Rhode Island State Technical Committee Meeting Notes

Introductions, Review Agenda, and Opening Comments

Mike Moorman, acting State Conservationist welcomed everyone and indicated that Roylene Rides at the Door was on travel. He asked those in attendance to introduce themselves. He also asked for any updates for the agenda and added Rob Swanson to the agenda for any updates from agencies.

State Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

Mike Moorman provided an update on the state CIG program by handing out an update on FY 06 and 07 grants and FY 08 applications. There were several questions on the state CIGs for FY 06 and 07 and what they were about. Tom Sandham indicated that through the contract the State Conservation Committee had with NRCS, the conservation districts have prepared for review an update on FYs 06 and 07 state CIGs.

ACTION ITEM: Mike Moorman will post the RI State CIG summaries/abstracts for FY 06 and FY 07 to the RI NRCS website and the link will be sent to STT members.

Mike updated the members on the FY 08 state CIG applications and reviewed them in the handout. A question was asked about the amount allocated for FY 08 CIGs and Mike told the group that $178 thousand was allocated. A question was ask on what the Silvio Pasture System CIG application about and Mike indicated that he would have more information on the FY 08 applications since they are still in the review process.

FY 08 Farm Bill Program Update

Mr. Moorman provided an update on the FY 08 Farm Bill (FB) Program in RI, stating that the agency has targeted March 15th as the date for having all FB funds committed in contracts and that we are still working under an Omnibus Bill until then (and that there are discussions on possibly extending the Omnibus Bill if a new Farm Bill is not approved – which does not appear likely in the next week or so). He mentioned that this was important because some FB Programs are only funded until the 15th of March (such as WHIP). The RI NRCS state office is working on a balanced budget based upon the funding levels we have been given and currently we are having to curtail some activities (travel, training, supplies and possible some part time staff) and funding agreements due to the lack of available fund this Fiscal Year. The proposed balanced budget is aimed at keeping full time staff employed for right now. Mike indicated that the FY 08 FB is in conference committee at the present.

Mr. Moorman indicated that NRCS continues to take applications for program participation and that there is an opportunity to have a second ranking for Program funding (he mentioned that some states have two separate ranking times in a FY). Rhode Island was allocated $2.8 million for EQIP in FY 08 and to date has contracts for $2.3 million. Mr. Moorman provided a handout with WHIP and EQIP FY 08 applications by count and type, amount and dollar values for the 67 Funded EQIP contracts and two funded WHIP contracts. This year RI NRCS received 103 applications for WHIP with 78 being deemed eligible and therefore ranked and 67 funded.

If a second ranking is held, those applications will be reconsidered and re-ranked with any new applications. Mike indicated that we are $300 thousand short of making our FY 08 funding commitment goal. Of the 9 applications not making the cutoff for ranking, their total value equaled approximately $40 thousand.. Again Mike reiterated that applications for FB funds is open 365 days a year and some states have multiple ranking times in a year.

Mike indicated that the office has received 27 new applications (including the 9 from the first round) that have been accepted for a second ranking, if offered and NRCS is looking at March 15th for cut of for ranking in order to have enough time to process the applications and have contracts developed and signed in order to commit the funds. He indicated that the State Conservationist has requested to hold an additional $1.2 million in a drawing account for EQIP applications that may come in for a second ranking. This drawing account can only be accessed if RI NRCS is able to commit 95% of its original allocation of $2.8 million.

The State Technical Team agreed with the need to hold a second ranking session if NRCS staff were able to complete the needed work.

There was some concern my STT members that some clients request for assistance have not been addressed and some clients who applied did not rank high enough above the cut off due to how their application was reviewed. Mike Moorman agreed to look into the issue and would address it with Roylene Rides at the Door, STC and staff. Concern was also mentioned about the lack of NRCS field staff being available to meet with clients in the field or at the conservation district office. Again Mike will discuss this with Roylene.

Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) Geographic Rate Caps

Mike Moorman presented a memo from Reena Shaw, State Economist, on the development of WRP Geographic Rate Caps (handout). He discussed the need for Rate Caps using the memo with STT members. Several questions were raised on the methodology used to develop the rate caps and their value. Eric Scherer suggested that he could talk with Reena about FY 09 review of WRP Rate Caps that might include some regional modifier, if appropriate, to account for regional differences. After some further discussion the STT recommended to accept the WRP Geographic Rate Cap in the memo of $5,000 per acre.

Practice Payment Schedule (PPS) updates

Reena Shaw prepared updates to the FY 08 Practice Payment Schedule, including PPSs that were deactivated, modified or new Supplemental PPSs. She developed a spreadsheet for each of the three types of PPS (handouts) and Eric Scherer reviewed the reasons for deactivating PPSs for FY 08 due to the practice not being utilized this year, or format issues or decision to develop a new PPS. The modified PPS included minor editorial changes recommended due to an internal audit of the PPS at the national level. The supplemental PPSs are newly identified practices or scenerios for use of a practice not offered in the first PPS developed and approved for Farm Bill contracts.
Farm Viability Projects Updates - tabled

Canada Geese Issue

Tom Sandham, District Manager, ERICD provided an update for the subcommittee on the Resident Goose issue. The committee is looking at Portsmouth, RI as a possible site to develop a comprehensive goose management plan using EQIP funds to help implement some goose control strategies. There was a question on how EQIP funds could be used and Tom mentioned several ideas and indicated a more complete concept on how this would work would be detailed in the plan. The members stressed a need to protect all resources, including public drinking water supplies on the islands that are being impacted too by the geese.

Field Office Technical Guide update

Eric Scherer, SRC presented an update on Conservation Practice Standards (CPS) prepared by Tim Pindell, Resource Conservationist. One CPS issued is a revision to the FENCE CPS and a copy was provided to members. The second CPS is a new standard on Agrichemical Mixing Facility (Code 309). STT members were very interested in this standard and its use and application on farms and on other remote sites where mixing can take place. The standard was reviewed and it was show that it addresses permanent and portable facilities. The STT saw real value and need for this new standard.

RI Small-Scale Farms Technical Support Project Report

Kristen Dame provided an update on continued funding for the position (still in the discussion phases) and that there was agreement at the University to continue with the Food Bank project for this coming summer in 2008. Kristen is currently working opportunities to assist with some upcoming grants that may help to fund her position.

Open Discussion

Mike Moorman presented materials gathered from the National Association of Conservation District (NACD) meeting that Roylene attended and encouraged the STT to look the over, make a list of ones they might like a copy of or borrow one and let Mike know if they wanted a copy or just to borrow it.

Next meeting:  May 15th, 2008 (9:30AM – 12 Noon).

<Back to...