**CSP Soil and Water Eligibility Tool**

**For Cropland Applications**

**SWET version 4.0**

**April 2008**

**This document contains information about the background,
applicability, necessary documentation, technical contacts, tips on
asking and details about each question, as well as information on how to
navigate around the SWET tool. Please browse through to see its
contents. The Questions and Tips and Other Features sections should be
especially useful to read before conducting your first CSP applicant
interview.**

**[Background]{.underline}**

The Soil and Water Eligibility Tool (SWET), used nationally for the 2008
Conservation Security Program (CSP) sign-up, estimates soil quality (SQ)
and water quality (WQ) conservation efforts on cropland, hayland, and
grazed cropland. The number and type of conservation practices applied
on the producer's CSP offered acres provides the basis for the estimate.
A single tool to evaluate soil and water conservation effort increases
the efficiency of cropland eligibility assessment because many of the
conservation practices evaluated by the tool affect both soil and water
quality. SWET answers the basic question, "does the producer address the
minimum soil quality function and water quality concerns outlined by
legislation?"

Management or conservation activities occurring during a rotation
contribute to a cumulative SWET score. No one practice or set of
practices is necessary; multiple combinations are possible for
eligibility. The cumulative SWET score consists of separate scores for
SQ and WQ, each including several critical functions or concerns. The
functions assessed for soil quality (SQ) are organic matter maintenance,
nutrient cycling and retention, physical stability, soil habitat, and
soil moisture (and salinity, as applicable). The water quality (WQ)
concerns included are nutrients and pesticides for both surface and
groundwater, sediment and salinity. SWET uses minimum thresholds for
each SQ function and WQ concern, all of which must be met for program
eligibility.

There are many activities that contribute to multiple soil functions
and/or water quality concern scores. For example, cover crops enhance
several soil functions and contribute to improvements in water quality
concerns. Conservation activities that are more effective or, in some
cases, performed more frequently during the rotation are given greater
consideration than activities that are focused on a single soil or water
quality issue or performed only infrequently.

By answering yes or no, or entering appropriate values for a series of
cropping system questions, CSP applicants will be assessed equally using
the same tool across the country. When all of the answers are complete,
a clear determination of CSP eligibility based on soil and water quality
will be displayed. Eligibility requires a "yes" in each cell of the row
marked 'Minimum Score Yes or No' ( row 9, columns S -- AE on the
spreadsheet). Category Placement Score is the Total SWET Score found in
cell AE57.

The tool is to be completed in the field office by the NRCS employee
interviewing the applicant. The Soil Conditioning Index (SCI) may be
used as a substitute for the SQ portion of the tool, if and only if, the
WQ portion of the tool is passed. A positive SCI does not contribute to
the accumulation of SQ points for category placement. Therefore, all
applicable questions in the tool should be completed because the final
score is used for category placement.

**[Considerations:]{.underline}**

SWET is not a planning tool. However, an attachment to this document
provides a list of possible scores for each practice. This list may be
used by the NRCS conservationist to provide applicants with information
about how they might improve conservation on their operation. Any such
advice must also ensure that only practices which meet resource concerns
are recommended, regardless of the scoring in this tool.

SWET allows the best stewards to document that they are addressing soil
and water quality concerns. It also allows consistent implementation of
a nationwide program with minimum requirements for soil and water
quality. There may be situations where producers following local NRCS
Practice Standards (e.g. Nutrient Management Practice Standard 590) will
not be able to answer yes to the questions about conservation activities
required by the tool. Regardless of the answers to individual questions,
the tool should discern producers addressing soil and water quality
issues from those that need to do more.

While soil quality standards are generally nonexistent, every state has
standards for nutrient application, conservation requirements such as
soil tests and buffers, as well as state water quality regulations.
These standards, requirements and regulations are all rooted in
appropriate conservation stewardship, but they may vary from state to
state. In the process of implementing a national conservation program
like CSP, a tool was required that assessed producers with a common
yardstick. The conservation activities within SWET will not necessarily
match state quality criteria. For example, the tool asks if producers
have buffers at least 20 feet wide. There are some states with local
laws requiring 100 foot buffers. Completing SWET does not advocate nor
endorse stream buffers that are wider or narrower than state law or
local NRCS Conservation Practice Standards.

**[Scale to apply SWET]{.underline}**

SWET will be applied for each rotation on the offered acres (not field
by field). It is not necessary that all fields or tracts in a rotation
be in the same point of that rotation. For example, in a corn- wheat-
bean rotation, if some fields are in corn and others wheat-bean at the
time application, they should all be treated as the same rotation. If a
rotation is inconsistent, then the most likely or representative
rotation should be used.

After separate SWET runs are made for each common system/rotation on the
offered acres, a weighted SWET score must be calculated for all the
offered acres. A worksheet is provided , found on the 'Weighted Avg
Score' tab, to automatically calculate the weighted average for offered
acres, once the acreage and SWET score is entered for each rotation. The
total SWET score (or weighted average for multiple rotations) will be
used to determine category placement. Therefore, all questions should be
answered unless otherwise indicated on the spreadsheet.

**[Producer Documentation]{.underline}**

The applicant does not necessarily need to provide documentation for
each answer. But applicants should be informed the field checks will be
conducted. Use your judgement about the level and amount of
documentation needed. The following are examples of appropriate records
and documentation provided by the producer:

1.  Soil Conditioning Index, if used, (with positive value) provided by
    NRCS office

2.  Crop rotation history, including cash, cover and perennial crops

3.  Tillage, planting, and other soil and crop management methods used
    for production

4.  Controlled traffic plan

5.  Nutrient management records including:

-   Dates and application rates of all nutrients used

-   Weather conditions at application

6.  Nutrient Management Plan that includes one or more of the following:

-   Realistic crop yield goals

-   Soil test results

-   Previous crop credits

-   Leguminous crop credits

-   Manure application history

-   Leaf tissue analysis (if appropriate)

7.  Pest management records including:

-   Crop type and target pest

-   Type of pesticides used and dates and application rates

-   Cultural or biological control method(s) used and dates implemented

-   Spot treatments

8.  Pest Management Plan that includes one or more of the following:

-   Scouting,followed by Banding, spot or directed pesticide application

-   Pest-free seed or transplants

-   Crop rotations, Trap crops

-   Biological pest control

-   Targeted irrigation

-   Equipment cleaning between uses

**[SWET Evaluation of Soil Quality Functions and Water Quality
Concerns]{.underline}**

SWET evaluates the following soil quality functions:

-   Organic matter - maintenance or accrual of organic matter and/or
    soil organic carbon

-   Nutrients - optimized cycling of nutrients, plant availability, low
    loss

-   Physical stability - minimized erosion and maximized structure and
    stability

-   Soil habitat - optimal conditions for diverse soil food web,
    minimized disease and pest problems

-   Soil moisture - water and solute flow, water availability to plants,
    optimal soil water quantity, and maximized quality, including
    salinity, as applicable

SWET evaluates the following water quality concerns:

-   Pesticides in groundwater

-   Nitrogen in groundwater

-   Phosphorus in groundwater

-   Pesticides in surface water

-   Nitrogen in surface water

-   Phosphorus in surface water

-   Sediment in surface water

-   Salinity and sodicity in ground or surface water

**[SWET Questions and Tips for Asking Them]{.underline}**

SWET should be completed during the interview after determination and
delineation of the applicant's control of the land. Each questions or
statement can be interpreted as asking the question "Is \_\_\_\_\_
(activity) applied on your offered acres?" A check or value response in
the box indicates the answer and triggers an assignment of the indexing
points. The tool can be used iteratively on different configurations of
fields or potential CSP offered packages.

SWET questions and additional guidance for completing them follows.
Carefully evaluate each question asked and answer as appropriate to
receive a SWET score that is reflective of management activities taking
place on the acres offered for CSP. See **Special Crops** following this
section for additional guidance. **In the farmer focus groups, what
worked was 1) explaining what each set of questions was about in
general, 2) reading the question (at least the part in bold-face- you
can skip parts that don't apply, such as exceptions for orchards), and
3) follow up by re-stating the question is plain language. Let's face
it: making the tool applicable throughout the US made for some pretty
complicated questions**. You will find suggested wording for points 1 &
3 in *Italics*, roughly in order of occurrence. You will also find
notes, based on questions asked during the review period to help with
interpretation scattered throughout.

**NOTE: For every question, practices should be applied on [all offered
acres]{.underline} in the rotation, as needed (e.g. riparian buffers are
only needed on fields bordering streams, grassed waterways are only
needed in fields with concentrated runoff or gully erosion...).**

***THE FIRST SET OF QUESTIONS ASKS BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR
ROTATION, IT'S LENGTH, CROP TYPES, AND TILLAGE PRACTICES.***

1.  **Enter the length of your rotation in "years" for the offered
    acres.** The number of years is the time it takes to complete the
    entire rotation before your start with the first crop again. For
    example: corn-soybeans-corn-soybeans-wheat is a five year rotation.
    Winter wheat-corn-millet-fallow would be a four year rotation. For
    continuous cropping or permanent crops, such as orchards, use one
    year as your rotation length.

> *Your rotation length is basically how many growing seasons pass
> before you start over with the first crop.*

Note: For inconsistent rotations, ask the farmer to provide a
representative example. If things change but crops and tillage are
similar, it is unlikely that a modification will be needed.

2.  **Check if the Soil Condition Index (SCI) was used to determine soil
    quality eligibility and the SCI was positive for the offered acres.
    This will trigger a pass for soil quality, but provide no points.
    Complete the remaining questions for soil and water quality
    points.** You do not need to complete the Soil Conditioning Index to
    use this tool. The use of the SCI to determine soil quality
    eligibility is optional. The SCI is embedded in RUSLE2. If you have
    a positive SCI score, it gives you a pass on the soil quality
    portion of this tool. If you ran SCI and have a negative SCI score,
    please continue to answer the questions below. There is more than
    one way to pass!

> NOTE: If a positive SCI score already exists at the time of the
> interview, check this box on the first run through. If no SCI exists
> but the application passes the WQ portion but not the SQ half, then an
> SCI should be calculated. If positive, then check the box and the
> applicant should receive a pass for the offered rotation.
>
> NOTE: When SCI is calculated, a separate SCI needs to be calculated
> for each group of offered fields that have a common management system.
> Use the dominant critical soil slope length, and percent of slope for
> representative of all the offered acres using the common management
> system. Use the same procedures used in conservation planning to
> determine the dominant critical soil.

***THIS NEXT QUESTION IS ASKING ABOUT THE TYPE OF CROPS GROWN IN YOUR
ROTATION. THE CROPS ARE GROUPED BASED ON HOW QUICKLY THEY DECOMPOST,
WHICH AFFECTS SOIL QUALITY.*** (It is strongly recommended that you
review the lists and become familiar with where the dominant crops in
your watershed are listed.)

3.  **Based on your rotation, enter the number of your harvested crops
    that are included in each residue category, 3a-e. These questions
    have crops grouped based on residue quality and quantity. Do not
    include cover crops in your responses.** Examples: If you have corn
    and wheat in your rotation, you would enter a "2" for question 3d.
    For a corn and soybean rotation, enter \"1\" in 3c (for beans) and
    \"1\" in 3d (for corn).

> Note: For a rotation where a particular crop is grown more than once,
> enter a number for each time than crop occurs. For example, a
> corn-soy-corn-alfalfa-alfalfa, would receive a 1 in 3c (for beans); a
> 2 in 3d for corn; and a 2 in 3e for legume hay.
>
> Note: These crop lists can be found in full as pop up comments over
> each corresponding question and on the right-hand side of the
> spreadsheet.

a.  **Enter the number of years in your rotation that include the
    following conditions: fallow crop periods (both chemical and tilled
    fallow), idle fields, or harvested sod.**

> Note: Sod harvested for turf is differentiated from hay (which is
> listed under 3e).

b.  **Enter the number of harvested crops in your rotation that are
    included in the list below or included in the comments (or are
    similar to those listed if not listed): Asparagus, Beans dry edible,
    Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Strawberries, Vegetables, or
    similar crops.** Enter the total number of times any of these crops
    are grown during your rotation: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beans dry
    edible, Bedding/garden plants, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts,
    Bulbs/corms/rhizomes/tubers-dry, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower,
    Celery, Cilantro, Collards, Cucumbers, Daikon, Dill for oil,
    Eggplant, Endive, Escarole, Fava beans, Flower seeds, Flowers cut
    and cut florist greens, Foliage plants, Garlic, Ginger root,
    Ginseng, Green peas, Greens, Horseradish, Kale, Lettuce, Lima beans,
    Melons, Mustard greens, Nursery crops, Okra, Onions, Parsley,
    Peppers, Pimientos, Potted flowering plants, Pumpkins, Radishes,
    Rapini, Rutabagas, Shallots, Snap beans, Spinach, Squash,
    Strawberries, Tomatoes, Turnips, Vegetables, Watercress, or similar
    crops.

c.  **Enter the number of harvested crops in your rotation that are
    included in the list below (or are similar to the list below if not
    listed): Buckwheat, Canola, Chicory, Coffee, Corn silage, Cotton,
    Flaxseed, Guar, Hops, Lentils, Peanuts, Pineapples, Potatoes,
    Safflower, Soybeans, Sugarbeets, Sunflower, Tobacco, or similar
    crops (see list).** Enter the total number of times any of these
    crops are grown in your rotation: Buckwheat, Canola, Castor beans,
    Chicory, Coffee, Corn dry fodder hogged or grazed, Corn silage,
    Cotton, Flaxseed, Guar, Hops, Lentils, Mungbeans, Mustard seed, Pea
    Type Crops, Peanuts, Pineapples, Potatoes, Safflower, Sage,
    Soybeans, Sugarbeets, Sunflower, Sweet potatoes, Tobacco, are grown
    during your rotation.

d.  **Enter the number of harvested crops in your rotation that are
    included in the list below (or are similar to the list below if not
    listed): Amaranth, Berry/Fruit Crops (Trees and Shrubs), Corn
    Grain/Popcorn, Cranberries, Mint all for oil, Mushrooms, Nut Trees,
    Rapeseed, Rice, Small Grains, Sorghum all, Sugarcane, or similar
    crops (see list).** Enter the total number of times any of these
    crops are grown during your rotation: Amaranth, Apricots, Berry
    Crops (Trees and Shrubs), Chufas, Corn Grain/Popcorn, Crambe,
    Cranberries, Desert grass, Fruit Trees, Grapes, Guava, Herbs,
    perennial, Kenaf, Maple trees for syrup, Mint all for oil,
    Mushrooms, Nut Trees, Peppermint for oil, Pine tree, Rapeseed, Rice,
    Sesame, Small Grains, Sorghum all, Sugarcane, Teff, Temples, or
    similar crops.

e.  **Enter the number of harvested crops in your rotation that are
    included in the list below (or are similar to the list below if not
    listed): Dichondra, Grass Hay/Seed, Legume Hay /Seed, Lotus root, or
    similar herbaceous perennial crops.** Enter the number of times any
    of these crops are grown during your rotation: Dichondra, Grass
    Hay/Silage/Seed, Legume Hay/Silage/Seed, Lotus root.

> NOTE: This does not include grass harvested for sod.

***THE NEXT TWO QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT TILLAGE.***

4.  **Enter the number of harvested crops in your rotation that have
    "full-width tillage, deeper than 4 inches" less than 60 days prior
    to planting. This does not include fertilizer injectors, in-row
    subsoilers or cover crops.** Enter the number of crops for which a
    moldboard plow, chisel plow, or raised beds are used within 2 months
    prior to planting- a.k.a. spring tillage

> *This question is asking whether you do tillage (deeper than 4 in)
> before planting* (in most of the country this is spring tillage but it
> also includes pre-plant tillage for fall crops.) *If you double crop
> and till before both then you include both.*

5.  **Enter the number of crops in your rotation that have full-width
    tillage, deeper than 4 inches, performed post-harvest or more than
    60 days prior to the normal or next planting date. Ignore alternate
    year cultivation in every other alleyway during dry season to manage
    moisture competition in orchards and vineyards. Does not include
    seedbed preparation immediately prior to planting a cover crop.**
    Enter the number of crops for which tillage occurs at least 2 months
    prior to planting- a.k.a. fall tillage. Does not include emergency
    type tillage to correct a weed escape or repair/fix ruts. Ignore
    alternate year cultivation in every other alleyway during dry season
    to manage moisture competition in orchards and vineyards.

> *This question is asking whether you do tillage (deeper than 4 in)
> before after harvest* (in most of the country this is fall tillage).
> *Tillage to establish a cover crop is not included*.

Note: The response should be indicative of normal circumstances and
management practices. Response should NOT include crops for which
emergency tillage was performed because of chemical failure or other
exceptional occurrence or conditions.

***THIS QUESTION IS ABOUT PRACTICES USED TO AVOID SOIL COMPACTION.***

6.  **Do you use controlled traffic consistently OR do you closely
    monitor soil moisture prior to all field operations to determine
    when it is safe to perform field operations to minimize soil
    compaction.** Check if controlled traffic is used or soil moisture
    conditions are closely monitored to minimize compaction and field
    operations are not performed under high soil moisture conditions.
    Moisture should be tested by feel or other locally recommended
    method. Controlled traffic can be either high tech, GPS, or low
    tech, field markers.

> *Do you make sure the soil is dry enough to avoid compaction before
> getting on it?*

Note: True controlled traffic systems will have the same wheel spacings
on all machinery.

Note: A common moisture monitoring method is 'moisture by feel.'

***THE NEXT TWO QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT CONSERVATION TILLAGE.***

7.  **Enter the number of crops in your rotation for which you establish
    using a no till system (no full width tillage) with at least 30%
    residue cover [after]{.underline} planting.** Enter the number of
    crops in your rotation for which a no till system (with no full
    width tillage) is used to establish a crop and 30% surface residue
    is maintained after planting.

*How many of your crops are no-tilled?*

8.  **Enter the number of crops in your rotation for which you use full
    width tillage but maintain at least 30% soil cover (residues,
    composts or other mulch materials) after planting.** Enter the
    number of crops in your rotation for which 30% surface cover is
    maintained after planting the crops.

*How many of your crops are mulch tilled?*

Note: This question can also be an option for organic or other specialty
operations that use conventional tillage but then mulch to keep the soil
covered. Plastic mulches are not an acceptable option.

Note: For any one crop you would select one or the other (if any)
conservation tillage option. You may have both occur in a rotation.

***THE NEXT THREE QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT CONSERVATION PLANTINGS AND CROP
DIVERSITY***

9.  **Enter the number of crops in your rotation for which you establish
    a cover crop either prior to or after harvest and do not harvest the
    cover crop; OR you maintain vegetation between the rows in areas
    such as vineyards or orchards.** Enter a check if cover crops
    (includes grasses, legumes, forbs, or other herbaceous plants) are
    established for seasonal or perennial cover and not harvested. This
    does not include nurse crops unless the nurse is planted in the off
    season to avoid a fallow period.

*How often to you plant a cover crop?*

Note: Grazed covers do not count.

Note: Volunteered covers are permissible, provided they give full cover
for the entire off season.

10. **Enter the number of years in your crop rotation that have
    perennial vegetation (hay or grass cover and permanent covers in
    orchards and vineyards) -- include the establishment year.** During
    how many years of your rotation are perennial crops such as hay or
    grass cover (including the year of establishment) maintained.

> *How many years of hay or pasture to you have in your rotation?OR Do
> you keep a permanent cover between rows in your orchard/vineyard?*

Note: It is OK to double dip here: if you have an entry in 3e above, you
should enter the number of years in which the perennial is grown here.

11. **Enter the number of different crop species/types in your rotation,
    including different types of cover crops.** Enter the total number
    of different crops grown during your rotation, including cover
    crops.

> *This question is about diversity. We want to know how many different
> plants are grown during the rotation.*

Note: In mixed plantings, as occurs for hay or intercropped covers (ie
oat/vetch), include all the species present.

***THE NEXT THREE QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT EROSION CONTROL.***

***THE FIRST QUESTION IS APPLICABLE ONLY IN ARID AREAS.***

12. **CHECK if your operation is in a low rainfall area (less than 14
    inches of annual precipitation) AND most of the water needed for
    crop production is applied through a high efficiency sprinkler or
    drip irrigation system that produces no surface runoff. Does not
    include furrow or flood irrigation.** Does not include flood or
    furrow irrigation.

> *This question is a yes only if rainfall is less the 14 in/yr AND your
> sprinkler or drip system produces no runoff.*

13. **CHECK if there are no visible signs of sheet and rill erosion AND
    concentrated flow areas show no signs of gullies AFTER 2 inches or
    less of rain in 24 hours (temporary or permanent).**

> *We realize that after a major storm you are likely to see some
> evidence of erosion, even in the best of systems. Here we are trying
> to find out if you see evidence after a good rain (≤2 in/d) not a
> flood.*

Note: This applies to all the offered acres in the rotation, regardless
of changes in slope.

14. **CHECK if you maintain at least two of the following in-field
    erosion control practices, such as but not limited to: (a) a crop
    rotation with high residue crops, (b) residue management
    practices, (c) cover crops, (d) covered alleyways, (e)
    contouring, (f) strip cropping, (g) windbreaks, (h) terraces, (i)
    grassed waterways, (j) contour buffer strips, (k) field borders, (l)
    water and sediment control basins.**

> *Any two practices will allow a 'yes' answer.*

Note: Practices are applied and maintained to reduce erosion and
minimize sediment transport to surface waters. These practices are
applied on all offered acres, as needed.

***THE NEXT THREE QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT WATER QUALITY CONSERVATION ONLY.**
IF #15 IS ANSWERED 'YES,' ANSWER THE NEXT TWO (#16 & #17). IF #15 IS
ANSWERED 'NO,' SKIP TO QUESTION #18.*

15. **CHECK if you have water courses or water bodies (lakes, ponds,
    ditches or intermittent or perennial streams) on the offered
    acres.**

16. **If #15 was checked yes, CHECK if all Perennial streams, ponds and
    lakes are bordered with vegetated buffers at least 20 feet wide.**
    If livestock are grazed on these cropland acres, they restricted
    from water sources or water bodies by fencing or water gaps. For
    flooded rice and cranberry fields, dikes that are at least 20 feet
    wide can substitute for vegetated buffers.

Note: All perennial water must be buffered to check yes.

17. **If #15 was checked yes, CHECK if you maintain a minimum setback of
    33 feet or greater when applying manure or pesticides from all
    intermittent streams/ditches, perennial streams, ponds/lakes,
    surface water inlets and open sink holes. Spot spraying within the
    setback is permitted according to the pesticide label.** Check if
    the 33 ft. setback is maintained and application rates for liquid
    manure do not exceed the Available Water Capacity of the soil.
    Winter manure application is limited to daily haul. For pesticides
    labeled for greater set backs the label directions are followed.

Note: This applies to perennial AND ephemeral water & ditches, including
concentrated flow areas such as grassed waterways.

***THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT PESTICIDE USE. PESTICIDES INCLUDE
ALL FORMS OF HERBICIDES, INSECTIDES, FUNGICIDES, FUMIGANTS, RODENTICIDES
OR OTHER TOXINS.***

18. **CHECK if no organic or chemical insecticides, herbicides,
    fungicides, rodenticides, or other pesticides are used. (This
    triggers a pass for pesticides.)** Includes organic farming
    operations that do not use pesticides.

> *This question is checked yes if you don't use any of the above.*

***THE NEXT QUESTION IS ABOUT THE LEVEL OF IPM USED. PICK JUST ONE OF
THE 3 OPTIONS THAT BEST DESCRIBES YOUR SYSTEM/ROTATION. The choices are
no IPM, low-level IPM, and basic IPM. Listen carefully to the
descriptions to choose.***

19. **CHOOSE ONE (a-c) Integrated Pest Management level BELOW**

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a.  **CHECK if you apply any pesticides (types listed in \# 18) without
    an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system.**

b.  **CHECK if you use a low-level of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
    using at least one of the following: using pest-free seeds and
    transplants, cleaning tillage and harvesting equipment between
    fields, and scheduling irrigation to avoid situations conducive to
    disease development, using pest-resistant varieties, crop rotation,
    trap crops, pest scouting, biological pest controls.**

> Note: This includes regular use of one or more IPM management
> techniques that are appropriate for the crop and site, including
> prevention, avoidance, monitoring, and suppression. Monitoring can
> include soil testing for pests and weather forecasting. Suppression
> can include cultural pest control.
>
> Note: Guidance on application of appropriate IPM management techniques
> is available from Cooperative Extension.

c.  **CHECK if you use a basic (medium level) Integrated Pest Management
    (IPM) system consisting of scouting and use economic thresholds
    before treating pests (weeds, insects, or disease) using spot
    spraying, banding or other reduced usage of chemical.**

> Note: This includes IPM systems that use scouting and economic
> thresholds to manage pests and reduce pest management environmental
> risk. A basic IPM system utilizes pest suppression techniques
> (including pesticide applications) only after monitoring (including
> pest scouting) verifies that a pest population has reached an economic
> threshold.
>
> Note: An economic threshold is the number of pests (weeds, insects,
> diseases, etc.) per some unit (square foot, plant, feet of row, etc.)
> that, if left uncontrolled, will soon increase to levels high enough
> to cause economic injury that is equal to the cost of suppression.
>
> Note: Pest management environmental risk is reduced by applying
> mitigation techniques. Mitigation techniques include both IPM
> management techniques, such as timing pesticide application to avoid
> heavy rainfall, and Conservation Practices, such as a Constructed
> Wetland that captures pesticide residues and facilitates their
> degradation. Appropriate mitigation techniques may be selected based
> on environmental risk evaluation with tools like the NRCS Windows
> Pesticide Screening Tool (WIN-PST).
>
> Note: Guidance on application of basic IPM systems is available from
> Cooperative Extension.

20. **CHECK if you use an environmental risk screening tool (such as
    WIN-PST or similar) to reduce pesticide risk to soil and water
    resources.**

Note: This is likely to apply only to the largest operations: those
employing advisors or full-time staff.

21. **CHECK if you use partial treatment by spot spraying, banding,
    directed spraying, or hand hoeing to reduce the amount of pesticide
    applied. This can be checked in addition to the IPM choices above
    and even if some pesticides are applied to the entire field.**

***THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS IS ABOUT NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT**.* (Note that
components of CMNP are broken into separate questions.)

22. **CHECK if you soil test (or tissue test for orchards, vineyards, or
    other permanent crops) all offered fields on a regular basis (at
    least once every 5 years) AND you use the test results to plan your
    nutrient application rates.** Tissue tests are acceptable for
    orchards and vineyards or other permanent crops ONLY.

> *The main point here is whether you test regularly and USE the results
> to plan applications.*
>
> Note: Soil samples are analyzed by a recognized land grant university
> or private laboratory using methods approved by the land grant
> university for the purposes of determining amounts of nutrients needed
> for crop / plant production. Producer needs to demonstrate the use of
> soil tests to plan nutrient application rates.

23. **CHECK if you apply your fertilizers and/or manure based on
    established or realistic crop yields from crop records.**

24. **CHECK if you calculate the appropriate nitrogen and phosphorus
    credits from manure, irrigation water, previous crop, or soil
    organic matter from either an analyses or book values to plan your
    nutrient application rates and timing.** Do not check if you apply
    manure on frozen or snow covered fields.

> *Do you account for nutrients from previous applications* (e.g.
> mineralization in manure) *or crops* (e.g. N fixation from legumes)
> *when planning applications?*

25. **CHECK if phosphorus is not applied on fields that have phosphorus
    soil tests indicated as \'very high\' or \'excessive\'; OR if no
    soils on the offered acres have \'very high\' or \'excessive\'
    ratings. Use the ratings on the soil test report or ratings for
    "very high" or higher from your Land Grant University. Small
    applications of starter fertilizer are exempted.**

> This question is asking whether P is applied on soils that are already
> very high in P. If you have very high P soils and don't apply more,
> check 'yes.' If you don't have any very high P soils, you also can
> check 'yes.'

Note: When soil tests results that are analyzed by a recognized land
grant university or private laboratory for the purposes of determining
amounts of nutrients needed for crop / plant production indicate that
phosphorus levels are in the \"very high\" or \"excessive\" or \"above
optimum\" rating category (regardless of P extraction method), no
phosphorus is applied with the exception of up to 25 lbs/acre of
P~2~O~5~ as starter fertilizer at time of planting.

Note: The P Index is not an adequate substitute for a soil test in this
question.

**THIS QUESTION IS ASSESSING THE RISK OF P RUNOFF.**

26. **CHECK if you do any of the following a) inject or incorporate
    phosphorus fertilizer or manure at least 2 inches deep within 24
    hours of application, according to soil test results and realistic
    crop yields; b) apply phosphorus on 80% residue cover or 80% crop
    canopy cover, according to soil test results and realistic crop
    yields; or c) do not apply phosphorus.**

> To check 'yes,' you have to be doing at least one of the three
> options: a) rapid incorporation, b) application onto residue or canopy
> cover, or c) no application.

**THE NEST QUESTION IS ABOUT N APPLICATION METHOD. Although we realize
that you likely have different methods for different crops in your
rotation, pick the answer which best applies for the majority of the N
applied.**

27. **CHECK one of the Nitrogen Choices (27a-c) below. Answer as an
    average for the entire rotation:**

    a.  **CHECK if you apply [most of your nitrogen]{.underline} (manure
        or fertilizer) within one month prior to planting OR if most N
        is applied after soil temperatures are below 50^o^F.**

> *This is asking if you apply mostly before planting OR fall apply.*

Note: Greater than 75% of the crop nitrogen requirement, as determined
by the nutrient management plan, is applied at or within 30 days of crop
planting or after soil temperatures are below 50^o^F.

b.  **CHECK if you apply most of your nitrogen (manure or fertilizer)
    after the crop has emerged.**

> *Check this choice if most N is applied post-emergence.*

Note: Greater than 75% of the crop nitrogen requirement, as determined
by the nutrient management plan, is applied as sidedress after crop /
plant emergence at the appropriate growth stage. This also applies to
split application of nitrogen on hayland or hay fields and foliar
applications.

c.  **CHECK if no nitrogen (manure or fertilizer) is ever applied OR if
    most N is applied as a split application (pre-plant & post plant),
    according to soil tests or crop growth stage.**

> *This is asking if you apply in a split application that is pre-plant
> and post-emergence or do not apply N at all.*

Note: If no manure or fertilizer nitrogen is applied, the entire source
of nitrogen for plant growth comes from carryover of nitrogen from
leguminous plants (previous crop or cover crop), nitrogen fixation,
rainfall, and soil organic matter. If nitrogen is applied, greater than
75% of the crop nitrogen requirement, as determined by the nutrient
management plan, is applied as a split application (pre-plant and
post-plant).

**THIS LAST NUTRIENT QUESTION DIFFERS FROM THE OTHER QUESTIONS. IT SEEKS
TO GIVE CREDIT FOR APPLYING ORGANIC MATTER, WHILE THE PREVIOUS QUESTIONS
WERE CHECKING FOR OVER-APPLICATION OF NUTRIENTS.**

28. **CHECK if manure, compost, or other organic amendment is applied to
    meet (but not exceed) crop nutrient needs, according to soil tests
    (or tissue tests in permanent crops).**

**THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT SALINITY OR SODICITY CONCERNS. IF NO
SUCH CONCERN EXISTS ON THE OFFERED ACRES, CHECK NO AND THE RUN IS
COMPLETE. IF CHECKED YES, COMPLETE THE REMAINING QUESTIONS.**

29. **CHECK YES, if Salinity or Sodicity is a concern on your offered
    acres. (NO triggers a Pass for Salinity or Sodicity). If YES,
    complete questions 30-33.**

30. **CHECK if you have identified saline recharge or discharge areas on
    your offered acres.**

Note: Acceptable methods of identifying saline seep recharge areas
include soil maps and geologic information, soil moisture probes and
test holes, and visual inspections. Visual assessments and electrical
conductivity measurements are acceptable methods of identifying
discharge areas. Visual indicators of discharge areas include vigorous
weed growth, salt crystals on the soil surface, lodging of the crop and
prolonged soil wetness.

31. **CHECK if you manage saline seeps by using high water use, salt
    tolerant crops or cropping pattern to manage or minimize salinity in
    the soil, surface water, and/or ground water.**

Note: An example of high water use crops/vegetation is planting alfalfa
in the recharge area. Using a flexible cropping system where planting
decisions are based on available moisture is an example of a cropping
pattern change.

32. **CHECK if you manage the type and rate of soil fertility amendments
    and irrigation based on your soil and irrigation chemistry for your
    saline or sodic soils on your offered acres.**

> *This question is similar to the nutrient credit question #24. It is
> asking if you account for salts in the soil and/or water before
> applying fertilizers or manures.*

33. **CHECK if you manage the application of irrigation water to
    minimize salt delivery to surface and ground water.**

Note: Irrigation water is managed to meet the crop needs with minimal
deep percolation and surface runoff.

**[Special Crops]{.underline}**

Completing SWET is required for all cropland, permanent hayland,
horticultural cropland, orchards, and vineyards. Completing it is also
required for specialty crops. Production methods for some of these
crops, such as "sugar bush", require specific directions for appropriate
responses in SWET. For sugar bush, ginseng and similar specialty crops
where neither pesticides nor nutrients are applied, questions 18, 26,
and 27c should be checked. This will result in "pass" marks for
pesticide and nutrient concerns. Surface water sediment (evaluated in
questions related to tillage, evidence of erosion and erosion control
practices, and vegetated buffers) and salinity concerns must be
addressed to fully pass the minimum water quality resource issues.

**[OTHER SWET FEATURES]{.underline}**

**[Print report button]{.underline}**

You will need a signed copy of the completed tool for each rotation on
the offered acres. To create a printed copy, simply click on the Print
Report button on row 5 or on row 59. Do not try to enter anything in the
printable version below row 64. This version will automatically be
populated as you enter the answers in the worksheet above. The signature
box is on the last page of the print out.

**[Clear all button]{.underline}**

You can automatically clear all entries on the worksheet by clicking the
Clear All button on row 5.

**[Create a record file button / Record Files tab]{.underline}**

You can save multiple runs in the same file using the Create a Record
File button on row 5. To do so, once you have completed a run, click the
record file button. This can be done for as many runs as you like.

To retrieve a save record, click on the Record files tab at the bottom
of the window. Select the entire column for the record of interest by
placing the cursor over the column letter and clicking. Copy that column
into column C in the same worksheet (still in the Record Files tab).
Then click on the Re-Populate Data button on rows 4-5. Click back to the
SQ Tool tab. All of the entires for desired record will be shown in the
tool and ready to print or other use.

Recommended usage of this feature:

-   Save a new file for each applicant, naming each using the applicants
    last name first for easy retrieval. Save a record as a back up
    within the file.

-   Use multiple record files for farms with multiple rotations. That
    way one file can include all the information for one applicant's
    cropland and hayland eligibility.

Use of the record files is optional.

**[Weighted Avg Score tab]{.underline}**

Use this feature when multiple rotations exist on the offered acres.
After completing the SWET runs for each rotation, click on the Weight
Avg Score tab. On this worksheet, you will need to enter the acreage and
total SWET score (found in cell AE57 and R73) for each rotation. The
weighted average SWET score, which is to be used for category placement,
is automatically calculated in cell E13. If only one rotation is offered
then this worksheet is not needed.

**[NRCS Contacts for SWET]{.underline}**

A team of agency experts developed SWET. The tool was further reviewed
and tested by NRCS employees from around the country, and end-user input
was provided during farmer focus group sessions. Several university and
ARS scientists have contributed to on-going validation of the tool.

If you have questions or comments regarding SWET, contact Dr. Susan S.
Andrews, Soil Quality National Technology Development Team Leader at
(336) 370-3337; Shaun P. McKinney, Water Quality and Quantity National
Technology Development Team Leader at (503) 273-2413; or Norm Widman,
National Agronomist at (202) 720-3783.