Hillsborough County Conservation District 2011 Annual Report As presented at the Annual Meeting on 12/8/11

Transcription

1 Hillsborough County Conservation District 2011 Annual Report As presented at the Annual Meeting on 12/8/11 CONSERVATION TOWARD SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE and FORESTRY

2 Hillsborough County NRCS Annual Report (2011) The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Hillsborough County has had another successful year working with partners and landowners to promote the conservation of natural resources on working lands. During the past year our focus has been to improve the quality of the services we offer, not just the quantity, while reaching out to new customers in the county. We continue to implement the conservation programs included in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill). These programs provide funding for a wide range of conservation projects to eligible participants. Increasingly, this funding is focused on specific threatened species, habitats, landscapes, and farming methods through targeted initiatives. One such initiative is to develop habitat for the New England Cottontail, a candidate species for inclusion on the federal endangered species list. Hillsborough County contains several remnant populations of this rabbit. Through the Keeping Forests as Forests Initiative, we ve targeted funding in the towns most critical to the rabbit s success. Likewise, we ve been able to assist small fruit and vegetable growers in new ways through the Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative and the Organic Initiative. High tunnels have been very popular in Hillsborough County. They help extend the growing season, build soil health, control pests, and promote local food production. Operationally, we ve added one new staff member, Alena Warren, as a Soil Conservationist. We remain co-located with the Hillsborough County Conservation District at our original location in the Chappell Professional Center in Milford, but our office space has been expanded and remodeled. In the coming year, we look forward to building on our past success, strengthening partnerships, and finding new ways to assist landowners and conserve our natural resources.

3 Conservation Highlights Wrote Conservation Plans on 2,677 acres for producers on varied land bases, including Farmsteads, Cropland, Hayland, Pastures, and Forests. Resource concerns addressed include Soil, Water, Air, Plants, Animals, and Energy. Developed 29 Financial Assistance Contracts under the 2008 Farm Bill in programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program, and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CStP). The NRCS State Office administered programs such as the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) and the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP). Partnered with private sector Technical Service Providers to develop a total of 25 Forest Management Plans, Grazing Management Plans, and Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans since Funded 26 Seasonal High Tunnel contracts under EQIP to promote sustainable, local food production in Hillsborough County. We would like to thank our partners in conservation, including the Hillsborough County Conservation District, the USDA Farm Service Agency, and the UNH Cooperative Extension. Without our partners, we couldn t be successful. Chad Cochrane District Conservationist Hillsborough County Conservation District Board of Supervisors Arthur Lyford, DMD, Chair...Hollis Christopher Connolly, Treasurer Temple Charles Hardy.Hollis John A. Parker...Greenfield Roger Noonan.New Boston Andy Pressman, Associate Supervisor...Greenfield The Hillsborough County Conservation District Board of Supervisors comprises of volunteers who receive no compensation for their services. The Board meets the last Wednesday of the month to review work plans, assess programs, etc. These meetings are open to the public and cooperating agencies. The Board of Supervisors appreciates the continued support of the District s conservation programs by the County Commissioners and the County Delegation. Also appreciated are the technical services offered by our Partners in Conservation the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, UNH Cooperative Extension, USDA Farm Service Agency and other cooperating agencies. All programs are offered on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability or political beliefs.

4 2011 Awards Cooperator of the Year Keith Marshall, Farm Manager, Wilson Farms Inc. of NH Teacher of the Year Mike Smith Mascenic Regional High School Special Thanks to: Brookdale Fruit Farm, Hollis Connolly Brothers Dairy Farm, Temple Middle Branch Farm, New Boston Nomadic Farms, Greenfield For Annual Meeting Door Prizes 2011 Annual Report of Hillsborough County Conservation District The District Board of Supervisors set priorities and goals for programs and assistance in an Annual Plan of Work. The following highlights of our activities and programs for 2011 are based on that Work Plan. Details are available in the District office. Various schools and towns borrowed the Non-Point Source Pollution Watershed model to demonstrate at events. Gro-Labs, portable greenhouse models, are currently set-up in schools throughout the County thanks to a grant from the Moose Plate program. Worm Factory Bins are currently set-up in schools throughout the County to assist with the education on soil, waste and recycling. The 2010 Annual Meeting was held at the Milford Town Hall on June 22 nd. James Clark from Goffstown, was awarded Cooperator of the Year status. The Third Grade Team from Peterborough Elementary (Betsy Gordon, Carter Judkins, Janice LaRoche and Jenny Dark) were recognized as Teachers of the Year. Commissioner of Agriculture Lorraine Merrill, spoke on Keep Local Farms. Spring & Fall Fundraising Packages mailed and ed to County residents. Offered a Hands-On Web Soil Survey Workshop to environmental professionals. Assisted with an Erosion Control Workshop for environmental professionals. Held Local Work Group meeting with local producers and other conservation organization representatives to identify current natural resource needs, set priorities and provide feedback on NRCS programs. Received a NH Charitable Foundation grant to redesign the HCCD website with Wetherbee Creative & Web (Derry, NH) as the designer. Managed a cover crop trial project with producers in the County. Assisted with helping local farmers complete DES agricultural permit applications for projects. Provided public relations assistance to NRCS with their seasonal high tunnel contracts. Assisted in locating local farms to participate in a free energy audit through NH DRED. Partnered with NH Farm to School to offer a NH Food Day event at Great Brook School in Antrim. Held a successful 6 th Grade Conservation Field Day at Beaver Brook Association for Nashua schools.

5 Contracted with USDA NRCS through a Contribution Agreement to perform administrative duties as needed Provided soil maps, aerial photographs, topographical maps, wetland inventory maps, flood plain maps, and outreach or conservation information assistance to inquiring individuals in Hillsborough County Calculated Soil Potential Index (SPI) ratings for residents looking for tax incentives for their current use efforts District Manager served as President, then Vice President for the Conservation District Employees Association of New Hampshire 2011 Annual Report of the County Forester The UNH Cooperative Extension forester continues a close working relationship with the Conservation District and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in dealing with erosion control, water quality and wetlands assistance when forest land is involved. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) continues to assist forest landowners in the management of their forestlands. Federal cost share funding is available to assist in the preparation of forest management plans as well as creation or rehabilitation of trails and log landings. The continuing concern for forestry in the county is the fragmentation of forest land into smaller parcels due to development. More than 400,000 people live in the county, which is one third of the entire population in the state. As land is subdivided, it loses its value for wildlife, water quality, scenic beauty and forest products. Enough trees remain around the margins of a new house lot to still give it a forested appearance, but the values of the larger original property are diminished or gone entirely. NH is a pioneer in establishing new techniques for preserving open space. How much and how soon, however, is a policy decision that will always be changing with the times. There is a contradiction in the forest products industry. The demand for sawlogs has declined because of the softening housing market as well as imported substitutions. However, the demand for woodchips is strong to fuel wood fired electric power plants and the demand for sawdust and other mill waste is strong to produce wood pellets for residential heating. This produces the unusual situation where it is difficult to market the traditionally high value sawlogs, but the low value waste products are in short supply. Profit for the sawmills is in the logs and not in the waste, so how long they can survive in this topsy-turvy environment is yet to be seen. J. W. Nute, County Extension Forester