PILOT PROGRAM CASE STUDY
A farm located in San Miguel County was one of four that participated in the 2021 PES Pilot Program. The landowners implemented the following practices as a part of their land management philosophy, and received payments as outlined below. Practice Practice ID Name 342 Critical Area Planting 528 Prescribed Grazing 590 Nutrient Management 612 Tree/Shrub Establishment
Acreage/ Plot ID EQIP Payment/ SMC Bonus Total Unit Total Unit Payment Payment 0.86 1 $443.77 $221.89 $572.46 63.21
2a-2f
5.82 3.13
$24.64
$12.32
$2,336.24
3a, 3b $219.62
$109.81
$1,917.28
4a, 4b $183.62
$91.81
$862.10
TOTAL 2021 PAYMENT Payment 1 Upon contract execution Payment 2 Upon mid-season review of operations Payment 3 At year end
$5,688.08 40% of total $2,275.23 40% of total $2,275.23 20% of total $1,137.62
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
For more information and to participate in the San Miguel County Payment for Ecosystem Services program, go to www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/PES
PURPOSE OF EACH PRACTICE CRITICAL AREA PLANTING »R ehabilitate and revegetate degraded sites.
PRESCRIBED GRAZING » I mprove or maintain desired species composition and vigor of plant communities. » Improve or maintain quality and quantity of forage for grazing and browsing animals’ health and productivity. » Improve or maintain surface and/or subsurface water quality and quantity. » Reduce accelerated soil erosion and maintain or improve soil condition.
TREE/SHRUB ESTABLISHMENT
NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
»M aintain or improve desirable plant diversity, productivity, and health by establishing woody plants. » Create or improve habitat for desired wildlife species compatible with ecological characteristics of the site. » Control erosion. » Improve water quality. Reduce excess nutrients and other pollutants in runoff and groundwater. » Sequester and store carbon. » Restore or maintain native plant communities. » Provide for beneficial organisms and pollinators.
OUTCOME
»T o properly utilize manure, municipal and industrial biosolids, and other organic by-products as plant nutrient sources. » To maintain or improve the physical, chemical and biological conditions of soil.
» Improved soil health. » Water retention with improved water quality and quantity. » Improved wildlife habitat. » Sequestered carbon.
MADE POSSIBLE BY San Miguel County began the PES program under former Commissioner Art Goodtimes. Initial work included a small-scale pilot study at seven sites within the County. The County was subsequently awarded a grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) for the further development/administration of the program.
PAYMENT FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES PROGRAM Financial Benefits Available for Implementing Best Practices on Farms and Ranches in San Miguel County
San Miguel County is seeking landowners and agricultural producers to participate in the Payment for Ecosystem Services program within the County. This multi-year program provides landowners with financial compensation for implementing practices that will increase production while protecting natural resources and benefiting the environment.
PRACTICES LIST FOR SAN MIGUEL COUNTY A more comprehensive list can be found at
www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov • Cover Crops (340)
• Intensive Till to No-till or Strip Till (888) • Improved N Fertilizer Management (590)
ABOUT PAYMENT FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
• Replacement of Synthetic N Fertilizer (590)
Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) are incentives offered to agricultural producers or landowners in exchange for managing their land to provide an ecological service. San Miguel County launched the PES program in support of area ranchers, farmers and other agricultural producers, recognizing that the agrarian community is deeply committed to the land. Their stewardship may be rewarded through this program.
• Residue and Tillage Management (329 & 345) • Conservation Cover - cropland conversion (327) • Contour Buffer Strips - convert strips of cropland (332) • Field Border - convert strips of cropland (386)
Participants in the PES program will be compensated for drought resilience and other soil health improvement projects and practices that are implemented on their land. These practices benefit the landowner and the greater community through enhancing healthy soils which in turn help reduce erosion, improve soil-water retention, sequester carbon and more. San Miguel County built the current program using the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) menu for a list of verified practices, and Colorado State University developed the COMET-Planner tool to determine compensation amounts.
HOW IT WORKS STEP 1: PRACTICES SELECTION
Working with the Program Administrator, participants will select from the EQIP list specific for San Miguel County. A USDA farm ID number is recommended (a landowner can be in the application process), but not required to participate*.
STEP 2: AGREE TO TERMS & IMPLEMENTATION
The Program Administrator will work with the participant to determine the terms of participation, create an operating plan and implement practices as agreed upon with San Miguel County.
• Filter Strip - convert strips of cropland (393) • Forage and Biomass Planting - convert cropland to grass/legume/biomass (512) • Grassed Waterway - convert cropland to permanent grass/legume cover (412) • Herbaceous Wind Barriers - convert strips of cropland (603) • Riparian Herbaceous Cover (390) • Vegetative Barriers (601)
STEP 3: PAYMENT
San Miguel County will make payments to participating landowners for the implementation of the specified land management practices. The payment amounts are established by NRCS, but the contract will be between landowners and San Miguel County. San Miguel County will make payments at 1.5 times the rate paid on the NRCS/EQIP payment schedule.
STEP 4: RESULTS
The implementation of NRCS approved practices that have been verified to increase productivity and resiliency will provide benefits to the landowner over time, and the community will benefit from better carbon sequestration on land in the region. *A USDA Farm ID Number is required by the USDA to receive federal funds. At this time, the County is funding the program, but hopes to expand it by partnering with State and Federal agencies in the future. If a participant chooses not to apply for a USDA Farm ID Number, an acknowledgment will be added to their contract that they will not be eligible for federal funding.
• Multiple Practices (888) - Grazing management plan with replacement N fertilizer • Nutrient Management (590) - replace N fertilizer • Prescribed Grazing (528) - grazing management plan to improve pasture condition • Range Planting (550) - seeding forages • Silvopasture (381) - tree/shrub planting on grazed grasslands • Critical Area Planting (342) - restore highly disturbed areas • Riparian Restoration (555) • Riparian Forest Buffer (391) • Tree/Shrub establishment (612) convert cropland/grassland to woodlot • Windbreak/Shelterbelt (380 & 650) establishment or renovate existing