Nutrient Management Update and Producer Led Watershed Grants RACHEL RUSHMANN, NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TRADE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
2015 NM Highlights 6,708 NM plans on 2,875,779 acres 11% increase in acres from 2014 31% of Wisconsin s 9 million cropland acres 1,591 farmers wrote their own plans on 434,661 acres (+75,000 more acres from 2014) 5,117 farmers hired 408 agronomists to assist them with NM planning on 2,441,118 acres (+216,000 acres from 2014) 2
FPP and Certificates of Compliance Certificate of Compliance Numbering System 7-digit unique number for each COC Participants must have this number to enter on 2016 FC-A form to receive the credit DATCP s Frequently Asked Questions Document http://datcp.wi.gov/uploads/environment/pdf/fppconscompfa QCounties.pdf Who needs to meet which standards and by what date? When should we start issuing COCs with the new numbers? NOW!!! How should counties be tracking COCs and their new numbers? What information will counties need to send to DATCP? 3
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SnapPlus 15 and SnapMaps SnapMaps 1. Upload Data to cloud 2. Website of map. Add field shapes, wells, etc... 3. Download the info to SnapMaps Fields and Restrictions. Info that does not match is highlighted. Unselect cells you do not want to Import to SnapPlus database. YOU import shape files or draw fields and conduits to groundwater add below field slope and distance to perennial water SnapPlus 15 picks dominant critical soil, predominant soil, slope, slope length measures acres ID s presence of SWQMA, winter slope restrictions, N soils 5
SnapMaps uses: A web-based map tool for drawing/importing farm fields. USDA ARS best research for T & K factors. USDA NRCS 2014 soil survey updates and UW Soils Science Dept. calculation of soil yield potential and fertility guidelines. UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
T and K Factor Changes NRCS Soil Survey 2016 crop year Some farms will face increased conservation challenges Meeting T Meeting PI Reduced crop yield potentials Use the new soils Plan forward in the rotation to meet T and PI Up to 5 years to come into compliance (FPP) Brown areas = new map units that can t be compared to the past. Gold and White = may require the same or less conservation. Purple=may require more conservation practices to stay below T.
Other Updates Beginning rule revision process for ATCP 50 and 51 in March 2016. ATCP 50 likely to incorporate 2015 NRCS 590 NM Standard and other updates. New 590 Standard Dec. 2015 - NRCS adopted for EQIP 2017 - Incorporate into ATCP 50, 51 8
Nutrient Management Farmer Education Grants Tier 1 grants: up to $20,000. Provides nutrient management and SnapPlus training to develop 590 compliant plans. Training includes: workshops, farm mapping, soil testing and manure spreader calibration. Can be used for: Participant payments Administrative, training and support costs Tier 2 grants: up to $2,500 Offer nutrient management training and education but developing a 590 compliant plan isn t required. Can be used for administrative, training and support costs Applications available by January 31 st of every year, due on April 15 th of that same year.
Producer Led Watershed Protection Grants
Overall goals Encourage innovative ideas for conservation Foster locally-led decision making by producers Improve water quality and soil health
What is a producer led group? A group of committed, innovative farmers working towards a mutual goal of improving natural resources and farm economics Watershed-scale work Farmer-to-farmer outreach and education Developing innovative approaches to resource concerns and nutrient management issues Increasing participation in efforts within agricultural industry
Ch 93.59: Producer led watershed protection grants. Nonpoint source pollution abatement activities driven by producer-led groups Annual appropriation of $250,000 available each fiscal year (July 1-June 30) No more than $20,000 per group Authority for rulemaking [ATCP 52] to: Define legal entity Describe grant activities Define application process
Ch 93.59: Producer led watershed protection grants. Eligibility criteria Must have 5 eligible producers Must work and create MOU with one of these: DATCP DNR County Land Conservation Committee UW Extension or Discovery Farms A nonprofit conservation organization Must provide 50% match (1:1) Must lead voluntary nonpoint abatement activities
Watersheds in Wisconsin
Timeline of Rulemaking Process ATCP 52 February 2016 Send out RFP Publish emergency rule March 2016 Hold public hearing April 2016 Proposals due April 1 st Award funding & develop grant contracts June 2016 Draft permanent rule July 2016 2 nd cycle RFP goes out November 2016 Emergency Rule Expires
Timeline of Rulemaking Process ATCP 52 September 2016 2017 grant proposals due October 2016 Award 2017 funding & develop grant contracts April/May 2017 Permanent rule takes effect August 2017 2018 RFP sent out February 2017 Governor s office approval
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Application Process Request for proposals Application Budget instructions Budget Match Contract, if awarded Reporting
FOR STARTUP GROUPS: Work planning Mission statement development Goal setting Learning/field days Bring in experts to discuss important topics such as soil health, nutrient management or existing water quality monitoring data. Project Ideas
Project Ideas Promote and track conservation practices Develop innovative approaches to manure storage, stacking, or conservation equipment-sharing Increase voluntary producer and agribusiness participation Collaborate with partner(s) for on-farm research Complete cost-effective edge-of-field or in-stream water quality monitoring Perform farm assessments to evaluate farm, manure, and nutrient management practices and identify solutions to resource concerns
Provide incentive payments to farmers for: Soil testing Cover crops Nutrient and manure management planning No-till Buffer strips Grassed waterways Manure composting Low-disturbance manure injection Other Project Ideas
Eligible costs Development of work plan, mission development, goal setting, learning days to have experts discuss related topics, development of incentive program, etc. Incentive payments for conservation practices such as soil testing, cover crop seed, etc. Field days, workshops, conferences Personnel (labor) for coordinator role 25% of grant request Mailings, creation of marketing and outreach brochures, handouts, newsletters, factsheets, etc. Materials and supplies directly associated with the project
Eligible costs Incentive payments for equipment rentals of innovative technologies Cost-effective edge-of-field and water quality monitoring Farm walkovers to identify and evaluate potential or existing resource concerns, nutrient management implementation and other water quality practices
Matching funds (1:1) Funds from other grantors and/or sponsorship, including DATCP NMFE funding Farmer and/or staff time at a rate of $25/hour 50% cap of total match Outreach, research, legal, administrative, technical and education services Facility rentals, mailing, printing, production costs Purchase of conservation equipment Cost-share on practice implementation
How to apply? Application will be posted on our webpage: http://datcp.wi.gov/environment/land_and_water_conservation/index.aspx?id=237 APPLICATION DUE: APRIL 1 st 2016 Contact program manager to discuss project idea(s) Applications must be submitted electronically to: Rachel.Rushmann@wi.gov
Website Resources Existing producer-led models Project ideas How to choose a legal entity How to draft a MOU One pagers from collaborators Eligibility criteria Timeline Watershed map Grant opportunity information Frequently asked questions
Questions? Rachel Rushmann 608-224-4622 Rachel.Rushmann@wi.gov Sara Walling 608-224-4501 Sara.Walling@wi.gov