**Wisconsin State Technical Committee Meeting**

**June 19, 2008**

**Minutes**

**Present**

[State Technical Committee Members:]{.underline} Sandi Cihlar, Keith
Foye, Laura Hewitt, Bob Micheel, James Ruwaldt

[Others:]{.underline} Don Baloun, Katie Crawley, Regina Hirsch, Tom
Krapf, Jim Thannum, Alison Peña, Carl Wacker, Kate Wipperman, Ray
Ellenberger

**Opening Remarks -** Tom Krapf

Minutes from the last meeting were reviewed and approved.

Tom Krapf, Acting State Conservationist, informed the committee that Pat
Leavenworth is in Washington D.C. until August working on clarifying
rules for the newly signed Farm Bill.

Tom gave a handout to the committee regarding the role the State
Technical Committee has in advice or decision making for newly developed
programs in the Farm Bill. In the future, subcommittees may be formed to
assist with state and local decisions for programs.

Tom gave a power point presentation on the estimated flood damage in the
area. Individuals can visit the NRCS website to see the repair progress
to the structures. There were four structures in Vernon County that had
been damaged and NRCS has requested Emergency Watershed Program (EWP)
funds for short term repairs. The power point presentation will be sent
to the committee.

**WRP Changes from the Farm Bill --** Alison Peña and Don Baloun

The new Farm Bill has changed the process for calculating the value of
land that can be enrolled in the WRP program. This will be beneficial to
the program because landowners will not have to follow the Yellow book
value of land anymore.

A Geographic Area Regional Cap (GARC) for the state of Wisconsin was
sent to Washington for approval. When approved, Wisconsin will be ready
to accept WRP easements using the new policy and procedures. Appraisals
are not needed and the landowner can either accept the capped rate or
not.

Alison gave a power point presentation to the committee that gave an
overview of the changes in the WRP program.

NRCS has opted for a \$3,700/acre statewide cap on specialty crops (sod
farms, vegetable and mint farms, cranberry farms). There wasn't much
time or data to defend the capped rate for fiscal year 2008. The rate
can be reevaluated for fiscal year 2009 with more information and maybe
a subcommittee could be created.

**The WSTC concurred and made the recommendation to adopt the GARC as
presented.**

**Manure Transfer Needs in EQIP --** Don Baloun

Don was asked by the Dairy Business Association (DBA) to give a
presentation to the committee. Two handouts were distributed to the
committee. One handout is Manure Transfer 634 and there are two
different dates at the bottom one is September 2007 and on the other
side is September 2008. The second handout is an actual case that the
DBA wanted presented to the committee.

The DBA would like to see transfer pipe eligible for up to one or two
miles in order to facilitate the development of digesters and manure
sharing between cash grain and livestock producers.

The recommendations for the committee are:

-   Set a cap rate on the transfer pipe. A producer could not receive
    more than \$300,000 under EQIP

-   Set a specific footage of pipe that would be allowed

Because of the limited number of committee members in attendance, the
recommendations will be tabled until the next meeting. Don will be
sending an e-mail out to the committee with the recommendations.

**New Farm Bill Changes for EQIP, WHIP, GRP and FRPP --** Tom and Don

Tom and Don gave a power point presentation on the 2008 Farm Bill. Some
of the highlights were:

-   Increased funding for conservation programs

-   Environmental Quality Incentives Program was expanded

-   Continuation of the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

-   Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program received expanded funding and
    relaxing of some rules involved.

Don will be sending the presentation to the committee. For more
information visit the NRCS website at
[http://nrcs.usda.gov](http://nrcs.usda.gov/).

**Other Topics:**

Ray Ellenberger, Farm Loan Chief for Farm Service Agency, discussed with
the committee a new program under the farm bill titled Conservation Loan
and Loan Guarantee Program. It's a new program that will finance
qualifying conservation projects. Preference is given to beginning
farmer and socially disadvantaged applicants.

If committee members have any ideas or suggestions, contact Ray at
<ray.ellenberger@wi.usda.gov> or 608-662-4422, Ext. 103.

Next Meeting

The next State Technical Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for
**Friday, July 25, 2008**, in the NRCS State Office.