Conservation Reserve Program

1
MY MEETING CONFERENCE CALL March 30, 2005 for
PRELIMINARY TRAINING and INFORMATION involving
the CREP II DRAFT PROPOSAL for SE, SW, and NW,
MN
2

• Break
• Telephone on Mute
• Sign in Sheet
• My Meeting Software

3
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program II(CREP
II)

• Today's session will include
• Opening Remarks
• Preliminary Information
• Procedures
• Eligibility
• Roles
• Responsibilities
• Promotion and Outreach

4
Joint Agency Effort

• The information being presented today will be
  from the Minnesota State Offices of the
• Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)
• USDA - Farm Service Agency (FSA)
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation
• Service (NRCS)

5
OPENING REMARKS

• John Monson FSA State Executive Director
• Ron Harnack BWSR State Executive Director
• Bill Hunt NRCS State Conservationist

6
UPDATES

• Status of State Funding (Bonding Bill)
• CREP II Draft Agreement approval timeframe
• CREP II projected sign-up start date

7
PURPOSE

• Provide field staff information to date that has
  been developed for the proposed CREP II Agreement
  for SE, SW, and NW MN.
• NOTE there is a need to understand that the
  CREP II proposed agreement HAS NOT YET been
  approved. USDA is not going to move forward with
  a formal approval process until there is a
  substantial financial commitment from the State
  of Minnesota (the states substantial financial
  commitment is tied to the bonding bill which is
  hopefully only a few days away from the
  Governors approval).

8
WHAT IS CREP II

• The CREP II proposal is a 120,000 acre
  Federal/State Partnership in SE, SW, and NW MN
  that involves the Conservation Reserve Program
  (CRP) and Reinvest-In-Minnesota (RIM) Program.
• CREP II involves a 15-year CRP Contract and
  either a 45-year or permanent RIM easement (an
  exception is contour buffer strips in SE, MN
  which will involve a 15-year CRP contract only).
  In either case the first 15 years are
  administered through CRP provisions.
• The ability to enter into CREP is derived from
  CRP authority and therefore CRP provisions
  govern CREP II (without CRP CREP would not be
  possible).

9
FUNDNG LEVELS

• The State of Minnesota minimum contribution is
  20 and the Federal Government maximum
  contribution is 80. Funding levels are
  approximately 200 million dollars from the
  Federal Government and approximately 50 million
  dollars from the State.

10
CREP II Protocols

• The CREP II proposal is the product of extensive
  negotiation between governmental, agricultural,
  and environmental stakeholders. As a result of
  these negotiations a set of protocols was
  developed in an attempt to address the issues
  raised by various interests with respect to the
  CREP II proposal. These protocols were agreed to
  by John Monson, MN FSA State Executive Director
  and Ron Harnack, MN BWSR State Executive Director
  in April, 2004.

11
CREP II Protocols

• With these protocols in mind the CREP II proposal
  was designed to target only those most
  environmentally sensitive acreages identified in
  the three CREP areas original proposals with the
  concept of using minimum acreages necessary to
  address the resource concern. CREP II is not to
  be used to just enroll acreage with a mind set of
  a land retirement program.

12
Landowner Bill of Rights

• As part of the conditions of the protocols a
  Landowner Bill of Rights was developed. This
  bill of rights was developed to explicitly spell
  out what rights are maintained, what rights are
  forfeited, and that all of this information is
  clearly communicated to the CREP II participant.
• The Landowner Bill of Rights will be one of the
  first documents CREP II applicants receive and it
  must be reviewed with and signed by the
  landowner.

13
CREP II INTRODUCTION

• CREP II seeks to convert 120,000 acres of
  environmentally sensitive cropland and marginal
  pastureland (only a small area in NW, MN) to
  native vegetation in order to improve water
  quality, reduce soil erosion, increase flood
  damage reduction/storage, and provide for fish
  and wildlife habitat in SE, SW, and NW, MN.
  (CRP-1 needs to be approved by 9-30-07)

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WHY TRAINING NOW

• The State CREP II team ( County FSA, NRCS, SWCD,
  and Watershed personnel State Level BWSR, FSA,
  NRCS personnel) decided that the CREP proposal
  process is at a stage where it would be
  beneficial to provide preliminary training and
  information to county staff in anticipation that
  an official CREP II approval is only weeks away.
• Again, keep in mind the information provided
  should be considered draft and may be changed
  upon final review and approval.

15
CREP II areas

• THE MN CREP II proposal provides authority for
  continuous enrollment of not more than 120,000
  acres in the Lower Mississippi River Watershed in
  Southeastern, MN Missouri/Des Moines Watersheds
  in Southwestern, MN and the Red River Watershed
  in Northwestern, MN.

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CREP II Counties

• Northwest CREP area whole counties include
  Kittson, Marshall, Pennington, Red Lake, Polk
  (East and West), Norman, Mahnoman, Clay, and
  Wilkin. Partial counties include Roseau, Lake of
  the Woods, Beltrami, Koochiching, Itasca,
  Clearwater, Becker, Ottertail (East and West),
  Grant, Stevens, Traverse and Big Stone.

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CREP II Counties

• Southwest CREP whole counties include Rock and
  Nobles. Partial Counties include Lincoln, Lyon,
  Pipestone, Murray, Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin.
• Southeast CREP whole counties include Goodhue,
  Wabasha, Dodge, Olmsted, Winona, Mower, Fillmore,
  Houston. Partial Counties include Blue Earth,
  Dakota, Scott, Rice, LeSueur, Waseca, Steele,
  Faribault, Freeborn.

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(No Transcript)
19
Acreage Allocations and Targets

• The following are the acreage allocations and
  targets for each of the three areas
• Northwest (Red River) 51,000 acres of which
• 35,435 acres are riparian areas (15 yr CRP/45 yr
  RIM)
• 13,440 acres are wetland restoration (15 yr
  CRP/perpetual RIM)
• 2,125 acres of flood damage reduction (15 yr
  CRP/perpetual RIM).

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Acreage Allocations and Targets

• Southeast (Lower Mississippi) 51,000 acres of
  which
• 14,828 are riparian areas (15 yr CRP/45 yr RIM).
• 6,179 acres are groundwater protection (15 yr
  CRP/45 yr RIM)
• 18,058 of highly erodible (15 yr CRP/45 yr RIM)
• 2,850 acre of contour buffer strips (15 yr CRP
  only)
• 6,960 acres of wetland restoration (15 yr.
  CRP/perpetual RIM)
• 2,125 acres of flood damage reduction (15 yr
  CRP/perpetual RIM).

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Acreage Allocations and Targets

• Southwest (Missouri/DeMoines) 18,000 acres of
  which
• 11,634 acres are riparian areas (15 yr CRP/45 yr
  RIM)
• 2,016 acres of wellhead/groundwater (15 yr CRP/45
  yr RIM)
• 3,600 acres of wetland restoration (15 yr
  CRP/perpetual RIM)
• 750 acres of flood damage reduction (15 yr
  CRP/perpetual RIM).

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Basic Procedures CREP II Forms

• National CRP forms will be used for the CRP
  portion of CREP II
• State RIM forms will be used for the RIM portion
  of CREP II

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Basic ProceduresEligibility Criteria

• Must have owned or operated the land for a year
  from the date of CRP-1/CRP-2C application
• Must be cropland and meet the 4 of 6 year
  cropping history requirements 1996-2001
• An exception for CREP II is marginal pastureland
  areas in NW, MN that have suffered scour damage
• The CREP II land must be entirely within the
• CREP II project boundaries as defined by the
  four watersheds.

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ProceduresCREP II Payments

• CREP II Payments will be comprised of the
  following
• CRP - annual rental payment which includes a 30
  incentive and the maximum allowable per acre
  maintenance rate as outlined in 2-CRP (Rev. 4),
  paragraph 124C
• SIP for CP21, CP22, CP26, and CP29

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ProceduresCREP II Payments

• CREP II Payments will be comprised of the
  following
• CRP Cost-share payment not to exceed 50 of
  eligible costs for practice establishment
• CRP mid-contract management 50 cost-share
• PIP for CP15A, CP21, CP22, CP26, and CP29
• 25 incentive for CP23 and CP23A.

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ProceduresCREP II Payments

• RIM
• One time up front bonus payment based on the
  average township farm land value reported on the
  Minnesota Land Economics website
• Cost-share not to exceed 50 of eligible costs.
  

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CREP ELIGIBILITY

• Each Watershed has unique criteria which defines
  the locations eligible for CREP.
• Technical Determinations
• 1) Identify if the requested location is within
  the Watersheds eligibility criteria
• 2) Determine the extent of the eligible area and
  the extent to be enrolled
• 3) Determine the CREP practice to be implemented
  
• 4) Design the practice.

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CCRP Conservation Practices

• Each application will have a
• 1. CREP Location Documentation Eligibility
  Worksheet and
• 2. CREP Practice Documentation Eligibility and
  Suitability Worksheet that NRCS or SWCD fills out
  and gives to FSA County Office.

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SOUTHEAST CREP

• Eligible Locations
• I. Excessively Eroded Cropland
• II. Erodible Cropland (Contour Buffer Strips)
• III. Riparian Areas
• IV. Wetland Restoration
• V. Ground Water Protection
• VI. Decorah Shale Outcrops
• VII. Flood Damage Reduction areas

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SOUTHWEST CREP

• Eligible Locations
• I. Riparian Areas
• II. Wetland Restoration
• III. Ground Water Protection
• IV. Flood Damage Reduction areas

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NORTHWEST CREP

• Eligible Locations
• I. Riparian Areas
• II. Wetland Restoration
• III. Flood Damage Reduction areas

32
ALL CREP LOCATIONS

• Riparian Areas
• Perennial Stream
• Seasonal Stream (contains water for only part of
  the year but more than just during and/or after
  rainfall or snowmelt)
• Wetland determined by the Cowardin Classification
  System
• Permanent water body containing water throughout
  the year in all years.

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CREP Eligible Wetlands
34
CREP RIPARIAN AREA

• The riparian area begins at the top of the stream
  bank. Some land adjacent to the stream may not
  meet the eligibility criteria and will not be
  enrolled in the CREP however, this ineligible
  land shall be included
• In the area used as a riparian buffer
• In the conservation plan
• When determining the width of the riparian
  area.

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ALL CREP LOCATIONS

• Riparian Areas PRACTICE WIDTH
• Maximum Average Width needed for filtering is
  between 30 and 120 feet when establishing the
  practice CP21 Filter Strip.
• OR
• Maximum Average Width needed for filtering
  between 30 and 180 feet when establishing the
  practice CP22 Riparian Buffer.

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ALL CREP LOCATIONS

• Riparian Areas
• PRACTICE WIDTH EXTENSION
• Total Width can be extended up to a maximum of
  350 ft for any of the following purposes
• Water quality improvement
• Wildlife habitat
• Flooding
• Squaring off fields

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ALL CREP LOCATIONS

• Riparian Areas
• PRACTICE WIDTH EXTENSION
• Total width can be extended Not-To-Exceed 600 ft.
  only when occasionally or frequently flooded
  soils exist (must be at least 51 of land within
  extension)
• Show location and extent of frequently/occasional
  ly flooded soils on photo, map or sketch.

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NORTHWEST CREP ONLY

• Riparian Areas
• The Northwest will have provisions to enroll
  non-cropland areas that have experienced scour
  erosion using practice CP-29.

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CREP Wetland Restoration

• The area offered must be entirely
• within the 100-year floodplain for CP23
• outside the 100-year floodplain for CP23A

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CREP Wetland Restoration

• Technical Evaluation
• Eligible sites are limited to only those wetland
  areas that have had the wetland hydrology
  component removed through alteration by drainage
  and/or manipulation and where it is feasible and
  practical to restore the wetland. If any of the
  hydrologic components of the wetland cannot be
  restored through removing, blocking, manipulating
  or otherwise rendering inoperable the wetland
  drainage system, the wetland area is not eligible
  for enrollment.

41
CREP Wetland Restoration

• Technical Evaluation
• Cropping cessation and the subsequent
  establishment of vegetation on a wetland area in
  itself is not considered an eligible restoration
  option.
• Floodplain restorations must be evaluated to
  insure that the flood storage area is not reduced
  or adversely impacted through the placement of
  fill, dikes, levees, or embankments.

42
CREP Wetland Restoration

• Technical Evaluation
• All restorable wetland areas must meet USDA
  wetland criteria. This means that the site,
• 1) contains hydric soils,
• 2) meets wetland hydrology criteria (when
  restored), and
• 3) has or will have after restoration,
  hydrophytic vegetation.

43
CREP Wetland Restoration

• Technical Evaluation
• The goal of this enrollment area is to restore
  the wetland ecosystem to the maximum extent
  possible.
• Initial wetland restoration feasibility
  assessments must be completed and must consider
  avoiding impacts to adjacent properties,
  utilities, or other infrastructures unless
  approvals, permits or consents are attainable.

44
CREP Wetland Restoration

• Design Criteria
• Wetland acreage eligibility can be determined
  independent of USDA wetland determinations
• This acreage will typically include all hydric
  soil map units directly affected by the drainage
  and/or manipulation of the wetland. This is also
  the wetland acreage that will be used to
  determine the amount of eligible cost share.
• The CREP Wetland Restoration practices may also
  enroll a buffer limited to the number of acres
  required to provide protective buffer to the
  cropped wetland and to enhance wildlife habitat
  not to exceed a ratio of 2 acres of buffer to 1
  acre of restored wetland.

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CREP Wetland Restoration

• Design Criteria
• Wetlands will be restored using standard 657.
• Vegetation establishment criteria are dependent
  on the native ecosystem. The native ecosystem
  can be determined by the soil survey or by the
  native vegetation maps (TRYGG maps).
• Buffer areas for sites developed under a
  grassland ecosystem will be seeding according to
  standard 645 using a mixed stand with a minimum
  of 5 native species consisting of at least 3
  grasses and 1 forb.
• Buffer areas for sites under a woodland ecosystem
  will use standard 612 or 645.

46
SOUTHEAST CREP

• Excessively Eroded Cropland
• FSA will determine and document excessively
  erodible cropland in a field or redefined field
  with an EI of 15 or greater using General Sign-Up
  Offer Processing (GSOP). Use the 3 most
  predominant soils when calculating the weighted
  average EI.

47
SOUTHEAST CREP

• Excessively Eroded Cropland
• Documentation required
• Attach a printout of the GSOP result showing the
  average EI.
• Attach the GIS map/soil map and the CLU of the
  eligible areas.

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SOUTHEAST CREP

• Excessively Eroded Cropland
• Applicant, with the assistance of technical
  agencies, chooses one the practices
• CP2 Establishment of Permanent Native Grasses
• CP3A Hardwood Tree Planting
• CP4D Permanent Wildlife Habitat

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SOUTHEAST CREP

• Erodible Cropland (Contour Buffer Strips)
• FSA will document erodible cropland in a field or
  redefined field with an EI of 8 or greater using
  General Sign-Up Offer Processing (GSOP). Use the
  3 most predominant soils when calculating the
  weighted average EI.

50
SOUTHEAST CREP

• Erodible Cropland (Contour Buffer Strips)
• Note This determination is entirely different
  than the NRCS HEL determination process

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SOUTHEAST CREP

• Erodible Cropland (Contour Buffer Strips)
• Documentation required
• Attach a printout of the GSOP result showing the
  average EI.
• Attach the GIS map/soil map and the CLU of the
  eligible areas.

52
SOUTHEAST CREP

• Erodible Cropland (Contour Buffer Strips)
• Documentation required (NRCS)
• Within eligible fields/redefined fields the area
  enrolled is restricted to only the contour buffer
  strips.

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SOUTHEAST CREP

• Erodible Cropland (Contour Buffer Strips)
• Conditions of eligibility
• Non-enrolled cropped strips must exist and be
  wider than the enrolled buffer strips that
  separate them.
• The contract is limited to 14-15 year
• CRP-1 only (no RIM)
• Must meet the requirements of NRCS Conservation
  Practice Standard 332.

54
SOUTHEAST CREP

• Ground Water Protection
• Sinkholes and Karst Areas
• Use a County Soil Survey or in field observation
  to determine that sinkholes and karst areas
  exist. Attach a copy of the soil survey or a map
  showing the sinkholes or karst areas.
• The buffer can be up to a maximum average width
  of 200 ft. from the edge of the sinkhole or karst
  area.
• Use practice CP21 and NRCS Conservation Practice
  Standard Filter Strip, Code 393.

55
SOUTHEAST and SOUTHWEST

• Ground Water Protection
• Wellhead Protection Areas
• Eligible land must be entirely within 10-year
  wellhead protection area as defined by the MN
  Dept. of Health (MDH).
• The 2000-foot radius rule used for CCRP is not
  used for CREP.

56
SOUTHEAST and SOUTHWEST

• Ground Water Protection
• Wellhead Protection Areas
• Applicant with the assistance of technical
  agencies, chooses one of the practices below
• CP2 Establishment of Permanent Native Grasses
• CP3A Hardwood Tree Planting
• CP4D Permanent Wildlife Habitat

57
SOUTHEAST CREP

• Decorah Shale Outcrops
• Field determination is required based on county
  soil survey or County Geological Atlas. Attach a
  map showing the Decorah Shale outcrops.
• Adjacent areas 50-feet immediately upslope and
  down slope are eligible for enrollment.
• Whole fields can be enrolled if more than 75 of
  the field is eligible.

58
SOUTHEAST CREP

• Decorah Shale Outcrops
• Applicant with the assistance of technical
  agencies, chooses one of the practices
• CP2 Establishment of Permanent Native Grasses
• CP3A Hardwood Tree Planting
• CP4D Permanent Wildlife Habitat

59
ALL CREP LOCATIONS

• Flood Damage Reduction Areas
• Those areas that have been reviewed and
  recommended as flood damage reduction projects by
  the watershed project team.

60
SOUTHEAST and SOUTHWEST

• Flood Damage Reduction Areas are those CP21/CP22
  sites that have 51 occasionally or frequently
  flooded soils and
• Are listed in a local flood mitigation plan
• OR
• Have been eligible for EWP or ECP in the last 20
  years.

61
NORTHWEST

• Flood Damage Reduction Areas are those sites that
  are acknowledged by the local Watershed District
  or Watershed Board as being capable of mitigating
  flood damages.
• There is the possibility of another (new) CREP
  practice to help solve flooding problems.

62
ALL CREP LOCATIONS

• Flood Damage Reduction Areas
• You should expect additional clarification and
  details on these criteria from the state level
  CREP team.

63
CREP II ROLES

• FSA Administers all aspects of the CRP
• BWSR Administers all aspects of RIM
• SWCD Administers all local aspects of RIM
• BWSR, DNR, NRCS SWCD Provides technical
  assistance
• Other Partners - Promotes and educates their
  customers on the benefits of CREP.
• Note a joint effort shall be made by all
  involved with CREP II to provide outreach and
  promotion to eligible producers.

64
FSA Responsibilities

• FSA is responsible for determining
• If the producer meets eligibility requirements
• If the basic land and practice eligibility
  criteria are met
• If the program policy and practice size
  requirements are satisfied according to the
• 2-CRP and CREP agreement
• On-site review if necessary.

65
FSA Responsibilities

• Contact applicant to determine continued interest
  in CREP II enrollment
• Ensure applicant signs CRP-1
• Notify NRCS to complete conservation plan.
• Note Consultation with SHPO/THPO for
  Cultural Resource issues and the USFWS for
• T E issues may be necessary.

66
BWSR Responsibilities

• Administers all aspects of the RIM easement
  acquisition
• Coordination with SWCD on acquisition
• Ensures adequate funding, disburses easement
  payments, and cost share reimbursements upon
  receipt of proper documentation.

67
BWSR Responsibilities

• Coordinates all wetland restoration and other
  engineering practice activities.
• Provides and/or coordinates engineering/technical
  assistance (survey, design, construction).

68
SWCD Responsibilities

• Explains CREP II process to applicant
• Ensures all RIM documents and expectations are
  explained to applicant
• Works with applicant to complete RIM forms
• Administers local aspects of the easement
  acquisition and coordination with other local
  staff
• Can perform NRCS duties if proper agreements and
  TAA are in place.

69
Technical Responsibilities

• Technical responsibilities performed by
  NRCS/SWCD
• visits the area of the offered acres
• completes the Documentation of Eligibility and
  Suitability Worksheet for each practice listed
  on the CRP-2C
• fills in block 13 of the CRP-2C
• returns the CRP-2C and a copy of the
  Documentation worksheets to FSA.

70
NRCS/SWCD Responsibilities

• completes the Environmental Evaluation Worksheet
  (NRCS-CPA-052)
• completes a conservation plan in ToolKit
• completes a Conservation Plan Schedule of
  Operations (AD-1155)
• completes a detailed practice design and/or a job
  sheet for each practice on the CRP-2C

71
NRCS/SWCD Responsibilities

• All conservation practices designed must meet
• the requirements of the corresponding FOTG
  practice standard and CREP II agreement
• the Minnesota Upland Treatment Policy
• the 2-CRP Handbook requirements

72
NRCS/SWCD Responsibilities

• NRCS will refer all applicable CREP II forestry
  practices to the MN Department of Natural
  Resources, Division of Forestry to be designed by
  a forester. DNR-Forestry will submit the
  completed forestry practice design(s) to NRCS for
  inclusion in the conservation plan.

73
DNR-Forestry Responsibilities

• Through a national level Cooperative
  Agreement, DNR-Forestry has the responsibility
  for developing tree and/or shrub planting designs
  for CP3A, CP22, CP23, and CP23A using the
  appropriate NRCS Standards.

74
TSP Opportunities

• Non - Reimbursable Assistance
• Conservation partners working with NRCS can work
  in a non-reimbursable fashion on CREP II which
  includes all phases of CREP II activities. When
  this occurs NRCS must review and sign-off on all
  their work, indicating that it is technically
  complete and correct (NRCS can do this by
  delegating technical approval authority to
  specific partners) and NRCS retains the technical
  responsibility and liability for these work
  products.

75
Processing CREP II Applications

• Customer visits USDA Service Center to discuss
  long term CREP II land retirement options with
  CREP staff (FSA, NRCS, SWCD, and DNR) as well as
  other land retirement program options
• If customer is interested in proceeding with the
  CREP II process a Landowner Bill of Rights is
  provided to the customer and then customer is
• Referred to FSA County personnel to generate a
  CRP-2C, map and preliminary CREP II acreage
  amount

76
Processing CREP II Applications

• FSA County Office determines if the customer
  meets eligibility requirements
• FSA County Office makes initial determination if
  the land and the practice(s) meet eligibility
  criteria
• If above is met, FSA refers CRP-2C with an aerial
  map and preliminary enrollment acres to NRCS or
  SWCD

77
Processing CREP II Applications

• Based on a field visit
• NRCS or SWCD completes Documentation of
  Eligibility and Suitability Worksheet for each
  CREP II practice on the CRP-2C
• Determines if the practice(s) meet the
  eligibility criteria
• NRCS/SWCD provides findings to FSA
• If the practice(s) is (are) eligible NRCS/SWCD
  fills in block 13 of CRP-2C and returns the form
  to FSA (if ineligible return form unfilled to
  FSA)

78
Processing CREP II Applications

• FSA determines if the customer remains eligible
  and determines if still interested in enrolling
  in the CREP II program and if so
• FSA completes the CRP-2C with final acreage
  amounts and applicant completes CRP-2C, item 9 if
  CREP II application process is to continue.

79
Processing CREP II Applications

• The applicant visits the SWCD office, reviews
  CREP II program eligibility and the additional
  requirements for the RIM portion of the CREP II
  and if still interested completes a RIM
  application

80
Processing CREP II Applications

• RIM application materials to be submitted
• Conservation Easement Application
• RIM Reserve Easement Area Assessment Form
• Aerial photo with easement area clearly outlined,
  or electronic GIS shape file
• Agreement Information Form

81
Processing CREP II Applications

• RIM application materials to be submitted
• CREP payment calculation form
• Conservation Easement Practice Payment Worksheet
  (CEPPW)
• Landowners deed(s) to the property
• Copy of the CREP II NRCS practice eligibility
  worksheet
• Wetland Restoration Information Form required
  for all wetland restorations.
• See the SWCD Easement Acquisition Information
  Packet for further detail

82
Processing CREP II Applications

• If the CREP II process is to continue, NRCS or
  SWCD develops the conservation plan for all
  practices and a MN-CPA-052 to FSA
• BWSR Board Conservationists receive and review
  RIM easement applications and forwards to BWSR
  St. Paul
• BWSR St. Paul approves the RIM easement
  application

83
Processing CREP II Applications

• BWSR performs and/or coordinates comprehensive
  site investigations, including preliminary plans,
  and verifies site eligibility and enrollment
  acres (CP23, CP23A CP26).

84
Processing CREP II Applications

• BWSR easement staff prepares the states
  Agreement for RIM
• CRP-1/CRP-2C are completed if not already done so
  and are date and time stamped and entered into
  FSA Website for acreage allocation recording
  (note first 5 CREP offers from each county are
  to be sent to the FSA STO for review and
  approval). The FSA STO will acknowledge on the
  website if there is an acreage allocation
  available based on the sequential date and time
  stamped on the CRP-1/CRP-2 when offers are made.

85
Processing CREP II Applications

• Offer Selection Process
• Offers (completed CRP-1/CRP-2C signed by the
  applicant) MUST BE date and time stamped and
  recorded into the FSA Website daily so the FSA
  State Office can authorize approval provided
  there is acreage remaining for that particular
  resource concern.

86
Processing CREP II Applications

• SWCD continues to process CREP RIM easement as
  per usual RIM operating procedures
• Once FSA State Office issues CRP-1 authorization
  based on website entries the standard CRP
  procedures for approving CRP-1 are to be followed.

87
Processing CREP II Applications

• Prior to approving the CRP-1 and signing the RIM
  Agreement, all local partners are to meet with
  the applicant to make certain everyone thoroughly
  understands the requirements, obligations, and
  approximate costs involved
• The RIM agreement, the conservation plans and the
  CRP-1 are signed by the applicant, and other
  applicable parties and approved by the FSA COC.

88
Processing CREP II Applications

• FSA COC approves the CRP-1
• Note CRP-1 effective start date for CREP is the
  same policy as CCRP provisions.
• FSA can then issue a SIP for practices CP21,
  CP22, CP26, and CP29
• FSA issues page 2 of the AD-245 to the CREP
  participant for practice completion

89
Processing CREP II Applications

• Upon practice completion, FSA will issue PIP for
  CP15A, CP21, CP22, CP26, CP29
• FSA will issue 15 years of annual CRP rental
  payments
• RIM provisions will be followed upon expiration
  of CRP-1.

90
Summary of RIM Easement Acquisition Process

• RIM application completed and sent to BWSR St.
  Paul
• Agreement for Conservation Easement developed and
  signed by landowner and BWSR
• SWCD obtains title insurance commitment with
  landowners updated abstract and sends to BWSR
  for review
• RIM conservation plan is finalized and sent to
  BWSR St. Paul

91
Summary of RIM Easement Acquisition Process

• Clear title is determined and easement documents
  signed and recorded
• Easement payment is issued.
• Please refer to the SWCD Easement Acquisition
  Information Packet for more detailed information
  on the documents and procedures associated with
  completing a RIM application.

92
Conservation Practice Implementation and Payment

• Once practice is complete, CREP applicant
  certifies performance, and required follow-up is
  complete,
• FSA can issue cost-share
• FSA will issue the 25 incentive for practices
  CP23/CP23A and a PIP for practices CP15A, CP21,
  CP22, CP26, and CP29
• SWCD can submit cost-share to BWSR St. Paul for
  reimbursement.

93
Marketing and Promotion

• CREP II is a partnership between the BWSR, DNR,
  SWCD, Watersheds, USDA and other partners and
  personnel including marketing and promotion.
  Therefore every effort must be made by all to
  coordinate any and all marketing and promotion
  efforts.

94
FOLLOWUP TRAINING

• Once there is an official announcement for an
  approval of the proposed CREP II Agreement, more
  in-depth training will be provided.
• Please keep in mind the information provided
  today should be considered DRAFT and may be
  changed upon final review and approval.

95
Done!

• Please fax in your attendance sheets to the FSA
  State Office.
• Please feel free to submit questions, corrections
  or comments to your state office representative.
• Any More Questions?