Eligibility of NRCS Conservation Programs
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Transcript of Eligibility of NRCS Conservation Programs
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Conservation Assistance Programs
Ron Wood, NRCS, Richmond VA USA
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NRCS ASSISTANCE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE – Conservation planning to address on-farm natural resource issues
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE – provided via program contracts to implement best management practices as scheduled in a conservation plan
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PROGRAM TYPES
EASEMENT PROGRAMS
STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
(EQIP, WHIP)
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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FY11
CBWI – 14.3 Million
EQIP - 11 Million Organic Initiative – 770K
WHIP- 450k
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ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM /
ORGANIC INITIATIVE
What’s the resource concern, i.e., environmental issue?
There MUST be an existing problem.
Does the EQIP program offer solutions? Or assist producer in meeting the NOP standards? 6
EQIP Organic Initiative Priority Practices 313 Waste Storage (Dry) 316 Animal Mortality 317 Composting Facility 327 Conservation Cover 328 Conservation Crop
Rotation 329 Residue Mgmt-No-
Till/Strip Till/Direct
Seed 340 Cover Crop 342 Critical Area
Planting 345 Residue Mgmt,
Mulch Till
386 Field Border 390 Riparian
Herbaceous Cover 391 Riparian Forest
Buffer 393 Filter Strip 410 Grade Stabilization
Structure 412 Grassed Waterway 422 Hedgerow Planting 472 Access Control 484 Mulching 528 Prescribed Grazing 590 Nutrient
Management Level
B 798 Seasonal High
Tunnel
Conservation Financial Assistance, e.g. EQIP Eligibility
Person or Entity/Business is eligible to receive USDA funds
Land is eligible
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Verifying Eligibility
USDA’s Farm Service Agency takes the lead on eligibility
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Person or Entity Eligibility
Person or Entity Do you operate/manage /own a farm?
• [7 CFR 718.2] An operator is an individual, entity, or joint operation who is determined by FSA’s County Office Committee as being in general control of the farming operations on the farm for the current year.
• [7 CFR 718.2] An owner is an individual or entity who has legal ownership of farmland and/or cropland
If you answered Yes, you MAY be eligible for NRCS Conservation Programs!!
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First Step – Visit Local FSA Office
Tell them you want to become eligible for NRCS Conservation Financial Assistance (EQIP,WHIP, CSP, etc)
What to bring with you: A deed and plat of the agricultural land that
you own or rent Rental agreement if you are not the owner
• Leases and plats for all rented land
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Proof of Ownership / Control of Land
copy of the deed, if recorded unrecorded deed, if specific program does not require a
recorded deed land contract FSA employee will/may check the record at the county
land records office proof of gift tax real estate tax assessment or bill.
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FSA: SCIMS Entry and Forms
FSA must enter ALL individuals or entities that own or have an interest in the farming operation into their database, SCIMS.
Information MUST match EXACTLY what is on file with the IRS for income taxes. All conservation payments are taxable
These same individuals or entities must also complete an AD 1026 and all applicable Adjusted Gross Income forms
If you earn more than $1,000,000.00 Off-Farm income, you are not eligible for conservation financial assistance
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For a person or entity to receive any payments from USDA, they must certify that they and their affiliates are in compliance with the Sodbuster/Swampbuster provisions of the 1985 Food Security
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Person Eligibility
Pumpkins no-tilled into rolled Rye
Land Eligibility – NRCS EQIP
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Eligible
Not Eligible
Forms to Complete AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification
http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/AD1026.PDF
CCC-901, Member’s Information
http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/CCC901.PDF
CCC-926, Average Adjusted Gross Income Statementhttp://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/CCC926.PDF
CCC-927, 2009 and/or 2010 Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information - Individualhttp://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/CCC526-C.PDF
CCC-928, 2009 and/or 2010 Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information – Entity http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/CCC928.PDF
CPA 1236 Assignment of Paymenthttp://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/NRCS-CPA-1236NRCS-CPA-1236.PDF
FSA-211 Power of Attorneyhttp://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/FSA211-211-A.PDF
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For More Info on the Organic Initiative: visit: http://www.va.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip11organic.html
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WHERE TO GO FOR HELPhttp://www.va.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/
USDA NRCS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND PROVIDER
Questions?
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• February 18 – Ranking Easement, EQIP, WHIP and CBWI applications
• February 18 – Applications for Easements, EQIP, WHIP and CBWI applications from 2nd sign-up
• March 4 – Applications for Organic Initiative
• March 4 – Ranking Easements, EQIP, WHIP and CBWI applications from 2nd sign-up
Ranking Deadlines
WHERE TO GO FOR HELPCONTACT YOUR LOCAL NRCS FIELD OFFICE
Bonsack Service Center (Botetourt, Craig, and Roanoke)Jane Shaw 540-977-2698
Christiansburg Service Center (Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski) Tom Greene 540-382-3262
Galax Service Center (Carroll & Grayson)Patty McCloud 276-236-7191
Wytheville Service Center (Bland & Wythe276-228-3513
or visit http://www.va.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/
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USDA Organic
Who can say they’re “organic” Only those folks who are USDA certified
organic;
• Products Labeled as:
“100% Organic – just that (may use USDA seal) “Organic” – 95% organic ingredients “Made with Organic (Ingredients) e.g. corn –
70% of ingredients are organic
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Who’s Certified?
All organic farmers and handlers who sell over $5,000.00 worth of products a year; Farmers selling < $5,000.00 do not need to be
certified; Still have OSP, etc.
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Who does the Certifying?
About a 55 Certifying Agents in the US; May be accredited in one or more categories:
• Crop• Wild crops• Livestock• Etc.
Certifiers Servicing Virginia, visit:http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/marketing/o-gservicing.shtml
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Transitioning to Organic
3 year process: 36 months from the last application of a prohibited substance to latest harvest to the first organic crop;
Physical barriers (prevent drift, etc.) may be needed to prevent co-mingling of organic – nonorganic crops, or prevent contamination of organic crops; (call VDOT! Don’t want them spraying near you! 26
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