Mid Contract Practices - USDA · Mid‐Contract Management (MCM) • MCM “process”: • MCM(s)...
Transcript of Mid Contract Practices - USDA · Mid‐Contract Management (MCM) • MCM “process”: • MCM(s)...
Jim GillisNRCS State Biologist
January 10, 2018
CRP / CREP Mid‐Contract Management
PracticesJim Gillis, NRCSJan. 10, 2018
Natural Resources Conservation ServicePennsylvania
USDA is an equal opportunity employer, lender, and provider.
Mid‐Contract Management (MCM)
• As of last revision to 2‐CRP:
• MCMs are required for all CRP practices contracted.
• Only MCMs approved by FSA NHQ can be used.
• MCMs must be applied outside of primary nesting season, which is April 1 to July 31 in PA.
• MCMs must be different from typical maintenance:• Different methods, different goals…
Often done to diversify or prolong the CRP plant cover.• Not for contract compliance.
Mid‐Contract Management (MCM)
• MCM “process”:
• MCM(s) chosen by participant and documented in the Plan with matching narratives, maps, and Job Sheets.
• MCM funding included with CRP/CREP contract.
• Prior to implementation in years 4, 5, or 6, NRCS or Partner does a site visit and Status Review for technical review of conditions and applicability of contracted MCM(s).
• MCM(s) are implemented as contracted or they are modified to an applicable MCM and then implemented.
Mid‐Contract Management (MCM)
As of today, available MCMs are: Inter‐seeding / Over‐seedingInterplantingSpraying Herbicide for Wildlife BenefitStrip‐Spraying Herbicide for Plant DiversityPrescribed MowingPrescribed Burning
• Each has a unique Job Sheet that details the purpose, timing, and implementation options.
• Electronic, fillable MCM Job Sheets on the eFOTG, in Section IV / Conservation Practices / CRP Job Sheets; partial documents given as handouts for reference today.
Mid‐Contract Management (MCM)
CP 1 2 4D 8A 9 12 15 21 22 23 29 30 33 42
Inter‐seeding / Over‐seeding ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Interplanting ● ● ● ●
Prescribed Mowing ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Prescribed Burning ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Spraying Herbicides for Wildlife Benefit ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Strip‐Spraying Herbicides for Plant
Diversity● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Mid‐Contract Management (MCM)
• MCMs approved for use in PA:
Inter‐seeding / Over‐seeding
Intent: Reduce soil erosion and protect water quality while improving plant diversity and enhancing wildlife habitat.
Method: Add seed to the existing CRP cover, either by broadcasting or drilling. Added seed must match or complement the contracted practice, with no decrease in environmental benefits (e.g., cannot add CSG to WSG mix, or add wildflowers to CSG).
Mid‐Contract Management (MCM)
• MCMs approved for use in PA:
Inter‐seeding / Over‐seeding
Mid‐Contract Management (MCM)
• MCMs approved for use in PA:
Interplanting
Intent: Increase plant diversity and enhance wildlife habitat.
Method: Plant additional trees/shrubs into existing CRP tree practices. Applies when existing cover contains less than 3 tree/shrub species or stocking rate is below 200 plants per acre.
Mid‐Contract Management (MCM)
• MCMs approved for use in PA:
Interplanting
Trout Unlimited
Not CREP, but an example of <3 species
Mid‐Contract Management (MCM)
• MCMs approved for use in PA:
Prescribed Mowing
Intent: Enhance habitat value of the enrolled acres by encouraging a more diverse forb/legume community, greater structural diversity, or early successional habitat.
Method: Mow a limited portion of the enrolled acres with the specific intent of altering plant characteristics, NOT the removal of undesired vegetation. Mowing layouts given on Prescribed Mowing Job Sheet.
Mid‐Contract Management (MCM)
• MCMs approved for use in PA:
Prescribed Mowing
creppa.org
Prescribed Mowing in CP2 to alter structural diversity.
Mid‐Contract Management (MCM)
• MCMs approved for use in PA:
Prescribed Burning
Intent: Improve plant diversity and remove the buildup of thatch. (We want standing grass, not dead material / thatch)
Method: Apply Prescribed Burning (338) according to NRCS Standards and Specifications.
Overhead cover, but open at ground Thick, tangled barrier
Mid‐Contract Management (MCM)
• MCMs approved for use in PA:
Prescribed Burning
creppa.orgDense thatch from mowing WSGs. Thatch removed by burning.
Mid‐Contract Management (MCM)
• MCMs approved for use in PA:
Spraying Herbicide for Wildlife Benefit
Intent: Create open‐ground networks under trees and shrubs and promote a diverse and healthy plant community.
Method: Apply an appropriate herbicide under a portion of the existing trees/shrubs, to simultaneously reduce plant competition and create early‐successional habitat.
Mid‐Contract Management (MCM)
• MCMs approved for use in PA:
Spraying Herbicide for Wildlife Benefit
creppa.org
Example to show the type
of openings created. (Not
saying that site needs this MCM yet.)
Mid‐Contract Management (MCM)
• MCMs approved for use in PA:
Strip‐Spraying Herbicide for Plant Diversity
Intent: Enhance habitat by creating early‐successional ground covers and encouraging a diverse forb/legume community. Perennial grasses in treated areas should be reduced by roughly 50%.
Method: Strip‐spray appropriate herbicides onto vegetation that has become too thick. Cannot be done within 20 feet of a water body.
Mid‐Contract Management (MCM)
• MCMs approved for use in PA:
Strip‐Spraying Herbicide for Plant Diversity
D.Beckstrand
Example showing the vegetation
change possible. (Not an
example of the MCM itself.)
Jim GillisNRCS State Biologist
January 10, 2018
Questions?
Jim Gillis, NRCS717‐237‐2219
Natural Resources Conservation ServicePennsylvania
USDA is an equal opportunity employer, lender, and provider.