News & Notes November 2002

Conservation Planning, by Barry Frantz, USDA - NRCS

Editor's Note: The following article has been provided by Barry Frantz, USDA - NRCS State Resource Conservationist. This information was distributed during the Agricultural Conservation Services Delivery panel discussion held on Oct. 30, 2002, as part of the PACD Fall Meeting.

A Conservation Plan is a record of a producer's decisions. Decisions in the plan reflect a change from the current management to an improved conservation system, or may just record a conservation system being carried out by the producer that is adequate with no changes necessary. A conservation planner may offer several alternatives that will achieve nearly similar conservation results and the producer chooses the practices that best meet the farming enterprise.

Much of the conservation success over the past 70 years has been due to the use of progressive planning to get a "foot in the door" with farmers. Progressive planning is the process where a landowner or operator has made some, but not all of the decisions leading to a complete farm plan. The lack of decisions may be due to inadequate funding to carryout all of the practices needed to protect resources, or it could be due to fear of making extensive changes in farming operation.

Levels of Planning (These can be combined, such as a soil conservation plan combined with a nutrient management plan):

• Resource Management System (RMS) - The minimum level of management needed to maintain or improve natural resources and address environmental protection laws and regulations applicable in Pennsylvania. An RMS is what NRCS is striving for in the planning process. The RMS does not require active management if resources are not being degraded and no legal violations are occurring.
• Soil Conservation - Soil Conservation plans address conservation and sustained use of soil. Soil conservation plans reduce sheet erosion to the tolerable soil loss level (T), address gully erosion, and address soil quality. They also meet erosion and sedimentation control requirements under Chapter 102 to prevent sediment from leaving the property.
• Erosion and Sediment (E&S) Control - E&S plans developed under Chapter 102 are designed to prevent sediment from leaving the property. Resource Management System plans and Soil Conservation plans may address the need, since sheet erosion and gully erosion are controlled as elements of these plans. However, an E&S plan may only address sediment leaving the property and may not include practices needed to keep productive topsoil on fields for sustained use.
• Alternative Conservation Systems (ACS), also known as Compliance Plans - The purpose of an Alternative Conservation System (ACS) is to treat soil erosion on cropland to achieve a reduction in soil loss. This is the minimum level of conservation treatment that a USDA program participant must implement on Highly Erodible Land (HEL) to meet USDA conservation compliance requirements. This will preserve eligibility of the person for USDA program benefits. The ACS may or may not reduce soil erosion to the tolerable soil loss level "T" and should not be assumed to meet other state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to soil erosion and sedimentation control.
• Nutrient Management Plans - Nutrient management plans address application of nutrients on cropland, hayland and pasture, but it could be any land receiving nutrients. These plans are most typically associated with handling and application of manure from livestock operations but can also be developed for applications of compost, biosolids, food wastes and conventional chemical fertilizers. Nutrient management plans are commonly developed as part of an RMS plan or in association with a soil conservation plan.

Part-time Education Specialist Joins PACD Staff

The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc., (PACD) would like to extend a warm welcome to its newest staff member -Education Specialist Yvonne Harhigh.

Yvonne joined the PACD in late September after working for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education for the past 15 years. During that time she worked in the Office of the Chancellor doing marketing communications. She has past experience as a writer and as a communications consultant and has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Penn State University.

"I've spent most of my career to date in higher education and now am looking forward to using that knowledge and experience to support educational efforts that address important environmental issues," she explained.

Yvonne is a native of the Harrisburg area and married with two children. She describes herself as a sports enthusiast - an avid volleyball player, who loves to watch football and youth sports and walks several miles daily.

Yvonne will be working part-time out of the PACD office in Harrisburg. She can be reached at 717-238-PACD (7223) ext. 17, or by e-mail at: yvonne-harhigh@pacd.org.

Page 4>