United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
NRCS Missouri
2016 Annual Report
Table of Contents Welcome from the State Conservationist__________________________1 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)________________2 Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)____________________________3 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)_________________________4 Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP)__________________________5 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)___________________6 EQIP: StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity Initiative__________7 EQIP: Monarch Butterfly Habitat Development______________________8 EQIP: Climate Change________________________________________9 EQIP: National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI)_____________________10 EQIP: Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) ��� 11 EQIP: Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership______________12 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)_____________ 13-14 Technical Assistance______________________________________ 15-16
$72 million
Total for conservation obligations in Missouri in FY16 2
Greetings, Fiscal Year 2016 was very successful for all of the ways that we have judged success in the past, including the dollar value of contracts that indicate the amount of conservation that will be applied by Missouri’s farmers, ranchers and forest owners. But 2016 also marked an adjustment within NRCS in Missouri of renewing our commitment to getting conservation on the ground. While we continued to increase our focus on helping landowners prepare the comprehensive conservation plans that serve as their natural resources roadmaps, we also added personnel at the county level to amp up the technical assistance we could provide to our customers. We also made a priority of adding administrative staff to focus on paperwork, thus freeing our veteran technical professionals from some of the administrative burdens that have grown over the years. Along the way, NRCS made it easier for customers to do business with us by making available Conservation Client Gateway, which allows customers to request assistance and sign documents online, eliminating the need to drive to USDA Service Centers. We were fortunate in 2016 to be designated as part of USDA’s StrikeForce initiative. That provided an extra $3.5 million for conservation activities in 46 Missouri counties that meet certain low-income criteria. StrikeForce offered an economic and natural resources boost in areas of the state that could use a boost. In all, we were able to work with landowners to put more than $50 million worth of natural resources conservation practices on the ground. These improvements will provide benefits for decades to come. So as we go about our business in Fiscal Year 2017, we have a high mark to meet from the previous year. The bar has been raised, but I am confident that we will reach and surpass the level of success that we and our conservation partners helped Missouri farmers, ranchers and forest owners achieve in 2016. Sincerely,
J.R. Flores State Conservationist
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Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) provides financial and technical assistance to help conserve agricultural lands, wetlands and their related benefits. ACEP-Wetland Reserve Easements (WREs) replaced the Wetlands Reserve Program of the 2008 Farm Bill and helps landowners restore wetlands. ACEP-Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) replaced the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) and Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) of the 2008 Farm Bill. ALE prevents conversion of productive working lands to nonagricultural uses.
By the end of FY16, 1,136 easements were funded statewide encompassing 157,000 acres. In FY16, $332 million was available nationally through ACEP. Missouri landowners were awarded $8.4 million to protect and restore wetlands in an effort to provide wildlife habitat for migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, and other wetland wildlife. Ninety ACEP applications were received in Missouri and 11 new tracts were enrolled for a total of 1,736 new ACEP-WRE acres.
1,136
ACEP easements funded statewide encompassing 157,000 acres 2
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program administered by the Farm Service Agency. It assists farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers with the cost of restoring, enhancing and protecting certain grasses, shrubs and trees to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and reduce loss of wildlife habitat use on environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits. Producers enrolled in CRP establish long-term, resource-conserving cover types in exchange for rental payments, cost-share and technical assistance. Missouri NRCS staff provide technical assistance to landowners during sign-up periods and develop conservation plans for all offers that are accepted for enrollment. Missouri has 990,321 acres enrolled in CRP.
December 2015 marked the 30th anniversary of CRP. Nationwide, competitive CRP enrollment periods were held for general and grassland CRP in FY16. NRCS and partner staff developed conservation plans and provided technical support for 3,447 new CRP offers qualifying for general, continuous and grassland CRP contracts. Approx. 93,488 acres were enrolled in the CRP in FY16. The 30th year of CRP was highlighted by 28,442 acres of CP-42 (Pollinator Habitat) enrolled in the program.
28,442
acres of Pollinator Habitat enrolled in CRP in FY16 3
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) The Conservation Stewardship Program, the largest private lands program in the nation with approximately 70 million acres enrolled, helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to enhance natural resources. Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance - the higher the performance, the higher the payment. Good land stewardship conserves the natural resources on farms, ranches or forests and provides multiple benefits to local communities, including better water and air quality, wildlife habitat, food and fiber.
In FY16, Missouri farmers and ranchers enrolled 204,489 acres into new CSP contracts and re-enrolled 199,724 acres eligible for renewal from prior implemented and completed contracts. On existing contracts, NRCS promoted and obligated $24.7 million in FY16 funds in preparation for payments beginning early in FY17. Total CSP acres enrolled in Missouri have climbed to 1.6 million acres, making it the largest private lands conservation program in the state.
The LARGEST
CSP is the largest private lands conservation program in Missouri with 1.6 million acres enrolled
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Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP)
Before
The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program helps conserve natural resources by relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, windÂstorms, and other natural occurrences. Work must be sponsored by a state agency, a city, county or local government. NRCS provides 75 percent of the funds for an approved project, with the public organization paying the balance.
NRCS invested $103 million through EWP to help disaster recovery efforts in 19 states. Missouri has two active EWP projects. Storms of September 2015 Bank stabilization projects: 1 Counties: Nodaway Total cost: $835,500 Completion date: December 2016 Storms of December 2015 Bank stabilization projects:17 Counties: Christian, Laclede, Lincoln, Maries, McDonald, Montgomery, Osage, Polk, Warren, Webster, Wright Debris removal projects: 8 Counties: Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Ste. Genevieve Total cost: $7,560,000 Estimated completion date: February 2017
This after photo shows assistance provided in Nodaway County after the September 2015 storm.
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Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to plan and implement conservation practices that improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related natural resources on agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland. Funding is allocated based on mandates by Congress and further determined by land use data. The State Conservationist targets funding allocations based on the resource needs present each year.
EQIP continues to be a popular conservation program in Missouri. In FY16, total obligated dollars rose to $26.6 million, an increase of $1.1 million from FY15. NRCS developed 1,114 contracts on 128,119 acres in FY16. Several new designations and projects (StrikeForce, Climate Change, Monarch Habitat Development Project) provided funding opportunities for Missouri farmers and ranchers in addition to allocations of general EQIP funds and those associated with other initiatives.
{
$1.1 million
increase in EQIP funding from Fiscal Year 2015
GENERAL EQIP General EQIP funding is allocated to the following land use and operation type applicants based on decisions of the State Conservationist: Organic, Energy, High Tunnel, Animal Waste, Pasture and Hay, Cropland, Wildlife, and Forestry. Funding for General EQIP was $16.7 million in FY16. Sixty percent of the funds were obligated on resource concerns associated with livestock. Remaining funds were divided between the remaining land use and operation type applications. In FY16, significant backlogs in funding demands for organic, high tunnel, wildlife and forestry were addressed. The majority of high priority EQIP applications were selected for funding in those subaccounts.
$26.6 million
EQIP funds obligated across the state 6
EQIP: StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity Initiative In January 2016, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA’s StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity Initiative was expanded to include 46 counties in Missouri. This announcement makes Missouri one of 26 states where USDA agencies identify ways to make USDA programs available to increase economic opportunity to rural people in counties that meet “high-poverty county� criteria. An additional priority will be to provide assistance to historically underserved farmers and ranchers, including limited resource farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, and veteran farmers and ranchers.
Missouri received $3.5 million in StrikeForce funding to fund conservation practices in cropland, pasture/hayland, energy, high tunnels and forestry subaccounts in the 46 counties designated as StrikeForce counties. StrikeForce allowed Missouri to address energy resource concerns and to strengthen its commitment in FY16 by funding 100 percent of the eligible Energy applications in StrikeForce counties. Almost 90 percent of these were Hmong producers. Increased funding made available by StrikeForce resulted in historically underserved participants receiving 36.8 percent of all EQIP funds ($9.8 million) in FY16.
46 counties are designated as StrikeForce eligible
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EQIP: Monarch Butterfly Habitat Development Project NRCS will work with partners and clients to increase monarch habitat on private lands in all states where the monarch butterfly occurs. As a member of the Monarch High Level Working Group, and in response to the Presidential Memorandum and the National Strategy, NRCS has developed the framework of a Monarch Butterfly Habitat Development Project through which NRCS will work cooperatively with private landowners to increase monarch habitat in a 10-state region. Special monarch fund allocations will be provided to states in the heart of the butterfly’s migration route which includes Missouri.
Missouri received $441,000 in FY16 in Monarch Butterfly funding. All high priority applications received funding. Monarch Butterfly Habitat Development Project contracts will result in dramatic, short-term habitat establishment and/or restoration of approximately 900 acres. The conservation practices will include planting milkweed and monarch necturing forbs. These efforts are aimed at providing habitat to ease a two-decades long monarch population decline.
900 acres
of Missouri land will be established or restored for monarch butterflies
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EQIP: Climate Change President Obama and Secretary Vilsack identified addressing climate change as a national priority for the US Government. As a result, additional EQIP funding was provided for FY16 to address USDA’s climate change strategy.
Missouri received $1.7 million in climate change funds to approve applications containing “building block” conservation practices that help mitigate the effects of climate change. The investment was aimed at accelerating the implementation of core practices that help farmers, ranchers, and forest land owners increase organic carbon capacity of soils (carbon sequestration) and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with food and fiber production. Climate Change funds were used in Missouri to fund EQIP applications in soil health, monarch butterfly habitat and forestry subaccounts. The Climate Change investment is highlighted by obligations for cover crops exceeding all other individual practice obligations for FY16.
$5 million
Obligations for cover crops exceeded all other individual practices 9
EQIP: National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) The National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) was introduced in 2012 as a way for NRCS to work with farmers and ranchers in small watersheds to improve water quality where there is a critical concern. Rainfall is measured and data are collected on the machine above.
In 2016, NRCS provided $25 million in financial assistance to help farmers and ranchers across the nation implement conservation systems to reduce nitrogen, phosphorous, sediment and pathogen contributions from agricultural land. The initiative has built on a more than $100 million NRCS investment since 2012. Missouri NRCS continued NWQI efforts in six counties in FY16: Upper Troublesome Creek (Knox and Lewis counties), Givins Branch-Niangua River (Dallas and Webster Counties); and Basin Fork (Pettis and Johnson Counties). $688,000 was dedicated to NWQI which aided in funding conservation practices on 1,751 acres.
6 counties
in Missouri were eligible for NWQI funds in FY16
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EQIP: Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) The objective of MRBI is to improve the health of the Mississippi River Basin by solving water quality concerns related to nutrient and sediment loading in local water bodies and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. Through this initiative, NRCS and its partners help producers in selected watersheds in the Mississippi River Basin voluntarily implement conservation practices and systems that avoid, control, and trap nutrient runoff; improve wildlife habitat; and maintain agricultural productivity.
Based on the successes realized by the original MRBI efforts, NRCS Chief Jason Weller committed funding for a second installment of MRBI beginning in FY15. Seven Missouri watershed projects were selected for funding through FY18 including James Bayou – St. John’s Diversion Ditch and Mud Ditch (Mississippi and New Madrid counties); Upper Buffalo Creek Ditch (Dunklin County); Bear Creek – West Yellow Creek (Linn County); Peno Creek and Spencer Creek (Ralls and Pike counties); Sugar Creek and Mission Creek – Missouri River (Buchanan and Platte counties); North River – (Marion, Ralls, Monroe and Shelby counties); Profits Creek – (Osage, Cole, Maries and Miller counties). FY16 saw approximately $3.5 million obligated for planned conservation practices on 13,904 acres. MRBI: EDGE OF FIELD MONITORING Missouri received approximately $109,000 to support long-term monitoring of an MRBI project in Livingston County. The continued monitoring provides an opportunity for NRCS to measure the effects of conservation practices on water quality and sediment movement. Moving forward, NRCS Missouri anticipates expanding edge-of-field monitoring into additional counties signifying the importance of quantifying the environmental benefit that NRCS work is achieving.
$3.5 million
Funding received to support MRBI watersheds in FY16 11
EQIP: Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership OZARK HIGHLANDS RESTORATION NRCS and the U.S. Forest Service began a three-year project in FY15 for the Missouri Ozark Highlands Restoration Partnership. The partnership goal is to unify NRCS and U.S. Forest Service conservation priorities by broadening the reach of conservation within the Current River Watershed and other identified priority watersheds in the Ozark Highlands ecoregion. The partnership provides $1.2 million over a three-year funding period to help landowners improve the health and resiliency of forest ecosystems where Mark Twain National Forest and private lands meet in southern Missouri.
Landowners in 27 counties applied for EQIP funds for conservation practices needed to address forest related resource concerns. Sixty-two contracts were funded in FY16 with $456,000 obligated in financial assistance for efforts planned on 16,970 acres. Implementation of this project will reduce wildfire threats by advancing conservation practices such as forest management plans, forest stand improvement, firebreaks, prescribed burning and brush management. Implementation of practices will reduce sedimentation in surface water and improve habitat for threatened and endangered species.
Partnership
and outreach have equated to an increase in forestry conservation practices
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Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) promotes coordination between NRCS and its partners to deliver conservation assistance to producers and landowners. NRCS provides financial and technical assistance through partnership agreements and program contracts. RCPP’s focus on public-private partnership enables private companies, local communities and other nongovernment partners a way to invest in efforts to keep land resilient and water clean, and to promote economic growth in agriculture, construction, tourism, outdoor recreation, and other industries. RCPP is a five-year, $1.2 billion USDA commitment.
All of Missouri’s RCPP projects led to contracts totaling approximately $2.5 million in financial assistance in FY16. In addition, the Missouri Department of Agriculture received funding for their cover crops for soil health and water quality project that will kick off in FY17.
{
$2.5 Million Funds provided for six Missouri RCPP projects.
Our Missouri Waters Targeted Conservation Partner: Missouri Department of Natural Resources Objective: A collaborative statewide partnership approach implements geographic targeting of cost-effective farm conservation practices in identified watersheds. The primary goal is to maximize improvements in water quality and wildlife habitat. In FY16, $1.1 million was provided through 34 contracts on 4,920 acres. Little Otter Creek Watershed Project Partner: Caldwell County Commission Objective: Installation of land treatment practices in the watershed of a planned earth embankment dam to create a 345-acre lake for the purpose of providing a dependable rural water supply. In FY16, $169,000 was provided through three contracts on 322 acres. Regional Grassland Bird and Grazing Land Enhancement Initiative Partner: Missouri Department of Conservation Objective: Create and implement unique management strategies that integrate habitat needs of grassland-dependent birds on grazing lands, maintain the tall grass prairie ecosystem, and enroll high quality grasslands into contracts. The project includes Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and 40 Missouri counties. In FY16, 1,490 acres of native forage establishment were contracted through 12 EQIP contracts and $173,000.
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Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
Restoring Glade and Woodland Communities for Threatened Species in the Ozarks of Southeast Missouri Partner: Missouri Department of Conservation Objective: Manage and restore glades and woodlands and treat cropland with conservation practices that benefit threatened and declining wildlife species. $241,000 were obligated through 27 contracts in FY16 for conservation practices on 2,469 acres. Northwest Missouri Urban and Rural Farmers United For Conservation Partner: Jackson County SWCD Objective: Focus on water quality, water quantity, soil health, and at-risk and declining wildlife species issues that affect both rural and smaller urban farms. $220,000 were obligated including funding for eight beginning farmers and practices such as cover crop and seasonal high tunnels on 47 acres through 31 contracts. Rice Sustainability Project Partner: Ducks Unlimited Objective: Support rice producers in the planning, design, and delivery of conservation practices and enhancements on working lands in six rice producing states (Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Missouri, California, Louisiana). In Missouri, primarily water quality, water quantity and wildlife resource concerns associated with irrigation will be addressed. Fifty-nine contracts in Southeast Missouri were awarded $557,000 on 14,158 acres in FY16.
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Technical Assistance NRCS and its partners provide Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) to land users to identify resource concerns and opportunities related to the use of natural resources on their land. This information assists land users in making sound natural resource management decisions. Assistance may be in the form of resource assessment, practice design, resource monitoring or follow-up of installed conservation practices. Although CTA does not include financial assistance, it does include developing a conservation plan which can serve as a springboard for those interested in participating in USDA financial assistance and easement conservation programs.
Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) is a nationwide collaborative process of individuals and organizations working to maintain and improve the management, productivity and health of the nation’s privately owned grazing land. The coalitions actively seek sources to increase technical assistance and public awareness activities that maintain or enhance grazing land resources. NRCS grassland specialists and staff assisted approximately 750 landowners and partner organizations with 31 grazing schools in Missouri. The schools provide instruction to individuals about various grazing, forage utilization and fencing systems options to improve the management of all grassland resources in Missouri. NRCS grassland conservationists and staff also assisted with four regional forage conferences, with 20 field days/ workshops, and with eight grassland evaluation contests.
Resources Inventories: Soil Survey, NRI and Cultural Resources Resource Inventory and Assessment (RIA) progress featured Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) offices updating the tabular and spatial data of 1.4 million acres. The information was added to the web soil survey. Most soil survey update efforts focused on the soil data join recorrelation (SDJR) project, which provides a recorrelated map for the MLRA. This approach minimizes the influence of political boundaries. Summaries of air temperature, precipitation, soil temperature and soil moisture data for eight Missouri Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) stations were updated to the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide.
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Technical Assistance The RIA staff provided 2,784 Technical Soil Services (10,742 hours) and served 34,818 people. A total of 822 Certified Wetland Determinations were conducted. National Resources Inventory (NRI) efforts focused on the data collection of 1,658 segments covering the 2014 growing season. The Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) for 693 segments statewide was conducted. Missouri’s Cultural Resources efforts included checking 525 projects with grounddisturbing practices to make sure they met cultural resources compliance. Fifty-three ecological sites have gone to quality assurance and will be available to the public through Web Soil Survey and Ecological Site Information System (ESIS) applications. An ecological site description (ESD) contains information and data pertaining to a specific site. ESDs allow land managers to identify, map and describe land with physical and biological characteristics. This helps them devise plans to manage the natural resources on their properties.
Watersheds in Missouri Little Otter Creek The 345-acre Little Otter Creek watershed project will provide 1.24 million gallons of water per day for Caldwell County residents and reduce agricultural and infrastructure damages due to flooding along the downstream banks of Little Otter Creek. NRCS Missouri provided $100,000 in FY16 to Caldwell County. East Locust Creek Reservoir Project In FY16, NRCS Missouri, under special authorization of Congress, contributed $5.5 million to the East Locust Creek Reservoir watershed project. The reservoir in Sullivan County will encompass 2,352 acres, and will serve 10 counties. It will become the 28th largest lake in the state, and will supply seven million gallons of water per day to 106,628 people. The reservoir will reduce flooding along 18 miles of East Locust Creek.
The maps above and to the right show the location of the East Locust Creek Reservoir Project.
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For more information about NRCS Missouri or to locate a field office near you, visit www.mo.nrcs.usda.gov. To sign up for NRCS Missouri email alerts regarding programs, financial assistance opportunities and events, register through GovDelivery at www.mo.nrcs.usda.gov. Twitter: NRCS_Missouri YouTube: NRCSMissouri
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