TSP Role in Water Quality Improvement

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TSP Role in Water Quality Improvement

• Dennis Pate
• Director of Planning
• September 2005

2
Who is Validus?

• For profit, limited liability company
• USDA Approved Technical Service Provider (TSP)
• Work with crop livestock producers

3
Validus Provides Technical Help

• Peer Reviewed Science/newest field trials
• Experience to assist producers from over 170
  Validus planners with over 4000 years of
  experience
• Assist in
• Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning
  (CNMPs)
• Conservation Planning
• Documenting Benchmark Conditions for CSP
• Implementing Record Keeping System
• Education / Training (MOU with NRCS)

4
What is a TSP?

• Person / Group certified by USDA
• Technically qualified
• Planning
• Practice application

5
Why Use TSPs?

• As Conservation Professional
• Technically correct
• As much conservation as possible
• As quickly as possible

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Why Use TSPs? (cont)

• As a client
• Choice Some prefer no government involvement
• Past experience
• Hearsay
• Confidentiality
• Perhaps more timely
• State of the Art technology

7
Why Use TSPs? (cont)

• As a TSP
• Technically / legally correct
• As much conservation as possible
• As fast as possible
• Profit

8
Much in Common

• More Cons. Technical Timely Best Use of
• Group Applied Quality Service Taxpayer
  Profit
• Agencies X X X X
• Clients X X X ?
• TSPs X X X X X

9
With Common Ground, Why the Slow Pace?

• Fearwhy? Getting it all done?
• New
• Cumbersome Process
• Lack of Trust
• Convinced clients they should get 100

10
Result?

• Less conservation taking a longer time for
  clients expecting quality timely assistance to
• Plan
• Apply
• Keep records

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How do we Fix It?

• COOPERATE
• COMMUNICATE
• Figure out roles Locally
• Encourage clients to do more than the minimum

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What Should TSPs Do?

• Stay qualified
• Technical
• Legal
• Help promote conservation
• Assist clients plan AHEAD of programs
• Help with records
• Encourage Clients
• Specs
• Communicate with Agency
• Other?

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Validus Example Promotion for CSP

• Get a conservation plan or CNMP
• Implement your conservation plan or CNMP
• Keep good records
• When you do this, at least some part of your
  operation will likely be eligible.

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Validus Example of Promotion for Planning

• Meet EPA storm water discharge standards (if you
  feed livestock).
• Get ready for CSP (the Conservation Security
  Program).
• Review your operation for efficiencies (Look at
  costs, reductions).
• Be a good neighbor and steward.

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What Should Agency Folks Do?

• Assure TSP is qualified
• Help promote more (not minimum) conservation
• Planning
• Application
• Records
• Follow TSP rule / Standards Specifications
• Assist in efficiency / profit

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What Should Agency Folks Do? (cont)

• Dont add requirements at every level
• Provide what you say you will when you say you
  will
• Figure out how TSP can help YOU in your job
• Communicate with TSPs

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Communication

• Think of TSP as another district
• Rules
• Legislative Contacts
• Local Needs
• Another source or TA
• How goes it?

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What Can or Should We Do Together?

• Communicate with one another
• Promote more conservation
• Promote client financial involvement in technical
  assistance FOR PLANNING
• Encourage Ag to do more than the minimum
• Conservation Planning
• Conservation Application
• Record Keeping

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Validus Example More than Minimum

• State NMP CNMP Cons. Plan
• State Regs. 4 4 4
• EPA CAFO ? 4 4
• EQIP waste facility 4 4
• CSP eligibility 4 4
• CSP higher tier 4

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Validus Example Financial Involvement

• Financial help for planning?
• --Conservation Plan
• --maybe from NRCS
• --CNMP
• --Some TSP assistance from USDA
• --Some state loans

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Validus Example Financial Involvement (cont)

• Is planning financial help needed?
• --IF
• The planning, when implemented, with good record
  keeping basically
• -- Provides an insurance policy for AFO
• storm water discharge
• --Assures CSP participation for 5-10 years

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Summary

• We have much in common

More Cons. Technical Timely Best Use of
Group Applied Quality Service Taxpayer
Profit Agencies X X X X Clients X X X ?
TSPs X X X X X
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Summary (cont)

• We have some items to overcome
• WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY--if we fail to cooperate as
  agency and private sector conservationists, we
  should be ashamed
• Will frustrated customers
• Will less conservation
• Will longer time to reach our environmental
  goal

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Questions Discussion

• Denise Pate, Director of Planning
• Validus
• 515-278-8002
• pated_at_validusservices.com