatic streamlining and efficiency/effectiveness improvements,Conservation planning and technical assistance streamlining,Conservation program reform and assessment,Maximizing performance of existing programs and contracts,27,Preparation for Next Farm Bill,Programmatic Str