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Rhode Island State Technical Committee Meeting Notes

October 6, 2005
USDA Conference Room
Warwick, RI

Attending:  Roylene Rides at the Door, NRCS State Conservationist; Ken Ayars, RI DEM, Division of Agriculture; Richard Pace, EcoAsset Markets; J. Eric Scherer, Vicky Drew, Joel Schmidt, Joseph Bachand, and Jan Lathum, NRCS; Kris Stuart, SRICD; Tom Sandham, ERICD; Rob Swanson, FSA; Gregg Cassidy, RI DEM; Eugene Pepper, RI DEM; Steve Del Pozzo, SRICD; Mike Pezza, FSA State Committee; Greg Mannesto, US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Introductions, Review Agenda, and Opening Comments:  Roylene Rides at the Door, USDA-NRCS Rhode Island State Conservationist

Roylene Rides at the Door, Rhode Island’s new State Conservationist, introduced herself to the State Technical Team.  She briefly discussed her background growing up on a Reservation in Montana.  She briefly mentioned her NRCS experience starting as a Soil Conservationist and working up to a District Conservationist in Montana.  She talked about moving to Arizona with the agency and working as the Tribal Liaison, later moving to Oklahoma as Assistant for Field Operations.  Roylene noted that she is excited to be part of the important work NRCS is doing in Rhode Island.  She is already aware of the expertise, talent and accomplishments in the state.  Roylene highlighted some of the differences between the northern Midwest, where she grew up, and the Northeast.  She mentioned her team approach to management and welcomed our partners to the team. 

Roylene reviewed the agenda (attached) and asked attendees to introduce themselves to help her get to know them more quickly.

Conservation Security Program (CSP) FY 2006 Watershed Selection Criteria:  Vicky Drew, CSP Program Manager

Vicky Drew, NRCS RI-CSP Program Manager, provided a map illustrating the National Office’s selection for the Rhode Island CSP 2006 Watershed (attached).  Vicky requested assistance from the Northern and Southern Conservation Districts for outreach noting that workshops would be scheduled to help interested clients prepare for the application process including recommending early soil testing and other preparations.

Vicky presented the CSP 2006 Payment Rates (attached) noting that they were unchanged from 2005.

Vicky presented the CSP 2006 New Practice list (attached) and proposed that the State Technical Team accept the unchanged list from 2005.

Vicky presented the Draft Enhancements list (attached).  Vicky explained the table in detail and requested attendees’ comments.  She pointed out three additions to the 2005 Enhancements listed on page 11 in the Habitat Management category:

  • Manage field borders to encourage or support species that enhance pollinator habitat
  • Manage storm water to eliminate or minimize direct discharge to riparian and wetland systems from parking areas, greenhouses, and other impervious or hard packed surfaces
  • Manage the spread of invasive plants where nursery stock is grown, by not producing or selling invasive plant species

A discussion followed over the addition of the invasive plants enhancement.  Eric Scherer pointed out the philosophy of paying clients to abstain from producing certain crops.  All attendees agreed that the three additional enhancements are valid and should remain on list for 2006. Eric Scherer suggested an additional enhancement to address agricultural waste recycling (both organic and inorganic materials).  All agreed on an agricultural waste recycling enhancement.  Vicky and Eric will work together to add a waste recycling enhancement before the list if forwarded to the National Office.  All states are required to forward enhancements to the National Office by 10/10/2005.

Vicky noted that the Water Quality Checklist for CSP 2006 is still in development.  She anticipates the sign-up period to be sometime between December and February. 

Farm Viability:   Ken Ayars, Rhode Island DEM, Division of Agriculture

Ken Ayars passed out the new Rhode Island Agriculture Guide (attached).  Ken also mentioned the following trends in Rhode Island agriculture:

  • Beef Seminar scheduled for October 24, 2005 with speakers discussing direct marketing, similar to Rhode Island dairy.
  • Farm to Schools Initiative:  Rhode Island produce available in schools.  Good for agriculture and good for kids.
  • Cheese production.  Working toward developing cheese production in Rhode Island to continue the strong cheese production presence in New England.
  • Aquaculture Seminar between the RI-DEM Division of Agriculture and the Coastal Resource Management Council (CRMC).

End of the Year Review of FY 2005 Farm bill Programs and Review of FY 2006 Farm Bill Programs:  Joseph Bachand, Program Manager for Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) & Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), Vicky Drew, Program Manager for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), Conservation Security Program (CSP), and Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA).  

WHIP  Joe Bachand discussed the WHIP contract obligation report for 2005 (attached) and the list of 2005 WHIP contracts (attached) emphasizing the fish ladder projects on the Woonasquatucket River in Providence.  Rob Swanson inquired about kayak access on the river.  Joe assured him that recreational access was available downstream from one fish ladder and is being considered upstream by the landowner. 

Kris Stuart asked about sediment at the dam sites where a proposed dam removed is expected.  Joe noted that probes will be done with testing of the material removed.  He noted that dam removal results in most sediment and testing and evaluation will determine the method for addressing the sediment concern. 

WRP  Joe discussed the 2005 WRP contract obligation report (attached) to restore tidal flow at Jacob’s Point in Warren, RI.  Joe mentioned the partners involved with the project including the Rhode Island Audubon Society, Warren Conservation Commission, and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.  Joe noted that remaining funds allocated for 2005 WRP would be used to increase the contract for Walker’s Farm with the Town of Barrington.  Joe also mentioned the Barton Farm WRP easement and the work he has done toward an eventual sale and purchase agreement.

EQIP  Vicky discussed the 2005 obligation report (attached) and pointed out that 55 applications were received for 2005 funds and 28 contracts were approved.  The bulk of non contract holding applicants failed to complete all the paperwork required to be determined eligible.  Vicky requested help from all partners for outreach to potential 2006 EQIP applicants.  Vicky cautions that the amount of funds allocated to Rhode Island and returned to the National Office might signal them not to allocate so much in the future.  She would like a big turnout for the 2006 sign-up which is yet to be announced.

Vicky passed out a packet of Resource Concerns addressed by practices (attached) and the Rhode Island EQIP Policy Decisions (attached).  She raised the questions about horse stabling operations not being eligible for EQIP funds in the past and the possibility of addressing the rule for 2006 contracts.  Ken Ayars pointed out that horse waste presents a resource concern that needs to be addressed and that the State of Rhode Island has changed their rule to include horse stabling operations in the definition of a farm.  Vicky advised that any decision by the State Technical Team on horse stabling operations would need to be approved by the National Office before it could be included in EQIP 2006.  A subcommittee comprised of Gregg Cassidy, Kris Stuart, Rob Swanson, and Eugene Pepper was convened to discuss the matter further.

Next, Vicky raised the point of including deer fencing as a practice in EQIP 2006.  She pointed out that it is currently only covered by AMA.  Vicky also noted that Connecticut does deer fencing under EQIP only when other resource concerns and practices are being addressed.  The resource concern for deer fencing would be plant productivity and require nutrient, pest, water quality and erosion control measures.  Vicky left it open for discussion.  Discussion included changing hunting laws/seasons, damage permits, doe control recommendations, and the need to involve forest organizations including Rhode Island Forest Conservancy Organization (RIFCO).  All attendees agreed on deer fencing with other resource concerns and a subcommittee would be organized and convened to address.

FRPP  Vicky discussed the FRPP application report (attached).  She pointed out that three easements have been closed in FY 2005 with a fourth scheduled within the next couple weeks.  The fourth was delayed due to complications with the National Finance Center (NFC) in New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina.  Vicky mentioned that the potential exists for an audit in 2006.

GRP  Vicky discussed the GRP application report (attached) and the complications that exist with tracking funding in a shared administration program with the Farm Service Agency (FSA).  She noted that Rhode Island was the first state in the northeast to close on a GRP easement.  Rhode Island closed on the Miner Farm in April, 2005.  Vicky anticipates closing on the Gorham property sometime this month. 

AMA   Vicky discussed the contract obligation report (attached) noting that AMA focused on irrigation and deer fencing.  Rhode Island received 30 applications and only funded three.

Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) Special Study:  Vicky Drew, FRPP Program Manager

Vicky introduced Eric Scherer as the chairman for the special study on FRPP.  Eric pointed out that a controversial inquiry has been made into soil quality on sod farms.  Eric noted that the process for sod harvesting in Rhode Island is not like that in other states where soil loss is substantial.  Rhode Island USDA-NRCS has entered into an agreement with the University of Rhode Island to conduct a research project into soil quality on sod farms.  The agreement is with the Natural Resource Science and Life Sciences Departments for two years.  The current soil assessment guide is not in-depth enough for sod farming.  The sod farmers are concerned believing that they actually improve the quality of the soil.

Conservation Planning Sign-Up Pilot:  Joseph Bachand, CTA Program Manager

Joe presented the Conservation Planning news release, Self Assessment workbook, and the sign-up form (attached).  He introduced the pilot program noting that conservation planning is the most important element that is then supported by the Farm Bill Programs.  Unfortunately, in the recent past the farm bill programs have driven conservation planning.  This new program is an effort to shift the emphasis back to planning.  Rhode Island is one of eight states involved in the pilot.  Joe pointed out that NRCS has conducted three workshops for the program in the three conservation districts.  The workbook provides the building blocks for the conservation plan and prepares the landowners with the basics to get them ready to apply for future farm bill programs.  The conservation planning program encourages active participation by the landowners in their conservation plan.  The conservation plans within this program are comprehensive and address all resource concerns on the landowner’s property.

The sign up period is from September 6 through November 10, 2005.  Participation will become part of the ranking process in the future.  CTA funds are being considered to hire a forestry consultant to address the forest component. 

Draft List of Conservation Practice Standards:  Joel Schmidt, USDA-NRCS Hydraulic Engineer

Joel presented the list (attached) and noted that national standards have impacted Rhode Island’s standards.   Joel noted that national standards are posted on the website and address interdisciplinary issues.  Joel requested involvement with partners for future review of standards.  Eric Scherer pointed out that State Technical Team involvement is critical.  Eugene Pepper suggested a well water testing standard, noting the impact road salt has had on well water quality.  Eric noted that if it meets a resource concern, it can be added.

State Technical Team Tour:  Roylene Rides at the Door, State Conservationist

Roylene solicited interest in a fall tour. After some discussion all decided that the next State Technical Team Meeting would include a tour of the Eastern District on Wednesday, November 30, 2005.  The meeting will take place in the morning with Tom Sandham hosting, with the tour to follow.  Specifics on tour destinations will follow.

Agenda Add On:  Farm Bill 2007 Forum:  Eric Scherer, State Resource Conservationist

Eric Scherer presented the upcoming Farm Bill 2007 Forum mailing document (attached) scheduled for Friday, October 14, 2005.  Eric noted that today’s farm bill programs could change dramatically and encouraged all interested partners and clients to attend and voice their concerns.  Eric stressed that active interest and participation can find its way into the language of the farm bill.  Roylene discussed the changes she saw between the 1996 and 2002 farm bills and the impact they had on commodity crops and conservation.  Eric noted that this is a unique opportunity for the state of Rhode Island to influence the outcome of the bill.  Rob Swanson noted that the forum will be highly structured and encouraged all interested participants to think about their comments in advance; time is limited and responses are restricted to published topics.

 

Next meeting:  Wednesday, November 30, 2005.

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