Presented By Greg Norris, P.E. USDA-NRCS Davis, CA. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service

Transcription

1 Presented By Greg Norris, P.E. USDA-NRCS Davis, CA U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service

2 The NRCS Mission To conserve, protect and enhance natural resources for sustained use. To achieve non-degradation of the natural resources.

3 THIS FARM HAS A CONSERVATION PLAN

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5 The effectiveness of these plans depends upon doing quality work in planning, designing and installation. Understanding what the customer needs to succeed!

6 The conservation plan is the basis for determining the work needed to be done.

7 Soil Erosion Surface Water Quality, Soil/Plant health

8 Irrigation Efficiency Minimize Water Use and Maximize Availability

9 SOIL & PLANT HEALTH Minimizes Erosion, Maximizes Plant Productivity Cover Crops

10 Practice Standards & Specifications are in the Field Office Technical Guide

11 NRCS Programs Conservation Technical Assistance Soils Survey Snow Survey Farm Bill Financial Assistance

12 Conservation Technical Assistance (On-Farm/Program Neutral) NRCS helps agricultural producers develop & implement conservation plans that protect, conserve, and enhance the resources and meet the client s needs.

13 SOIL SURVEY NRCS conducts Soils Surveys and makes Data available for resource planners Web Soil Survey Soil Survey App

14 Web Soil Survey Soil Survey App

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16 Snow Survey

17 SNOTEL Sites send snow data automatically to WS Forecasters

18 West-wide including Alaska the NRCS operates ~860 SNOTEL stations 37 SNOTELS in Sierra Nevada and NE California

19 SCAN Sites (Soil Climate Analysis Network) 15 stations in California.

20 NRCS Interactive Map Period of record data for all DWR CDEC snow pillows and snow courses are available Gives a nice visual display of: Current data Records Delta (change in SWE between dates) Water Year Peak Date of Water Year Peak

21 FARM BILL PROGRAMS ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP)

22 What is EQIP One of the conservation programs of the Farm Bill Provides financial assistance to producers to apply conservation practices During 2015/2016/2017, NRCS provided a total of about $70M to ag producers to install irrigation systems and irrigation pipelines that meet NRCS standards 441 Micro Irrigation System 442 Sprinkler irrigation System 430 Irrigation Pipeline

23 Why NRCS offers EQIP Help producers get better control over their irrigations to: Reduce water loss Reduce fertilizer, pesticides and sediment leaving the field Have more flexibility to respond to interruptions in water supply (i.e. drought) Possibly reduce energy consumption

24 How EQIP works Land must be currently irrigated Funds typically pay for about half the cost of installing a practice Funds are competitive, projects with the greatest environmental benefit are given priority

25 Program Benefits Producers are installing more irrigation improvements (Assist about 2,000 Ag producers each year in CA with irrigation) Ensures high quality through NRCS participation Practice Standards Promotes conservation of California s water resources.

26 RECENT USDA/NRCS UPDATES Last year, NRCS was reorganized into a new USDA branch. Formerly under the Natural Resources and Environment branch with the Forest Service, NRCS is now under the Farm Production and Conservation branch with the Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency. Our new Undersecretary is Bill Northey. FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION (FPAC) NRCS FSA RMA NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT NRCS USFS

27 RECENT USDA/NRCS UPDATES The FPAC focus has been to improve customer service to agricultural producers. Elimination of the DUNS number requirements for ag producers only. Streamlining program application process and evaluation.

28 TECHNICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS (TSPs) NRCS wants to expand the use of private companies/individuals to help get work done through the TSP program Irrigation Specialists must go through a certification process to become a TSP Once certified, TSPs act as agents of NRCS in planning designing and certifying projects.

29 TSP PAYMENT RATES LOOKUP Two key things required to irrigate efficiently: 1. An efficient irrigation system 2. Good irrigation scheduling (timing and amount) decisions, Management

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31 THANK YOU!