Subject: CRP Conservation Plans

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will complete conservation plans for accepted CRP Signup No. 26 offers. District conservationists (DC) will review planning information in Farm Service Agency (FSA) 2-CRP (Rev. 4) Amend. 1, Paragraphs 236, 242, 255, 256 and Exhibit 9.

Completed and signed conservation plans for 2004 contracts must be delivered to the FSA by close of business on Thursday, September 25, 2003.

If desired, the NRCS offices will be able to utilize digitized field boundaries created by FSA during the signup process to incorporate into ArcView. This process will allow field offices to have the exact field boundaries established during the CRP application in scenarios when a field was divided. Refer to Toolkit Task Guide No. 56b for additional guidance.

The NRCS will obtain signatures on the conservation plan for the producer whose signature appears on the Form CRP-2. The DC and conservation district must approve the conservation plans, as well.

During the planning process, herbicide carryover information and cropping information must be obtained as noted in CRP Technical Guidance Number 39 dated May 15, 2003. The Form CRP-2 should contain cropping information.

The conservation plan should include practices pertinent to the offered conservation practice (CP). Practice narratives will be developed by planners that address the resource concerns. Narratives used during previous signups should suffice if the narratives address pest control (including control of noxious weeds), ensure cover will not be disturbed during the nesting and brood rearing season (April 15 to July 15), and prohibit harvesting or grazing of CRP acreage (exception for managed haying and grazing to be discussed below). The Form NRCS-CPA-52 (Environmental Effects for Conservation Planning) will be completed.

During the signup period, CRP applicants could choose several wildlife enhancement options. The FSA should have this documented either on the “26th CRP Signup Producer Commitments” form or by some other method. Applicants could choose to install a wildlife watering facility, plant a food plot, or enhance the existing grass stand.

For additional guidance on each option, refer to the following documents:

Wildlife Watering Facility – Practice standard and specification for Wildlife Watering Facility (648) in electronic Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG) and CRP Technical Guidance Number 36 dated April 28, 2003.

Food Plot – Practice standard and specification for Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645) in eFOTG and CRP Technical Guidance Number 41 dated June 3, 2003.

Enhancement of Existing Stand – Practice standard and specification for Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645) in eFOTG and CRP Technical Guidance Number 40 dated May 15, 2003. An applicant could choose this option in order to add additional points to the application.

Subject: Seeding mixtures

Seeding mixtures will be developed using CRP Technical Guidance Number 34 dated April 28, 2003, and/or CRP Technical Guidance Number 38 dated May 15, 2003.

For interseeding of existing stands, additional guidance can be located in CRP Technical Guidance Number 40 dated May 15, 2003.

It is important to review the Form KS-ECS-4 seeding sheet with the producers to be sure that they fully understand the seed mix requirements. Remind producers that no seed substitutions can be made without prior approval. The producer will sign the Form KS-ECS-4 seeding sheet indicating their understanding of the requirements.

Beginning with Signup No. 26, new CRP contract participants are required to perform management practices as part of their approved conservation plan. CRP participants may choose any of the approved management practices for Kansas. At least one management practice must be included in the conservation plan. However, additional management practices can be included in the conservation plan as long as cost-share amounts are within limitations referenced in FSA 2-CRP (Rev. 4) Amendment 1, Paragraph 484.

Managed Haying and Grazing options are not eligible for cost-share. Refer to CRP Technical Guidance 45 dated September 3, 2003, and FSA 2-CRP (Rev. 4) Amendment 1, Paragraphs 292-293 for additional information on Managed Haying and Grazing.

During the signup period, the FSA offices informed applicants of the management requirements. However, applicants were not required to commit to a practice at that time. Therefore, the NRCS may need to work with participants to determine the management practice that addresses the resource needs and meets the participants’ objectives.

The attachment to this document discusses the available management options for Kansas. The management practices are only available for specific CPs, as noted. The attachment also includes information about each of the management practices.

Practice narratives for the management practices should address the resource needs and program requirements. Below are example narratives for the required management practice options. Additional information can be added to the narratives to address specific needs of your county or of the planning units.

Brush Management (314) – (Mechanical application)
Mechanically remove invading brush species to increase plant diversity and enhance wildlife benefits. This management practice is necessary when the targeted brush species meet at least the medium priority infestation rate as indicated in the specification. Avoid disturbance of the field(s) during the grassland bird nesting and brood-rearing time of April 15 to July 15.

Brush Management (314) – (Chemical application)
Chemically treat invading brush species to increase plant diversity and enhance wildlife benefits. This management practice is necessary when the targeted brush species meet at least the medium priority infestation rate as indicated in the specification. To avoid detrimental effects to desirable plants, spot treatment of herbicides is preferred. Broadcast use of herbicides should only be used when warranted. Herbicide use will be applied according to Kansas State University and product label recommendations. Avoid disturbance of the field(s) during the grassland bird nesting and brood-rearing time of April 15 to July 15.

(The brush management practice option is only available for existing contracts and CP10s being re-enrolled. Prior to planning a chemical application, consider the detrimental effects to the forb component. A broadcast chemical application should only be used when absolutely necessary. Spot treatments of chemicals are preferred over broadcast treatments.)

Prescribed Burn (338) – (For soils with an “I” value less than 86)
Apply a prescribed burn to control brush, remove excess litter, increase plant diversity, improve soil health and enhance wildlife benefits. Prescribed burns will be completed between February 1 and April 15. Acreage will not be burned in any two consecutive years. Participants will develop a prescribed burn plan, follow county burning guidelines, and obtain necessary permits prior to conducting any prescribed burns.

Prescribed Burn (338) – (For soils with an “I” value of 86 or greater)
Apply a prescribed burn to control brush, remove excess litter, increase plant diversity, improve soil health, and enhance wildlife benefits. Prescribed burns will be completed between April 15 and April 30. Acreage will not be burned in any two consecutive years. Participants will develop a prescribed burn plan, follow county burning guidelines, and obtain necessary permits prior to conducting any prescribed burns.

(The first prescribed burn on a CP25 is considered maintenance and is not eligible for cost-share assistance. Refer to the footnote on the first page of the attachment. This only applies to the short, mixed, and tall grass CP25 options. The prescribed burn practice is not recommended for sand sage prairie or sand prairie CP25 options.)

Forage Harvest Management (511)
Field(s) can be hayed in a manner that will increase the health and vigor of the plant community, improve soil health, and enhance wildlife habitat. Managed haying can only be completed after the grass has been established for a minimum of 12 months. Acreage can be hayed only once every three years and the FSA office must be notified prior to haying each time. Harvesting of hay will be completed according to Form KS-ECS-23, Vegetative Management Plan, and any FSA program restrictions. To avoid disturbance during the grassland bird nesting and brood-rearing season, the field(s) can be cut for hay no earlier than July 16. Minimum stubble height requirements must be met for respective haying dates.

Prescribed Grazing (528)
Field(s) can be grazed at an intensity that will increase the health and vigor of the plant community, improve soil health, and enhance wildlife habitat. Managed grazing can only be completed after grass has been established for at least 12 months. Acreage can be grazed only once every three years and the FSA office must be notified prior to grazing each time. A Form KS-ECS-528B, Grazing Management Plan, will be developed prior to grazing. Managed grazing can be completed from July 16 through November 12. Additional FSA program restrictions must be followed.

Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645) – (To be used for Interseeding)
Desirable plant species will be seeded into existing permanent cover to increase plant diversity, enhance wildlife benefits, and improve soil health. The interseeding shall be limited to species not established in the original mix. Refer to seeding sheet (Form KS-ECS-4) for further guidance.

(Interseeding is a management practice option that can be applied after grass establishment sometime during the contract. Refer to CRP Technical Guidance Number 40 dated May 15, 2003, for additional guidance. This concept differs from the requirement to interseed at the beginning of the contract in order to qualify for the higher point factor as discussed earlier. However, the same guidance document is used for either scenario.)

/s/ Michael D. Marshall for

HAROLD L. KLAEGE
State Conservationist

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

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