# Presentation: 085837

## Monthly Programs Training Netconference

- November 15, 2006
- 10:00 - Noon

## *6

**6*
*Thank You!*

## AGENDA

Roll Call

FSA “Flags” 					Lisa Coverdale

Contracting Manual				Lisa 

Program Application Workbook			Gary Roeder

New Contracting Forms				Tim Julander

Protracts Update					James Huggard

Cancellation/Termination/Cost Recovery 			Gerald Washington

Contract Incentive Payments – Rules			Karen Fullen

Ranking Tools, Business Rules, Screenings		Julie Nelson/all

- Roll Call
- FSA “Flags” 					Lisa Coverdale
- Contracting Manual				Lisa
- Program Application Workbook			Gary Roeder
- New Contracting Forms				Tim Julander
- Protracts Update					James Huggard
- Cancellation/Termination/Cost Recovery 			Gerald Washington
- Contract Incentive Payments – Rules			Karen Fullen
- Ranking Tools, Business Rules, Screenings		Julie Nelson/all

## Today’s training powerpoint and these training aids can be found on the Utah NRCS Website

- 11/9/06 FAPD Program Update Teleconference
**10/19/06 2007 New ProTracts Contracting**
- 9/7/06 Transition to FY2007: Protracts
**6/29/06 Application Evaluation and Ranking Tool****National Net Conference**
- Matrix-Payment Limitation and Subsidiary Eligibility Requirements
**Minor Contract Change from ProTracts ****Certification & Payment Screen**
- 4/25/06 Cost Recovery Net Conference
**Contract History Module **
- Program Eligibility  Training
**March 2006 FSA Subsidiary Website **

**Today’s training powerpoint and these training aids can be found on the Utah NRCS Website**
**Click on:**
** “****For NRCS Employees”**

## FSA Flags

- Lisa Coverdale

## FSA Notice PL-146 & ProTracts Eligibility

- Prior to FY07, eligibility flag settings for AD 1026 and Adjusted Gross Income Certification were defaulted to the prior-year status.
- In FY07, FSA will be resetting these flags to “Not Filed” until the producer certification data can be re-verified.
- The following actions in ProTracts/Fund Manager prompt an eligibility check before processing:
- Changing an application status to “approved”
- Electronically signing a contract by the NRCS Approving Official
- Modifying a contract to increase the obligation
- Adding a new participant to an approved contract
- Making a payment to any contract participant

## PL-146: EQIP & WHIP Contracts obligated before FY 2007

- ProTracts will immediately use the FY 2006 eligibility data for eligibility verification on prior year contracts. After FSA completes its updates of all producer records, ProTracts and Fund Manager will be updated to once again utilize the current FY2007 data.
- After the FSA update is complete, NRCS will compare the FY 2007 eligibility data to the FY 2006 eligibility data to determine if any FY 2007 payments (that relied on 2006 eligibility data) have eligibility issues needing resolution or potential cost recovery based on “improper” payments having been issued.

## PL-146: 2007 CSP Payments

- CSP contracts will follow the same process as EQIP and WHIP contracts obligated before FY 2007 where FY 2006 eligibility data will be used during the interim.
- The 2007 Annual Payments should process normally unless a participant fails eligibility based on the 2006 FSA record.

## PL-146: EQIP & WHIP 2007 Applications and Obligations

- All contract obligations with 2007 program applicants will be affected by the update actions planned by FSA.  As soon as practical, the **names of applicants that have been ranked and selected for funding need to be provided to the FSA county office for “priority processing.”  **
- After FSA resets its AD-1026 and Adjusted Gross Income Certifications to “Not Filed,” ProTracts will not allow the applicant status to be changed to “approved.”
- Field employees can rank “pending” applications without the ability to Upload from Toolkit but will be unable to proceed with other contract approval actions until the 2007 eligibility records are updated in the FSA subsidiary files.

## Monitoring for Improper Payments

- The NRCS Information Technology Center will be generating a list of all prior-year CSP, EQIP, and WHIP contracts that currently fail HELC/WC screening based on 2006 FSA eligibility flags.
- The State Office will distribute this list to their respective field offices for local follow-up to confirm the current status and seek resolution of eligibility issues that impact program participants.
**Under no circumstances are payments to be issued to any participant on this list without confirmation of 2007 eligibility in the FSA subsidiary files.**

## 512.26 Status of Applications and Application Ranking

- Status Pending and Eligible are only status compatible with AERT ranking.
- Setting Application to Approved will include rule check for AMA, EQIP, & WHIP that a ranking score is present
- Deferred: Currently deletes all ranking information. In Utah, unfunded applications will be moved to deferred in April.

## Contracting Manual

- Lisa Coverdale

## Overview of Changes

- Much of the changes were for clarification
- Adopted streamlining initiatives
- Catch up with ProTracts
- Steer ProTracts toward future enhancements
- Incorporate the Application Evaluation and Ranking Tool
- Create a few new forms
- New sample letters

## Subpart B.  Conservation Planning

- Practice Life Span will come from the Conservation Practice Standards (CPS) website (512.11 D)
- Practices will be maintained for established life span.
- O&M must be incorporated in practice narrative or O&M plan. Lifespan may extend beyond contract life.

**Notes:**
The life span of a practice may extend beyond life of contract. 

## Subpart C.  Application for Assistance

- NRCS-CPA-1200 - a separate form – increase self certification requirements (512.20 A)
- Provide the appendix – understand the requirements of the program/contract – _Not required to sign the appendix with the application_ (512.20 B)
- Beefed up required certifications by the applicant (512.20 C)
- Applicant eligibility – move on it at application eligibility not approval – Use the letter! (512.20 C)

## Subpart C.  Application for Assistance

- New section for Tribes, Tribal Ventures, Alaskan Native Corps., and Trusts involving BIA (512.20 F)
- Use of the Application Evaluation and Ranking Tool (AERT) - (512.25)
- Updated the application status table reflecting CST upload status and FFIS relationship (512.26)

## Subpart E.  Contracting

- Established new NRCS-CPA-1202, with appendix as the contract form (512.42)
- New contract form with conservation plan and practice schedule separated (NRCS-CPA-1155)
- Finalize the relationships and authorities before contracting
- Faxed signature requirements (512.46 B)

**Notes:**
Pay close attention to 512.42, regarding signature requirements. 
Business entitiesand joint operatoins—signature authorities were established when the 501A was filed. 
Where 2 or more are on a contract, they must acknowledge the signature requirment for mods on the 1202. This is a “smart form” in that subsequent 1156’s will be generated with the signature block for the participants. Signatures on the 1156 for all who checked yes on 1202. 

## Instituted “minor contract changes” and clarified modifications (512.50 A)
Expanded the policy regarding modifications and implications in ProTracts (512.50 B) – No change in scope modifications
Contract changes not requiring signatures (512.50 C) – covered in previous net conference.

- Expanded the policy regarding modifications and implications in ProTracts (512.50 B) – No change in scope modifications
- Contract changes not requiring signatures (512.50 C) – covered in previous net conference.

- Subpart F.  Contract Administration

## Explicit policy on prohibited changes in a CPC (512.50 F) and documentation requirements for modifications (512.50 G)
Approval of contract modifications signature authority must match 1202 (512.51 B.1.)
Significant increases (lesser of 20% or $10,000) require second level review and approval. (512.51 B.2.)
Expanded discussion of interest payments (512.58 D)

- Approval of contract modifications signature authority must match 1202 (512.51 B.1.)
- Significant increases (lesser of 20% or $10,000) require second level review and approval. (512.51 B.2.)
- Expanded discussion of interest payments (512.58 D)

- Subpart F.  Contract Administration

## Subpart G.  Program Payments

- Expanded policy on direct deposit requirements (512.60 A)
- Average cost/Flat Rates – pay on certified units performed (receipts not required) (512.60 D)
- Steps in processing 1245 (512.60 F)
- ProTracts update – process all payments with less than $1,000 change without modification to add funds (512.60 F.(ii))
- Second level review requirements (512.60 G)

## Subpart G.  Program Payments

- Payment assignments – new form NRCS-CPA-1236 (512.62 A)
- Amount and timing of payment assignments (512.62 B)
- New section on Erroneous and other special payments outside of ProTracts (512.69)

## Subpart J.  Exhibits

- New or revised sample letters
**Program Eligibility Certification Letter***** ***
**Application Deferral Letter**
**Ineligibility Determination for Conservation Program Contract Letter **
**Pre-Approval for a Conservation Program Contract Letter**
**Waiver to Begin a Conservation Practice Letter**
**Annual Practice Reminder Letter**
**Certification of Recurring Payments Letter**
**Debt Collection Letter**
**CSP Disapproval Letter**
**Limited Resource Farmer/Rancher Administrative Review Letter**
**Beginning Farmer/Rancher Administrative Review Letter**
**Termination with Cost Recovery Letter**
**Cancellation without Cost Recovery Letter**
**Cancellation with Cost Recovery Letter**

## Data Collection

- It is very important that both livestock and crops data tables have entries completed for all FY 2007 applications.
- WHY?
- The Department has requested that NRCS track crop type in addition to livestock type ( required by statute) to assess the types of producers that USDA programs are assisting.

## Data Collection

**Data will be required to be completed before application **
**approval.**
**AMA, CSP, EQIP, and WHIP will all use the same livestock and crops tables.**
**AMA, EQIP, and WHIP will only require the predominant crop type to be checked.**
**CSP will require crop type, acres and organics to be filled in.**

## Crop Type – Instructions for AMA,EQIP and WHIP

- Crop type will be determined by the one predominant crop type that the program contract is assisting.
- Where multiple crops are grown in rotation, report the crop with the largest acres under contract in the year the contract is signed.
- This will be a very high cut tracking, the conservationist should use their best judgment on this decision and not conduct a detailed analysis.

## Livestock Types – AMA,CSP,EQIP,WHIP

- In order to reduce excessive numbers of the “other livestock” type being reported, a few additional types will be added for FY 2007.
- New Livestock types (17):
- Aquaculture, Beef, Bees, Bison, Dairy, Deer, Elk, Goats, Horses, Poultry, Llamas, Mules, Other Livestock, Rabbits, Sheep and Swine
- No Livestock

## Program Application Workbook

- Gary Roeder

## Utah 2007 Conservation Application Workbook

- Purpose: To expedite processing of producer applicants for:
-    EQIP, GSWC, WHIP, AMA
- To reduce errors and oversights in the programs contracting process as identified in area appraisals in FY2006.

## Producer Application Checklist

- A “tool” which identifies information that the producer must provide to the NRCS for timely development of CPC contracts.

## Contract Requisites

***Assessment Worksheets*** for program (EQIP, WHIP or AMA) and determination of which fund-pool (EQIP) the applicant is applying for. (only complete one assessment per applicant).  Information is utilized to determine baseline resource conditions for proper ranking of applications.
- Crop hayland
- Grazing land
- AFO/CAFO
- Wildlife
- Ground and Surface Water

## Other Documentation

- Irrigation History (if applicable) page 14
- Fact sheets on self determination of eligibility for Beginning Farmer/Rancher or LRP.

## Other Documentation Continued

- Proof of Land Ownership
- Proof of control (leased land)
- Water rights (if applicable, irrigation projects, wetland and range water improvements)
- Signatory requirements (POA, Corporate by-laws etc)
- Completed Vendor Information
- (SF 1199A)

## Use of the Tool

- Use of the tool is not mandatory.
- However significant quality controls must be in place to reduce.
- ∆ Errors in ranking, eligibility determinations, program requirements, control of land etc.
-    The “tool” is a work in progress, not perfect. If it is not utilized, how will we know how to make it better in the future?

## New Contracting Forms

- Tim Julander

## 

Revisit the October 19 “New Forms” powerpoint slide training often!

Distributed to all employees in October

Available on Utah Website (“For Employees”)

- Revisit the October 19 “New Forms” powerpoint slide training often!
- Distributed to all employees in October
- Available on Utah Website (“For Employees”)

## Background: Changes to Forms 

- Existing forms were expiring;
- Needed new OMB review and form approval;
- Contracting policy team had suggested overhaul two years ago;
- Time was opportune to update forms and retrofit to new electronic business, including ProTracts;
**Continues to put more responsibility on participant to self certify.**

## NEW and REVISED (and improved) CONTRACTING FORMS

**NRCS-CPA-1200    Conservation Program Application**
**NRCS-CPA-1202     Conservation Program Contract**
**NRCS-CPA-1155     Conservation Plan or Schedule of               **
**                                  ****Operations**
**NRCS-CPA-1156     Revision of Plan/Schedule of Operations**
**                                  ****or Modification of a Contract**
**NRCS-CPA-152       Contract Transfer Agreement**
**NRCS-CPA-1236      Assignment of Payment **
**NRCS-CPA-153        Contract Non-Compliance**
**NRCS-CPA-1245       Practice Approval and Payment                   **
**                                   ****Application**

## New Form Features 

- Inherited forms from other agencies and are now updating for NRCS business.
- Changes based on policy changes for better internal controls.
- Changes based on user enhancement requests and user group input for improved readability.
- ‘Smart’ forms for column headers and data.
- Applicable forms will be implemented in Toolkit SP-3.

## New Appendices

**Changes and additions were made to:**
- make appendices as uniform as possible for all programs in order to standardize contract administration for the field;
- accommodate new contracting forms;
- strengthen the agency’s position when dealing with appeals;
- inform participants of additional program requirements;
- Incorporate latest federal compliance provisions.

## 512.20  General
    A.  Application Forms
    Program application forms (NRCS-CPA-1200) are available in NRCS field offices, conservation district offices, and on the Internet.  Submit e-form applications in accordance with the instructions found at http://www.sc.egov.usda.gov.

**    ****A.  Application Forms**
-     Program application forms*** ***(NRCS-CPA-1200) are available in NRCS field offices, conservation district offices, and on the Internet.  Submit e-form applications in accordance with the instructions found at _[http://](http://www.sc.egov.usda.gov/)__[www.sc.egov.usda.gov](http://www.sc.egov.usda.gov/)__[.](http://www.sc.egov.usda.gov/)_

## Appendices Changes Continued

**Item 8 Changes To Terms And Conditions Of This Contract**
- Provision added for unilateral modification of a contract when the amount of payment of a single contacted item increases by not more than $1000 as a result of an increase in the number of units applied.

## Appendices Changes Continued

**Item 14 Rights To Appeal and Request Equitable Relief ( Used to be Appeal Rights only)**
- Added Participant may also request equitable relief
**Item 18 Certification and Assurances**
- Added federal criteria concerning small businesses, non profits, and institutions per advise of OGC.

## NRCS-CPA-1155 Conservation Plan or Schedule of Operations

- The form can be generated when contract status is pending, eligible, cancelled, deferred, pre-approved or approved AND contract modification number and contract change number are zero.
- After contract modification or change are made the CPA-1155, for FY07 contracts forward, will be an un-editable “snapshot”.

## Application: Crop and Livestock Type

- Selection  is Required based on Predominance

## Available Once Approval is Received from USDA
http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eforms/mainservlet

NRCS-CPA-152
NRCS-CPA-153
NRCS-CPA-1155
NRCS-CPA-1156
NRCS-CPA-1202
NRCS-CPA-1202 – Appendix
NRCS-CPA-1236 
NRCS-CPA-1245 

- _h__[ttp://](http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eforms/mainservlet)__[forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eforms/mainservlet](http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eforms/mainservlet)_
**NRCS-CPA-152**
**NRCS-CPA-153**
**NRCS-CPA-1155**
**NRCS-CPA-1156**
**NRCS-CPA-1202**
**NRCS-CPA-1202 – Appendix**
**NRCS-CPA-1236 **
**NRCS-CPA-1245**** **

## Changes in Protracts and Updates

- James Huggard

## Review of ProTracts Changes

- What’s ready: Fillable Forms CPA-1200, CPA-1155, CPA-1156; blank forms CPA-1202 and CPA 152
- What’s coming: Temporary Eligibility Changes; Fillable Forms CPA 1202, CPA-152 & CPA-1245, period of adoption management, Minor Changes and Major Contract Modifications

## Review of ProTracts Changes

- Will have text box (draft view on next screen) for data entry (including CRP and other non-ProTracts Programs) to describe what other programs the land is enrolled in and ability to over-ride default response

- Upcoming Minor Correction to Forms

## Review of ProTracts Changes

- Q. 10 on 1200

- To print 1202

- Upcoming Changes to Application Data Entry

## Review of ProTracts Changes

- Participants with shares greater than zero will become default signature for Modifications and Payments to generate signature box on CPA-1156 but can be changed through a modification to select additional or different participants.

- Upcoming Minor Correction to Forms

## Review of ProTracts Changes

- Entry of state custom narrative in CPS for statewide default planning narratives.
- Extended Toolkit Narrative ID’s for modified narratives in SP-3 will allow adding period of adoption (non-CPS length) lifespan in Toolkit narratives.

- 512.11 (d) Applicable Conservation Treatment: Practice Lifespan

## Status Pending and Eligible are only status compatible with AERT ranking.

Setting Application to Approved will include rule check for AMA, EQIP, & WHIP that a ranking score is present

Deferred: Currently deletes all ranking information so use with caution only after all ranking periods end.

- Setting Application to Approved will include rule check for AMA, EQIP, & WHIP that a ranking score is present
_**Deferred: Currently deletes all ranking information so use with caution only after all ranking periods end.**_

- Review of ProTracts Changes

- 512.26 Status of Applications and Application Ranking

## New NRCS-CPA-1202 will be printed from status Eligible, Pre-Approved or Approved but MUST have uploaded Toolkit items with all items set to planned by rule check to calculate appropriate contract obligation amounts.

New text box will be necessary to complete contract expiration date which is rule checked at “Sign Contract” when ledger obligation is made.

- New text box will be necessary to complete contract expiration date which is rule checked at “Sign Contract” when ledger obligation is made.

- Review of ProTracts Changes

- 512.26 Status of Applications

## Review all the signatory requirements that will be implemented on all forms.

Note in (4) that the decision maker is selected in the Applicant Information Screen and printed first on the CPA-1202.

Note in (8) that vendor code is required when application changed to “Approved”.

- Note in (4) that the decision maker is selected in the Applicant Information Screen and printed first on the CPA-1202.
- Note in (8) that vendor code is required when application changed to “Approved”.

- Review of ProTracts Changes

- 512.42 Establishing CPC in ProTracts

## C.  NRCS Required Signatures
The Designated Conservationist will sign the conservation plan (Form NRCS-CPA-1155) or conservation plan revision (Form NRCS-CPA-1156) certifying the technical adequacy of the conservation treatment in accordance with NRCS Conservation Planning Policy (See CPM Part 512, Subpart B).
Designated = ProTracts Sign contract permission

- The *Designated Conservationist* will sign the conservation plan (Form NRCS-CPA-1155) or conservation plan revision (Form NRCS-CPA-1156) certifying*** ***the technical adequacy of the conservation treatment in accordance with NRCS Conservation Planning Policy (See CPM Part 512, Subpart B).
*Designated* = ProTracts Sign contract permission

- Review of ProTracts Changes

- 512.46 Signing & Approving Contracts

## Minor contract changes and Major Modifications will be implemented in ProTracts early in calendar year 2007.

Change in scope modifications no longer permitted for AMA or WHIP.

- Change in scope modifications **no longer** permitted for AMA or WHIP.

- Review of ProTracts Changes

- 512.50 Modifications

## Certain changes to the original CPC requiring entry into ProTracts that must be supported by participant signature on documents and correspondence generated outside of ProTracts.  
		(iv)  Change in participant payment shares.  Document the changes in shares on Form NRCS-CPA-152.

    PAYMENT SHARE TRANSFER
The undersigned hereby certify that the identified contract has been modified to reflect a transfer of participant shares in the contract.  Effective upon NRCS approval, it is agreed that subsequent payments and application of the all contract provisions will be applied in accordance with the share percentage as denoted in the new payment shares.

- 		(iv)  Change in participant payment shares.  Document the changes in shares on Form NRCS-CPA-152.
******    ****PAYMENT SHARE TRANSFER**
- The undersigned hereby certify that the identified contract has been modified to reflect a transfer of participant shares in the contract.  Effective upon NRCS approval, it is agreed that subsequent payments and application of the all contract provisions will be applied in accordance with the share percentage as denoted in the new payment shares.

- Review of ProTracts Changes

- 512.50(E) **Contract Changes Requiring **
**Other Supporting Documentation**

## Review of ProTracts Changes

- No substantive changes from previous manual version. Tentative deployment of ProTracts Contract Review module in early 2007.

- 512.55 Contract Reviews

## History and Change Buttons now      	   available in Protracts

## Review of ProTracts Changes

- History is now a “live” choice on the
- Conservation Contract Menu Bar

## Review of ProTracts Changes

**The History menu bar provides menu choices to view “read only” **
**information for the following contracting activities:**

-    Payments
-    Obligations
-    Modifications and minor changes
-    Participant payment assignments
-    Participant vendor information
-    Application history
-    Eligibility for participants at obligation 	and for new participants
-    A print option formats information in each 	view into a printable report

## Review of ProTracts Changes

-    Minor Contract Change from 			ProTracts Certification & Payment Screen

- Streamlining Practice Payments

## Review of ProTracts Changes

- Facilitates Existing Contract Policy

**512.50(b)Modifications Where No Signatures Required**
- Modifications that do not require participant signatures include—
- Scheduling changes within the original length of the contract.
**Increasing contract cost resulting from quantity variations or other “cost overruns” when the payment amount is not increased by more than $1,000 per conservation practice, component, or activity. This is being implemented in ProTracts as one change per Contract Item Number.**

## Review of ProTracts Changes

- What is a minor Change in 		ProTracts

- Change = No Signature by producer
- Change requires no approval in ProTracts as is instrumented in with a permission controlled process for modifications.
- Field users have ability to implement specific changes without a second level approval.

## Review of ProTracts Changes

- Contract Changes for EQIP, AMA, & WHIP

- Deployed in ProTracts on 9/7/06:
- $1000 cost change at payment per contract item number (CIN)
- Payment change must be result of increased quantity that was necessary to complete practice under existing program criteria and is within contract scope.
- Ability to do minor Changes in ProTracts later in FY07 for additional reasons including:
- Change planned amount of contract item.
- Change planned year or extent.
- Change practice component extent.
- Add/delete a component.

## Cancellation, Termination, Cost Recovery

- Gerald Washington

## Contract Cancellation or Termination 

- The State Conservationist, in consultation with the local SCD, may _cancel_ a contract, if justified by the reasons provided by the participant, and there is no successor-in-interest.
- The State Conservationist may _terminate_ a contract with respect to a participant’s interest if the land becomes ineligible for failure to implement the contract due to misrepresentation, scheme-and-device, fraud, etc.

## The procedure for canceling/terminating contracts is located in UTAH BULLETIN UT300-07-06.
Refer to Subpart F in the Programs Manual for 512.57 Canceling and Terminating Contracts

**Refer to Subpart F in the Programs Manual for **_**512.57 Canceling and Terminating Contracts**_

## 512.57 Canceling and Terminating Contracts
A. Cancellation versus Termination
(1) A Conservation Program Contract may be either cancelled by both parties, or terminated for cause by NRCS. In either event, the obligations contained in the CPC are ended through action that annuls the responsibilities of both parties to the contract. There is a slight, but significant difference in the terminology used when CPC obligations are ended, as follows:

**A. Cancellation versus Termination**
- (1) A Conservation Program Contract may be either cancelled by both parties, or terminated for cause by NRCS. In either event, the obligations contained in the CPC are ended through action that annuls the responsibilities of both parties to the contract. There is a slight, but significant difference in the terminology used when CPC obligations are ended, as follows:

## (2) Cancellation — A cancellation is an equitable remedy that allows both parties to the contract to terminate the contractual relationship. (See section 512.57 B.) A recovery of costs may or may not be appropriate depending upon the circumstances included in the program participant’s written request for cancellation.

## (3) Termination — A contract is subject to termination as a result of a material breach of the terms and conditions included in the CPC. (See section 512.57 C.) As such, a contract termination is an adverse action (i.e., termination meets the definition for an adverse decision in accordance with 7 CFR §11.1, National Appeals Division Rules of Procedure) and must be fully documented as to cause for the termination and the procedure used by NRCS to ensure that the participant has been provided an opportunity to remedy the violation as required by the specific program regulation. Terminations for cause will usually result in an assessment of liquidated damages for a recovery of costs associated with the administration of the breached contract. (See section 512.58.)

## 512.3 

State office must maintain log of cancellations, terminations, costs recovered or waived.

- State office must maintain log of cancellations, terminations, costs recovered or waived.

## Ranking ToolsBusiness RulesScreenings

- AERT Leaders

## Ranking Tools, Business Rules, Screenings

*WHIP**	**	**	**	**	**Karen Fullen**	*
*EQIP-Wildlife**	**	**	**	**Karen Fullen*
*Ground/Surface Water**	**	**	**Blake Walbeck*
*Watershed-Cropland/Hayland**	**	**Niels Hansen*
*AFO/CAFO**	**	**	**	**	**Niels Hansen*
*Poultry Shed-Ammonia**	**	**	**Julie/Niels*
*Watershed – Pasture, Range, **	**	**Shane Green*
*Forest, Riparian**	**	*
- Adjourn –** 12:00 pm**

## WHIP Screening Questions

- Does the project occur on private land (includes land owned by Indian Tribes or NGO's)?
- Is the purpose of the project clearly and primarily for wildlife?
- Has an NRCS or partner agency biologist been in involved in the planning of this project?
- Rank the project with biologist assistance or review.  Did the project receive at least 25 points in the ranking?
- Use appropriate WHEG or Habitat Model in eFOTG, Section I, References and Technical Notes, Biology, Habitat Assessment Tools

**Notes:**
*Guidance from NHQ National Bulletin No. 300-6-9: "Although non-private lands are eligible, the WHIP rule sets a very high threshold for funding projects that are not on private land.  State, county, or local government owned lands can be eligible if on a case-by-case basis, the State Conservationist concurs with the Designated Conservationist that acceptance of such land and the habitat improvement accomplishments are of sufficiently high priority to merit use of WHIP resources.  Federal lands are eligible only in those limited circumstances where the benefit is primarily on private lands."  Therefore in Utah, the DC must determine if the proposed habitat improvements are of high enough quality to merit WHIP funds.  If the project does have significant wildlife benefits, then the DC shall seek the concurrence of the State Conservationist before submitting the project for funding.										
Projects that have an equal benefit for agricultural production, erosion control, education, or aesthetics make it difficult to determine the primary resource concern being treated and are more suitable for other programs, such as, EQIP.				

## Targeted Habitat Types and Priority Species

- Utah Fish and Wildlife Action Plan
- Table 1, page 11
- Lowland Riparian
- Wetland
- Mountain Riparian
- Shrubsteppe
- Flowing Water (Lotic)
- Wet Meadow
- Grassland

## EQIP Wildlife Screening Question

- Will this project benefit an at-risk species from Tier I, II, or III of Utah’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy?
- Note: This is a much longer list than the one in the Utah Fish and Wildlife Plan
- _[http://](http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/cwcs/)__[www.wildlife.utah.gov/cwcs/utah_cwcs_strategy.pdf](http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/cwcs/)_
- Chapter 5

## Wildlife Habitat Incentive Payments Business Rules

- 643 – Restoration & Management of Declining Habitats
- 644 - Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management
- 645 - Upland Wildlife Habitat Management
- 646 - Shallow Water Management for Wildlife
- Utah Bulletin to be issued with more details

## GSWC Ranking Tool

- Highlights
- Areawide plan
- Invasive species
- Ag runoff
- IWM, Nutrient Mgt., Pest Mgt., Well Testing
- Cost per acre
- Change in irrigation efficiency
- Capability Class
- Public water supplies/declining aquifers

## Business Rules

- Updated irrigation efficiencies to reflect UT supplement to NEH
- Irrigation definitions
- Reference to Utah GSWC map
- Caution statement about safeguarding public water supply information

## Irrigation Efficienciesand Cost

- Change in efficiency =“New System” minus “Current System”
- Cost per Acre = Total System Cost using state cost list.

## Crop Hayland Ranking Tool and Screening

**FIRI (Farm Irrigation Rating Index)**
**Rusle II**
**SCI scores**

- Document the resource needs using the following tools

## Crop Hayland Ranking Tool and Screening

**FIRI (Farm Irrigation Rating Index)**

- Be sure to download the current version of FIRI it gives slightly different results than the old version

## Crop Hayland Ranking Tool and Screening

**Rusle II**

- Get your Area or State Agronomist to help get you get started with RUSLEII if you are not confident using it.

## Crop Hayland Ranking Tool and Screening

**SCI scores**

- Found deep inside RUSLE II

## AFO Ranking Tool and Screening

**Question 3 “...Considerable Reduction in Emissions...”**

- National Priorities:

- Nitrous Oxides (NOx) come from oxidation of ammonia or nitrogen gas. It can occur in the atmosphere when excess ammonia is in the air. Handling manure to reduce ammonia loss will result in a net reduction of NOx emissions.

- Volatile organic compounds VOCs are things like methane and other short-chain carbon based molecules. Methane is 25 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas than Carbon Dioxide. Handling manure to keep it aerobic as much as possible reduces VOCs.

## Ammonia Ranking Tool

- Ranking is based on proximity to the center of an incorporated town.

- Using Toolkit locate the poultry shed that will be treated that is nearest to the center of town and measure the linear distance.

## Screening Tool for Range, Pasture, Forest, and Riparian

| EQIP Application Screening for Watershed Protection 2007 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Cooperator: |   |  |  | Planner: |   |  |  |  |
|  | Date: | 11/14/2006 |  |  | Office: |   |  |  |  |
| Part 1 - Check all that apply |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | 1) Have the program eligibility requirements been met? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|   | 2) Will this project address Water Quality, Invasive Species, Riparian Restoration, Improved Range, Forest or Pasture Health, or Soil Erosion? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | 3)  Is the cooperator willing to include a management practice incentive payment in the contract? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | 4)The cooperator does not have an existing USDA program contract, OR if this cooperator has an existing contract with a USDA program, it is on schedule? |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Priority: | Ineligible |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

|   |
| --- |

|   |
| --- |

|   |
| --- |

## Type of Plan

- An RMS level plan where all resource concerns are addressed
- Progressive plan where only one or two resource concerns are addressed
- Inventory ( identified the land uses, fields, tract soils etc. and the producer has not made any decisions) phase of the planning process.

## Management Practices

-  All of the management practices identified take place on the identified  tract and field of the application.
- The management practices are scheduled to occur in the contract period
- Remember the Prescribed Grazing payment cap ($3000/yr, 3 years max)

## Invasive Species

- Is the applicant addressing Invasive Species as identified by the State, County, or Local government or the local Cooperative Weed Management Area as an invasive species of concern or a noxious weed?
- These species must be addressed THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE PRACTICES in the contract

## Area Wide Plan

-  Is the planned project in an approved area wide plan as defined by the National Planning Procedures Handbook ?
- Voluntary process for a watershed or other large area
- Consider SWAPA+H concerns
- Development followed the planning process
- Consider all govt. and private sector programs
- Process included a decision maker with authority to implement the plan

## TMDL

- Is project is within a TMDL watershed or area identified by the Utah Department of Environmental quality _AND _the project addresses one of the water quality impairments identified in the TMDL.

## Additional Rangeland Questions – Priority Species and Habitats

## Calculators for Rangeland, Pasture, and Forest Land

| Rangeland Health |  |  |  |  |  |  |   |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|   | E | M-E | M | S-M | N-S |  |   |
| Benchmark |   |   |   |   |   | 0 |   |
| Projected future |   |   |   |   |   | 0 |   |
|   |  |  |  |  |  |  |   |
|   |  |  |  | Rangeland Health Points |  |  | 0 |

| Pasture Condition Score Sheet |  |  |  |  |  |  |   |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|   | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |  |   |
| Benchmark |   |   |   |   |   | 0 |   |
| Projected future |   |   |   |   |   | 0 |   |
|   |  |  |  |  |  |  |   |
|   |  |  | Pasture Condition Score Sheet Points |  |  |  | 0 |

## Calculators for Rangeland, Pasture, and Forest Land

| Stand Density Index (SDI) |  |  |  |  |  |  |   |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Choose the predominant species represented in the stand (from the Forest Stewardship Plan) |  |  |  |  |  |  |   |
|   |  |  |  |  |  |  |   |
| From the Forest Stewardship Plan, what is the Stand Density Index |  |  |  |   |  |  |   |
|   |  |  |  |  |  |  |   |
|   |  |  |  | SDI Points |  |  | Wrong! |

## Riparian

- From the conservation plan map or field measurements, determine the linear feet of riparian area that will be brought up to RMS standards where all quality criteria are met.  Count both sides of the stream (100 feet of stream, if both sides are treated, would be 200 feet of riparian area).

## Wildlife Habitat Incentive Payments Business Rules

- 643 – Restoration & Management of Declining Habitats
- 644 - Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management
- 645 - Upland Wildlife Habitat Management
- 646 - Shallow Water Management for Wildlife
- Utah Bulletin to be issued with more details

## Questions?

**Questions?**