Jennifer AbbeyNRCS District ConservationistPlant City Field Office

Agenda

• What are the Programs• What’s New in the 2014 Farm Bill

Conservation Programs and Eligibility?• How does it apply to me?• How do I get assistance?

Partnership

RCPP

Financial Assistance

Easements – Development Rights

TYPES OF PROGRAMS NRCS OFFERS

Environmental Quality Incentives Program

ELIGIBILITYApplicants must: • Control or own eligible land• Comply with adjusted gross

income limitation (AGI) provisions

• Be in compliance with the highly erodible land and wetland conservation requirements

• Develop an NRCS EQIP plan of operations

• Additional restrictions and program requirements may apply

What's New in EQIP?• The former Wildlife Habitat

Incentive Program was folded into EQIP

• Advance payment opportunities now exist for veteran agricultural producers

• Advance payments for socially disadvantaged, beginning and limited resource farmers, Indian tribes and veterans were raised from 30 percent to 50 percent

• Payment limitations are set at $450,000 with no ability to waive

What is Different in the Farm Bill?Eligibility

2008 Farm Bill-Previous

• Beginning Farmer (<10yrs), Limited Resource, SD Farmer Funds set aside. Advance payments 30% within 30days

• AGI $1million/$750k 2/3 Farm income. Waivers for special environmental significance

• DUNS and SAM requirements for entities

• Payment Limitation $300k for the Farm Bill

2014 Farm Bill - New• Veterans*, plus previous

groups. 50% Advanced payment and 90 days.

• AGI $900k. Only RCPP has AGI Waiver authority.

• SAM must be done annually

• Payment Limitation $450k in Single EQIP Payment Eliminates, eliminates the 6-year rolling limit

Watering systems (troughs) and fencing for rotational grazing can help protect water quality of streams, improve cow health, and may result in better pasture utilization.

Financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices that address resource concerns on the land.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Conservation Stewardship Program – Going Above and Beyond by rewarding you for your stewardship. Payments are earned for conservation performance.

Conservation Stewardship Program

1. Planning

Visit your local NRCS field office to discuss your goals and work with staff on a conservation plan.

2. Application With the help of NRCS, complete an application for financial assistance programs.AD 1026

3. EligibilityFind out if you are eligible for NRCS’s variety of financial assistance programs.• As part of the application process, we’ll check to see if you are

eligible. To do this, you’ll need to bring: • An official tax ID (Social Security number or an employer ID)• If you are applying under an employer ID number, then a

DUNS number and current CCR registration are required• A property deed or lease agreement to show you have control of

the property; and• A farm tract number.• If you don’t have a farm tract number, you can get one from

USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Typically, the local FSA office is located in the same building as the local NRCS office. You only need a farm tract number if you’re interested in financial assistance

4. Ranking

NRCS ranks applications according to national, state, and local resource concerns.

Water QualityWater QuantitySoil HealthPlant and Animal HealthAir QualityHabitat for Wildlife

5. Implementing

Put conservation to work by signing a contract and implementing conservation practices.

Jennifer Abbey – District Conservationist201 S Collins Blvd Suite 202Plant City, Fl 33563813-752-1474 x 3

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/fl/home/The USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer