Responsibilities of the STC Provide information analysis recommendations to USDA on conservation priorities and criteria for natural resources conservation activities and programs including application and funding ID: 1006487
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1. 8-26-2021State Technical Committee
2. Responsibilities of the STCProvide information, analysis, recommendations to USDA on conservation priorities and criteria for natural resources conservation activities and programs, including application and funding Identify emerging natural resource concerns and program needsRecommend conservation practice standards and specificationsRecommend State and national program policy based on resource data
3. Responsibilities (Cont)Review activities of the local working groups to ensure State priorities are being addressed locallyMake recommendations to the State Conservationist on requests and recommendations from local working groupsAssist NRCS with public outreach and information efforts and identify educational and producers’ training needsRecommendations Due to NRCS State Office by October 21,2021
4. Local Work Group(LWG)
5. Local Work Group LWG meetings must be conducted by October 15,2021LWG proposals due October 22, 2021When LWG meeting is scheduled, we will post on state website.
6. Proposed Application Deadlines
7. Price SpikesKenneth Branch
8. Price SpikesNHQ Conducted a review of all practicesA lot of review and analysis went into this effort.EconomicStatutoryRegulatoryPolicyCoronavirus Agriculture Relief Payments (CARP)EQIP and possibly RCPP-EQIPThis is a BIG deal, and it is critical that it is implemented correctly and equitably.
9. Agenda: Coronavirus Ag Relief Payments (CARP)1.General Eligibility Requirements2.Price Spikes –Dollar AmountPractices InstalledPractices to be InstalledEligible Contracts3.Payment Rates– Does not apply to NMAll practices in NM are at the highest payment rate allowed by policy75% and 90% (HU)
10. Price Spikes: General Eligibility Requirements1.Seven Conservation Practices Eligible for CARP367 –Roofs and Covers443 –Irrigation System, Surface and Subsurface584 –Channel Bed Stabilization575 –Trails and Walkways430 –Irrigation Pipeline468 –Lined Waterway or Outlet516 –Livestock Pipeline2.Practices Installed in CY-2021 Only!Installed means checked out (even if deficient)Tech Notes and Documentation to play a major role!
11. Price Spikes: General Eligibility Requirements3. Minimum Change = $300 (CARP payment not practice payment) The CARP payment will be in addition to the payment already included in the contract.Can be Cumulative for CY(e.g. multiple pipeline reaches)CARP RATE is different for each practice scenarioCARP calculator will be used to determine payment amount
12. Price Spikes: Practices Already Installed in CY-215. Contract Management – Practices Already InstalledOffice will receive a list from State Office of practices installedOffices will determine if CARP eligibleModify to add Coronavirus Agricultural Relief Payment (CARP) - Contract Item Number (CIN)Secure participant signature on the 1156 when > $1,000Secure participant signature on the 1245Offices will be providing a letter to send to producers.
13. Price Spikes: Practices To Be Installed in CY-216. Contract Management – Practices To Be InstalledModify if “Check-Out” is completed by 12-31-21 (even if “check—out” identifies deficiencies)If deficiencies are ID’d, CARP will not be paid until the CIN meets standards and specs.Modify to add CARP – CINSecure participant signature when > $1,000Participant signature on the 1245 will depend on timing of the CARP in relation to original practice payment
14. Price Spikes: Eligible Contracts7. 2017 and later contracts:Active – Follow Guidance in previous slidesCompleted – Follow Guidance previous slidesExpired – Will Require Special Payment8. 2016 and Prior ContractsWill require a special payment9. Cancelled – Not Eligible10. Terminated – Not Eligible
15. Price Spikes: Cautions!!11. Contract Limits – cannot be waived12. Payment Limits – cannot be waived
16. CARP- FAQ’s Question: Is there any consideration to added to the practices eligible for Price Spike payments? Answer: The analysis looked at all practices and payment rates, and while the cost may have increased significantly, the overall impact to the estimated payment rates was not high enough to make the list.
17. Question: Can CARP be added regardless of the eligible practice plan date? Can the plan date in Protracts be before CY21 or beyond CY21? Answer: The CARP will be based on the date of practice completion, not the planned date.
18. RCPP- EQIP and CARPStates may provide CARP assistance to participants with RCPP-EQIP contracts provided the following criteria can be met: 1. The RCPP project has sufficient remaining (unobligated) FA funds available to support the provision of CARP assistance to all eligible participants. States should not expect an additional allocation from NHQ for either the 7 “required” practices or the 18 “optional” practices for RCPP contracts. 2. The STC (State Conservationist) confirms with the project sponsor that the additional payment is needed/desired to help meet the project’s objectives. 3. The STC confirms that the original RCPP project deliverables will not be compromised by repurposing of unobligated FA (e.g. if RCPP-EQIP deliverables are acre specific, acres enrolled would not be reduced by use of some FA funds for CARP). NM will issue a State bulletin that clearly identifies which RCPP-EQIP project contracts are eligible to receive a CARP. In the meantime, do not process CARP’s for RCPP-EQIP
19. Questions?