State Technical Committee Meeting - October 7, 2008

The entire meeting was recorded.  To access the Net replays of this call, all parties may join at:  https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PG6957086&p=BARKER&t=r

The replay will be available for 30 days, ending NOV-06-2008

Steve Barker (NRCS State Resource Conservationist) welcomed everyone to the meeting and apologized for the short notice for the meeting.  Steve had everyone introduce themselves to the group.  He then introduced Sal Palazzolo from the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Sal Palazzolo:  A request was made to have a GIS presentation by a Grad Student but the student had a schedule conflict and could not attend today’s meeting of the State Technical Committee.  Instead, Sal gave an overview of the new “Open Fields” bill that was approved as a part of the new Farm Bill.  An amount of $50 million has been authorization over the life of the Farm Bill, but we are waiting for the appropriation to find out how much Arizona will receive.  This will be a Competitive Grant for States and Tribal Governments to work with private land owners to do work with wildlife recreation with an emphasis on hunting and fishing on private property.  We will know more when the Rules come out.  Hopefully this can be worked into the State Access Program as pass-through funds.  This program will be administered by the Farm Services Agency (FSA), not the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).  The Competitive Grant process will be available to all 50 states.  More information will be coming after OMB establishes the Rules.  Financial assistance will be provided to land owners in exchange for an agreement to allow public use of private property.  The states are asking for stability in the Rules.  The $50 million figure was based on current states funding use.  Arizona ranks approximately #4 in the nation for wildlife recreation expenditures.  Currently only 21 states have access programs in place.  Other states will have to create programs to participate.

Question from Ron Bemus:  Will private property be held to the same NEPA and ESA rules as public land?  If so, who will enforce the NEPA and ESA compliance?  Who will pay for enforcement?

Answer:  We are waiting to hear on the rules from OMB.

David McKay (NRCS State Conservationist) welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked all the agencies, producers and tribal members for attending.  He appreciated everyone being there.

Farm Bill Update:  The Farm Bill was passed, but there is more work to be done by National Headquarters to produce the Rules.  The negotiation process is very long and involved.  They hope to have the Rules ready to roll out for the programs soon.  We have a strong agenda today, but I want to address any questions or concerns you have today.

As many of you know, Eric Banks, former Arizona NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for Financial Assistance Programs (ASTC-FAP) was selected for the position of State Conservationist in Kansas.  Please welcome Tom Hedt our new ASTC-FAP.  Tom has most of his staff with him here at this meeting.  Tom and his staff take care of Financial Assistance Programs locally.

In the future we will try to give more notice before the State Technical Committee meetings.

We have had the question asked, “What happens to our recommendations?”  We will let individuals know personally this year.  We need those comments and recommendations and we will act on them.  Not all recommendations will be accepted, but they are all important and appreciated.  Sometimes small things tend to get overlooked but we will try to respond to all of your suggestions in the future.

David introduced his supervisor, the NRCS Regional Assistant Chief for the West Region, Sara Schmidt.

Sara Schmidt apologized for making David McKay late for his own meeting and for missing the groups’ introductions, but encouraged everyone to meet with her during the breaks.

Sara said she grew up on a ranch but today’s challenges for farmers and ranchers are more than she has experienced.  However, it is still and exciting time to be in farming.  The 2008 Farm Bill authorized $4 billion more than the 2002 Farm Bill which is a 38 percent increase.

Sara said she is proud of the conservation work that Arizona has done under the leadership of David McKay during Fiscal Year 2008.  There were 1.4 million acres of conservation planned and 3.1 million acres of conservation applied in Arizona this year.  We expect even better things to come in FY-09.  We need to figure out how to make the Farm Bill work in Arizona.  NRCS has 12 major rules.  The Interim Final Rule will be used while receiving public comment.  Look at the rules and submit comments to the National Headquarters and be active in the rule making process.

The whole package is there in the new Farm Bill; Easements, Grassland Reserves (keep native grasslands from being tilled or otherwise developed).  There were 232 new contracts written in Arizona last year, most of them EQIP, Forestry, Air Quality, Specialty Crops, and Fuels Management.  The new Farm Bill gives us the authority to expand.  We need to prioritize.  We will have the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative as well as the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG).  The CIG has been directed to spend 90 percent of the funding in local and state areas.

Sara said she was looking forward to the days discussions and asked for any questions.

Question:  From the Nature Conservancy – The Grassland Reserves criteria in the past were very strict and therefore acreages in Arizona could not qualify.  Will the criteria be any more lenient in the future?

Answer:  The new statute has been expanded to be broader and include more types of soil and vegetation.  Funds will be distributed nationally using the resource needs calculations for allocations.  Be planning ahead for the funding.

Sal Palazzolo:  Allocations to Arizona in the past have not been a good fit for ranches that would like to have participated.

Answer:  This year there is an “acres” ceiling.

Question: From Ron Bemus – Grass Banking, would this fit under the Grassland Reserves Program or Conservation Innovation Grants?  For example – to do a prescribed burn on rangeland you would need to move cattle to another location during the burn, re-seeding and recovery period.  Perhaps environmental credit trading could be used.

David McKay:  In FY-08 we received $23 million in EQIP funding and $2 million in WHIP.  We received $5 million in July.  In 1996 we received $1 million and in 2005 $12 million.  We appreciate the work of the DC’s and Filed Offices who have had to increase their workload without and increase in staff.  There will be private land restrictions on WHIP and WRP.  Part of the new Farm Bill will focus on beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers including tribal lands.  There is a potential to do a lot of work on tribal lands.  EQIP will include forest lands.  We need to figure out how to provide service on forest lands.  Most of the work could be on tribal lands.  Energy production is another area where Arizona has a lot of potential.

Tom Hedt (NRCS, ASTC-FAP):  Tom is planning on enjoying meeting everyone and listening and learning at today’s meeting.  Tom spent the last three years in Alaska and has had experience in the states of California and Washington.  He is happy to be in Arizona and is looking forward to getting out and working with people.  Together we can make things work.  He will be reviewing the local work groups input.  The ranking of applications in Protracs has made it more difficult to address local concerns.  The Local Work Groups can help meet local priorities.  We have to meet National and State priorities and will try to incorporate local concerns.  There have been changes in the Payment Schedules.  We need good data to base decisions on.  We can use quotes and past experience.  The process will streamline things, but we need good data to base decisions on.  November 14th is a possible cut-off date for new EQIP and WHIP applications.  Forestry in EQIP is new to Arizona.

10:00 AM – Break

Tonya Norwood-Pearson (Director, Arizona Association of Conservation Districts):  Tonya was glad to see such a good turnout at today’s meeting.  She has had a good time with the local work group meetings.  She has received comments that the ranking system is not very friendly.  The Arizona Natural Resources Conservation Districts State Association Board members that we present were introduced to the group.  Other participants who could not attend participated via teleconference.  Conservation district members in attendance were introduced.  Tonya then took us through a slide presentation and read excerpts from her initial report on priorities and recommendations compiled from nine local work group meetings and zone meetings that were conducted over the past two months.  Tonya stated that the final report would be posted on the Arizona Natural Resources Conservation Districts State Association webpage.  The slide show and reports are attachments on the State Technical Committee webpage http://www.az.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/StateTechComm/state_technical_committee.html

Scott Hardger (Coconino NRCD local work group):  Although not originally on the agenda, Scott wanted to present the results of his work group meetings since they were not included in the report that Tonya gave.  The slide presentation is an attachment on the webpage http://www.az.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/StateTechComm/state_technical_committee.html

Steve Smarik (NRCS, Environmental Coordinator):  Steve provided a PowerPoint presentation of information from the WHIP subcommittee.  The presentation is attached on the webpage.  The subcommittee has prepared draft ranking worksheets that include new practices in the program.  Various agencies that are involved in wildlife management including Arizona Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bat Conservation International, make up the subcommittee.  They will be able to pool their resources for large projects.  We need to solicit information to develop a new WHIP State Plan.  National Objectives and Arizona Objectives can been seen on the PowerPoint presentation.  The ranking worksheet for WHIP was discussed.

Art Meen (NRCS, Soil Conservationist, Douglas, AZ Field Office):  Art presented a very interesting PowerPoint slide show on Variable Speed Drives for Pressure Irrigation Systems for providing energy-efficient technology for the 21st century.  There is a real opportunity for technology to make its way to agricultural use.  This technology has the potential to save energy and money in agricultural applications.  The slide show is an attachment on the webpage. 

Steve Barker:  Steve distributed the Arizona State Technical Committee Schedule of Regular Meetings for Fiscal Year 2009.  The next regular meeting will be held January 13, 2009.  The agenda and information will be posted on the webpage.  It was suggested and agreed to change the start time for the meeting from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM to allow more time for those traveling a long distance to make it to the meeting.

David McKay:  David thanked everyone for coming and thanked the ARIZONA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION DISTRICTS STATE ASSOCIATION for conducting the local work group meetings.  Suggestion on the rules and regulations for the new Farm Bill will be sent to National Headquarters.  The Districts and the Association will work together.

Question from Sal Palazzolo:  What is the timeframe for suggestions and comments?

Answer:  Comments and suggestions will be accepted until the Rules come out.  Tom Hedt is working on pulling all comments and suggestions together for ranking criteria changes.

Maryann Black (Hereford NRCD):  Some of the issues facing Cochise County are the county is half farming and half rangeland.  Cochise County has the largest number of acres of privately owned land in the State of Arizona.  The Tribes own the majority of the water rights in the State.  We need a storm water management plan adopted, rangeland improvement, and grassland restoration.  There are also illegal immigration issues including the spreading of weeds.

The meeting adjourned at 12:20 PM.

Arizona State Technical Committee

Tribal Subcommittee Meeting

October 7, 2008

The entire meeting was recorded.  To access the Net replays of this call, all parties may join at:  https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PG6957086&p=BARKER&t=r

The replay will be available for 30 days, ending NOV-06-2008

David L. McKay (NRCS, State Conservationist):  David welcomed everyone to the Tribal Subcommittee meeting.  The topics of discussion will be the Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency, the new Farm Bill Provisions as they apply to Tribal Lands and Tribal Recommendations for 2009.  The Memorandum of Understanding with the BIA was signed nationally.  The new Farm Bill has new provisions especially for forestry.

Tonya Norwood-Pearson:  Tonya was not originally on the agenda for this meeting, but she requested time to speak to the group.  Tonya relayed detailed discussions she had with the Navajo and Hopi NRCDs, read two letters of requests from Hopi Tribal members and excerpts from her initial report on the priority resource concerns.  Tonya’s initial report is on the State Technical Committee webpage and the final report will be posted to the Arizona Natural Resources Conservation Districts State Association webpage.

August Moore, Jr. of the Hopi tribe has submitted a request, on behalf of the village chief and religious leaders, for assistance in developing a sustainable living plan to include solar powered green houses to allow tribal members to continue raising traditional crops.  They would also like to include roof-top rainwater collection and barrel storage for water.

Arnold Taylor of the Hopi Department of Natural Resources has been working closely with the conservation district and this is the first he has heard of this plan.

August Moore, Jr. is speaking on behalf of the council in expressing this new idea and requests a meeting to help plan this project.

Arnold Taylor stated that the Hopi Summit will be held October 15-16, 2008, and this is where this idea should be presented and discussed.  Other villages need assistance and all villages should participate in the development of this project.  The Department of Natural Resources as well as other Departments will be at this Summit.

A discussion of priority resource concerns followed including depletion of aquifers, poor water quality and quantity, soil erosion, soil organic matter depletion, soil site stability, over grazing, plant health and vigor, noxious and invasive weeds and others.  It was suggested that if water issues could be controlled, all of the other issues could be dealt with.  The idea is to maintain the traditional way of life, but they need assistance to do this.

Ivan Joe (NRCS, District conservationist, Keams Canyon, AZ):  Dryland farming is very different from other forms of agriculture.  Can these practices be combined under existing practices rather than creating a new practice?  Can NRCS look into this?

Daric Knight (President, Arizona Natural Resources Conservation Districts State Association) The Hopi Tribe requested a change in the qualifications so they could qualify for assistance for crops for personal use.  What about transporting water for crops, livestock and wildlife?

Sherman Reed (NRCS, Farm Bill Specialist):  The only NRCS practice that might fit for this purpose is assistance for water harvesting.  Options are out there and just need to be pursued.

The cost share list needs to be reviewed and adapted to fit tribal costs or create a separate cost share list for tribes.

Elk have been getting into the cornfields and eating the corn before it matures has been an issue the last few years.  The tribes have tried various deterrents that were unsuccessful and two elk had to be killed.  Fencing was suggested as a solution, but the tribe has an open grazing policy.

David McKay:  We want to give all the tribes a chance to participate.  We need clarification on some of the recommendations presented.  What are the specific details?  How can we incorporate these ideas?

Sustenance – Some areas have good crops, others do not.  The entire reservation is not the same.  Not all areas receive the same rainfall to sustain their crops.  How do we address those ups and downs?  David would like to discuss this topic with the director of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to obtain statistics on harvest and how they can qualify for program assistance.  What programs would fit best on the reservation?

Sustenance versus subsistence farming – are they the same?  There are lots of potential treatments for invasive species and restoration of riparian areas.  NRCS would like to work with Tribal Leaders instead of individuals.  Are there other recommendations besides those Tonya presented?

Max Taylor:  Regarding the lining of water wells (all wells) – the Tribal Water Resources Department requires double casing of all wells and pipelines.  The cost of steel is often prohibitive.  Double-cased wells could be added to NRCS specs for tribal areas.

Cy Sokoll (ASTC for Operations):  Can casings be steel and plastic?

Answer:  No, the specs say steel and steel is required.

Steve Barker asked if anyone had anything to add.  What about Gila River?  Are there any needs for new irrigation?

Answer:  Lots of water.

Question:  Anything on program delivery?  Do we need more information meetings?  What is the best way to get the information out to the tribes so that the information gets to the right people at the right time?

Ivan Joe:  We need more promotion of NRCS in the local reservation media – newspaper, T.V., radio.  That would help get more people involved.

David McKay:  George Couch, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, will help with this.  If we know the right contacts and the best media format to use, we can send them the information.  In my experience, success stories are more meaningful than bureaucrats relaying the information.  We need the districts to do feature stories on past successes to get the word out.  How can we get people to apply, implement practices and get conservation on the ground?

George Couch, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist:  If there are better communication niches or networks to get the message to the people, please let me know.

Arnold Taylor:  The Hopi have a website that NRCS could use.  They also conduct two conferences each year that NRCS could attend and set up a booth to distribute information.

David McKay: Let us know what the best ways are to reach out to tribal members so we can make the best use of our information materials.

Arnold Taylor:  Who is the contact at BIA for the Memorandum of Understanding?

David McKay:  Allen Anspach, Director of the Western Regional Office of BIA, Phoenix, AZ.

There are issues regarding BIA’s authority and the confidentiality of clients.  How do we address this?

Arnold Taylor:  The Hopi Tribe has contracted out services from BIA so when you are on the Hopi, you are dealing with the Hopi people, not BIA.  Gila River still has BIA leases for home sites, etc.

David McKay:  Please review the Memorandum of Understanding enclosed in your packets today and forward any questions or concerns to us at NRCS.

Steve Smarik (NRCS, Environmental Coordinator):  Steve presented a PowerPoint slide show on the new Farm Bill provisions.  If you have PowerPoint capabilities, you may review the slide show on the State Technical Committee webpage: 

http://www.az.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/StateTechComm/state_technical_committee.html

Arnold Taylor asked for an example of a practice with environmental significance.

Steve Smarik said a Confined Animal Feeding Operation is an example of a practice with environmental significance.

Ivan Joe asked what the monetary limitation is on Conservation Innovation Grants?

Steve Smarik said there is no limit, but the average is $1 million and they require a 50 percent match, so that in itself is a limitation in most cases.

Another question posed was can you apply for WHIP, EQIP and AWEP contracts on one piece of property?

Answer:  As long as they are on separate acreages.  They cannot be for the same acreages.

Steve Barker:  EQIP allows up to 30 percent advance payment for a period of 30 days while seeking the matching funding.  The Tribes should observe and comment on this rule.  This could help the Tribes get started on their projects.

Under the new Farm Bill, 5 percent of funds are to be set aside for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The Tribes could qualify for this program.

Max Taylor:  The deferred grazing limit is set at $10,000 per year.  He would like to see that doubled or raising it to $80,000 would be even better.

Until the rules come out, all comments are welcome.

Steve Barker thanked everyone for attending or participating in the teleconference.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:45 PM.

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