Subject: Sampling Method for Existing CRP Stands

Sampling of CRP stands will occur only after the producer has been notified of acceptance into CRP and a conservation plan is requested for the purpose of the program. The producer will identify at sign-up to the Farm Service Agency the habitat he/she is willing to plant or is existing at that point in time. Sampling will be at the request of the producer after notification of program application approval.

A modified step point method will be used for counting species for existing CRP stands. Species composition will be determined by estimating frequency of occurrence. A minimum of 10 percent of the plant composition must be comprised of broadleaf species to meet the required forb/legume component as referenced in the National Ranking Factor N1, Subfactor A.

Procedure:

Determine the predominant range site(s) for the field(s) in question. At least two transects will be completed within each predominant range site. A predominant range site is one that comprises more than 35 percent of the field(s) in question. Each transect will consist of 125 sample points. At each sample point, a single pin is lowered perpendicular to the ground surface through a notch in the toe of the boot, at a 30-degree angle to the ground. The sampler records the basal hit that the point comes into contact with at the ground level. If no basal hit occurs on a plant, the nearest species within a 180-degree arc in front of the point is recorded. Basal hits and nearest species are recorded for each sample point. For basal hits or nearest hit on grasses, record by species. For basal or nearest hits on broadleaf species, record as annual broadleaf or biannual/perennial broadleaf.

The starting point for each transect should be selected at random. Select the transect bearing using a distant landmark as a reference. Avoid sampling within 50 feet of the edge of the field. It is desirable to have the transect cover as much of the sampling area as possible. To lengthen the transect, increase the distance between sample points (5, 10, or 20 paces, etc.). Record the location of the transect on an aerial photo. Label transects as Tl, T2, T3, etc. A transect data sheet is attached.

See the following example of a completed transect data sheet:

*Total column is equal to the sum of # Hits and Closest Plant.
**Only 2 percent of the annual broadleaf can be counted towards the total forb/legume component. In this example, species composition for the forb/legume component is 10 percent (8 percent for biannual/perennial broadleaf plus 2 percent for annual broadleaf).

An alternate sampling procedural step may be used. This procedure allows basal or nearest hits on grasses to be recorded as annual or perennial hits and not by recording hits as individual species. This alternative procedural step may only be used where the point of contention of an appeal is the percentage of the forb/legume component contributing to the total plant composition. For this alternative step, the predominate perennial grasses observed while sampling should be recorded on the attached transect data sheet.

/s/

HAROLD L. KLAEGE
State Conservationist

DIST: A, F, S, NPR, FSA (3), Benfer, T. Conway, Kuiper, Rice, Schroeder (KDWP)

The following document requires Microsoft Excel.

Attachment (XLS; 25 KB)