Rhode Island State Technical Team (STT) Meeting notes

August 9, 2007
USDA Conference Room
Warwick, RI

Attending: Roylene Rides at the Door, Michael Moorman, Michael Kenyon, J. Eric Scherer, RI NRCS; Rob Swanson, FSA; Tom Sandham, Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District; Elizabeth Scott, RI  DEM Office of Water Resources; Thomas Abbott, RI DEM, Division of Forest Environment; Gregg Cassidy, RI DEM, Office of Sustainable Watersheds; Caitlin Chaffee, CRMC; Rick Pace, EccoAssets Markets; Kristine Stuart, Environmental Council of RI and SRICD.

Introductions, Review Agenda, and Opening Comments

Roylene Rides at the Door State Conservationist welcomed everyone and asked for any updates for the agenda.

Fiscal Year 07 Budget and Farm Bill  Updates

State Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

Mike Moorman, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs (ASTC), presented an update on the FY 2007 state offered CIG program.  The response period for the state CIG was extended and NRCS received six applications.  Four of these were ranked high enough to be funded.  All four agreements were funded and all state CIG funds were obligated.  The RI State Conservation Committee and the three Conservation Districts are administering the state CIG program under an agreement with NRCS and Roylene complimented their efforts, stating that they had completed their work a week before the deadline.

ACTION ITEM:  Mike Moorman will provide to the STT a FY 2007 written report on the state CIG and other Farm Bill programs by way of an email attachment.

Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)

Mike indicated that one application is still in the process and is on track.  The appraisal is done and is being reviewed and the agency hopes to schedule a closing on the easement before the end of the fiscal year.  The Farm Service Agency will provide the funds for this permanent easement on 11 acres.

Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) / Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

Michael Moorman, indicated that all of the allocated WHIP funds ($2.5 million) have been obligated (and that he would provide a more detailed written summary on the EQIP and WHIP FY 2007 programs to the STT via email).

WRP

Mr. Moorman indicated that there is one active application for the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) this year (closing date for required actions on WRP contracts to obligate funds is August 15^th).  At present the appraisal is completed, and is undergoing a technical review.  Since we could not present to the owner a purchase agreement by the 15^th the FY 2007 allocation to RI was returned to the national office.  It is hoped that by continuing the review and getting a signed purchase (and restoration) agreement that RI will be able to have the funds returned later this fiscal year.   

Again it was stated that NRCS appreciates the efforts of the Rhode Island Coastal Resource Management Council efforts in identifying this property.  The prior cost estimate for this parcel is approximately $115,000 for the easement and $320,000 for the restoration of the site. 

Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP)

Mr. Moorman stated that the FRPP is on track, some agreements have been extended.  Because some contracts have been extended a number of times and the entities are still not able to close, it is anticipated that RI NRCS will return some of these funds (Roylene indicated that several agreements have been extended three times).

Ms. Rides at the Door stated that yesterday the national office had a dual announcement, that FY 2007 Conservation Security Program (CSP) funds for technical assistance on current contracts have been released and that financial assistance funds for FY 07 contracts will be available to fund them at 100%

Roylene also informed the STT members that RI NRCS is implementing a new Farm Bill program schedule for applications to be received and ranked and awarded.  She is anticipating a allocation letter from the national office for mandatory funds in the first quarter of FY 2008 (November) and she hopes to have all ranking, program participant eligibility and other requirements done and ready by February 29, 2008.  Her hope is that we will be able to have conservation plans and applications ‘on the shelf’ ready to be funded. 

Eric Scherer complimented both the CRMC and the RI DEM Office of Sustainable Watersheds for their efforts in identifying qualified applicants for WRP and WHIP programs.

Roylene mentioned that any FY 2008 and beyond contracts that are $25K or more will require to have DUNS numbers assigned to them in order to be processed.  The USDA is requiring a higher level of security on private and sensitive data, including the elimination of TINs (SNNs) for program participants. 

Roylene continued to discuss similar items related to the application and ranking dates for the FY 08 funds, indicating that RI is hoping to be well prepared for this coming program year.

Conservation Reserve Program Update

Rob Swanson, FSA provided a handout for an update on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) - 560 State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program in order to answer some questions raised at the last STT.  Within the handout Rob highlighted some key issues and points to clarify the new program and how it would or could work in RI.  After some discussion it was agreed to by the STT members that the SAFE proposal did not offer enough advantages or opportunities beyond the current Continuous CRP signup program in RI and it would not recommend pursuit of the SAFE proposal.

Eric presented the draft working copy (handout) by Tim Pindell, Resource Conservationist of the list of CRP-560 practices with the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide list of practices.  He is correlating the practice lists to ensure that all NRCS conservation practice standards are compatible with the CRES practice list in DM 9500 (CRES manual).

ACTION ITEM: Tim Pindell, Resource Conservationist will continue to review the lists and provide a final summary table of CRES practice list with NRCS conservation practice standards to compare the lists and have that list reviewed and concurred with by FSA.

Practice Payment Schedule

Eric Scherer presented two handouts developed by Reena Shaw, State Economist for RI NRCS on the new draft Practice Payment Schedule (PPS).  This new practice payment schedule will replace the former cost share practice list used for past year Farm Bill programs.  Reena developed the new schedule to resemble the past formats used in the coast share lists to provide for a smoother transition to the new system. 

Eric reviewed the first hand out (Practice Payment Schedule 2008_Draft 1.xls) going over several of the practices (rows) and reviewing the associated columns as to the scenarios and how these were to be developed and used in coming up with individual practice payment schedules.  He then reviewed the second handout Reena provided on how each practice scenario was developed, the cost date collected and how the payment amounts are developed.   Several STT members were complimentary on the work and how the values (payments) were developed, although they understood the concerns about over and under payment, but several members felt that this system encouraged program participants to seek the best possible prices for service and materials as possible. 

Eric asked each of the STT to provide any additional data or information they had on costs and prices to Reena for her to have and use for the current and future updates.  One of the members asked for clarification on the use of ‘unit type’ CY vs. CuYd” and it was noted that this was the same but we would correct it and use only one abbreviation. 

ACTION ITEM:  It was also agree that Tom Abbott and Greg Cassidy would review the NRCS Practice Payment Schedule (conservation practice standard list) for any possible updates on practices they are more familiar with.  Tom agreed to work with Chris Modisette and Greg will look at his files.  He asked if NRCS used RI DOT costs and it was stated that we have looked at them and used some of them also.

Farm Viability

Tabled. 

Field Office Technical Guide

Tabled.

Canadian Geese Issue

Tom Sandham, District Manager for ERICD, presented an update (handout) on a meeting he and Roylene attended where a presentation on resident goose control was discussed by a group called Geese Peace.  Tom reviewed what has happened to date and said that the presentation by Geese Peace was very promising and he was interested in bringing them to RI for a presentation.

ACTION:  Tom will convene the sub committee and present the information on Geese Peace and see if they would like to come to RI.

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