fy 2007 conservation reserve program (crp). conservation reserve program topics agency roles and...

FY 2007FY 2007Conservation Reserve Program Conservation Reserve Program

(CRP)(CRP)

Conservation Reserve ProgramConservation Reserve Program

TopicsTopics•Agency Roles and ResponsibilitiesAgency Roles and Responsibilities•CRP Streamlining Procedures CRP Streamlining Procedures •TA Reimbursement ProcessTA Reimbursement Process•Next StepsNext Steps


History – FSA and NRCS have a lengthy History – FSA and NRCS have a lengthy working relationship for the delivery of the CRP. working relationship for the delivery of the CRP. This relationship has evolved over the last This relationship has evolved over the last several years and will continue to change. several years and will continue to change.

Requested by OMB, FSA and NRCS streamlined Requested by OMB, FSA and NRCS streamlined the FY 2006 apportionment process.the FY 2006 apportionment process.


History – The major drivers of these changes History – The major drivers of these changes are based both on statutory changes in how are based both on statutory changes in how CRP (TA) is funded and the administration’s CRP (TA) is funded and the administration’s initiative to;initiative to;• Control costsControl costs• Improve cost efficiency in CRP deliveryImprove cost efficiency in CRP delivery• Engage the private sector Engage the private sector

AGENCY ROLES AGENCY ROLES Remain Largely UnchangedRemain Largely Unchanged

FSAFSA – Administers all aspects of CRP – Administers all aspects of CRP NRCSNRCS – Provides TA – Provides TA Forest Service/State Forestry Agency Forest Service/State Forestry Agency – –

Provides TA on specific tree practices.Provides TA on specific tree practices. SWCD and Other PartnersSWCD and Other Partners - Promotes and - Promotes and

educates our customers on the benefits of educates our customers on the benefits of CRP, can act as a Technical Service Provider CRP, can act as a Technical Service Provider (TSP).(TSP).

AGENCY ROLES AGENCY ROLES ChangeChange

TSPTSP – FSA has a new TSP pilot in targeted – FSA has a new TSP pilot in targeted states with a goal shifting up to 5% of the CRP states with a goal shifting up to 5% of the CRP TA to TSPs.TA to TSPs.

TSPTSP – Based on the success of this pilot FSA – Based on the success of this pilot FSA may commit to expanding use and amount of may commit to expanding use and amount of TSP TA funds. TSP TA funds.

Propose Counties for General Sign-Propose Counties for General Sign-up 33 TSPup 33 TSP

Kansas - 150Kansas - 150 Nebraska - 241Nebraska - 241 North Dakota - 133North Dakota - 133 Washington – 410Washington – 410

All offers will not necessary be contracted; All offers will not necessary be contracted; NRCS may still provide TA for some of the NRCS may still provide TA for some of the offers.offers.

AGENCY ROLES AGENCY ROLES ChangeChange

Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program (EFCRP) Program (EFCRP) – Limited to states – Limited to states impacted by severe storms impacted by severe storms MississippiMississippi AlabamaAlabama LouisianaLouisiana FloridaFlorida TexasTexas North CarolinaNorth Carolina


Reimbursement for CRP TA is now being Reimbursement for CRP TA is now being determined using NRCS and FSA program determined using NRCS and FSA program workload models that estimate TA costs on a task workload models that estimate TA costs on a task basis. basis.

As program responsibilities are redefined CRP As program responsibilities are redefined CRP streamlining are also changed to reflect the streamlining are also changed to reflect the reduction in TA work and the TA costs saving. reduction in TA work and the TA costs saving.

Streamlining/EfficientiesStreamlining/Efficienties

These terms are being used to redefine how These terms are being used to redefine how NRCS will achieve our CRP responsibilities. NRCS will achieve our CRP responsibilities.

Our streamlined CRP work products mostly Our streamlined CRP work products mostly remain the same - we still develop conservation remain the same - we still develop conservation plans and assist producers to implement plans and assist producers to implement practices. What changes are the methods or practices. What changes are the methods or procedures we use to perform the work. procedures we use to perform the work.

Today’s Key PointsToday’s Key Points

• We have a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) We have a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that incorparates the streamlined TA that incorparates the streamlined TA responsibilities for CRP. responsibilities for CRP. • Within the scope of the MOA states will have Within the scope of the MOA states will have new flexibility to redefine their field staff’s CRP new flexibility to redefine their field staff’s CRP work tasks which will result in time and cost work tasks which will result in time and cost saving.saving.• States can not “over-spend” their CRP States can not “over-spend” their CRP allocationallocation


The CRP workload model includes TA work The CRP workload model includes TA work tasks that generally occur over a 2-year period;tasks that generally occur over a 2-year period;First YearFirst Year – – • Program Eligibility Determinations (CCRP)Program Eligibility Determinations (CCRP)• Planning and Contract Support Development Planning and Contract Support Development

Second YearSecond Year - -•Practice Application and ImplementationPractice Application and Implementation


Within each of the three core performance areas Within each of the three core performance areas the workload model defines specific work tasks, the workload model defines specific work tasks, based on the planning process, and assigns a based on the planning process, and assigns a weighted average amount of time per CRP weighted average amount of time per CRP contract to complete each work task.contract to complete each work task.


CRP “Streamlining” will have different impacts CRP “Streamlining” will have different impacts on the program’s different components; on the program’s different components;

• General CRPGeneral CRP• Reenrollment of Expired ContractsReenrollment of Expired Contracts• Continuous CRP/FWP/CREPContinuous CRP/FWP/CREP

““General Sign –Up”General Sign –Up”TA responsibilities remain largely the same. First year TA responsibilities remain largely the same. First year planning and contract development remain unchanged. planning and contract development remain unchanged. Through streamlining we need to become more efficient Through streamlining we need to become more efficient in how we perform;in how we perform; 1) on-site practice layout/survey and;1) on-site practice layout/survey and; 2) on-site practice check-out 2) on-site practice check-out

Question - Does every practice require on-site assistance Question - Does every practice require on-site assistance during the practice implementation phase (2during the practice implementation phase (2ndnd year)? year)?

““General Sign –Up”General Sign –Up” Some specific practices and/or some specific locations Some specific practices and/or some specific locations may retain the need for on-site assistance for these tasks. may retain the need for on-site assistance for these tasks. However, the overall streamlining goal for NRCS staff to However, the overall streamlining goal for NRCS staff to perform these tasks is a time reduction of 50%. perform these tasks is a time reduction of 50%.

Streamlining GoalStreamlining Goal - The 50% time reduction to perform - The 50% time reduction to perform these two tasks equates to an overall reduction of 6.4% in these two tasks equates to an overall reduction of 6.4% in General CRP TAGeneral CRP TA

““General Sign –Up”General Sign –Up”

Each State will be responsible to determine the Each State will be responsible to determine the specific practices/contracts where these specific practices/contracts where these reductions will be made;reductions will be made;

For Example – states with adequate offsite For Example – states with adequate offsite references (digital aerial imagery and soils data) references (digital aerial imagery and soils data) may decide that field visits are not required to may decide that field visits are not required to perform practice layouts on all contracts. Also perform practice layouts on all contracts. Also practice check out for certain practices may rely practice check out for certain practices may rely on an off-site process. on an off-site process.

““General Sign –Up”General Sign –Up”

As defined in the MOA new areas of flexibility As defined in the MOA new areas of flexibility are for; are for;

1) on-site practice layout/survey and;1) on-site practice layout/survey and;

2) on-site practice check-out 2) on-site practice check-out

All other General CRP work tasks remain All other General CRP work tasks remain unchanged. unchanged.

““Reenrollments”Reenrollments”

FSA is currently in the process of working with FSA is currently in the process of working with producers that have CRP contracts that will producers that have CRP contracts that will expire at the end of FY2007 to 2010. expire at the end of FY2007 to 2010.

Based on their process NRCS will Based on their process NRCS will onlyonly be be involved with those producers that are offered involved with those producers that are offered full reenrollment. full reenrollment.

NRCS is not involved with CRP contract NRCS is not involved with CRP contract extensions. extensions.


TA responsibilities for reenrolled contracts have TA responsibilities for reenrolled contracts have been streamlined. Subsequently, the time been streamlined. Subsequently, the time allocated to perform the work tasks in each of allocated to perform the work tasks in each of the core areas has also been significantly the core areas has also been significantly reduced. reduced.

The redefined responsibilities will reduce the The redefined responsibilities will reduce the average time required to perform Reenrolled average time required to perform Reenrolled CRP TA by 52%. CRP TA by 52%.

““Reenrollments”Reenrollments”Reenrolled contracts will need to be re-planned and Reenrolled contracts will need to be re-planned and have a new contract support document developed. All have a new contract support document developed. All of these contracts will have a previously completed on-of these contracts will have a previously completed on-site compliance review conducted by FSA.site compliance review conducted by FSA.

FSA compliance reviews will evaluate the existing FSA compliance reviews will evaluate the existing practices and cover and these will be shared with practices and cover and these will be shared with NRCS.NRCS.

The majority of these contracts will retain their existing The majority of these contracts will retain their existing CRP practices and existing vegetation. There is no CRP practices and existing vegetation. There is no financial assistance on these contracts. financial assistance on these contracts.


States will need to work with field staff to reduce States will need to work with field staff to reduce on-site planning and practice implementation for on-site planning and practice implementation for only those contracts where it’s needed.only those contracts where it’s needed.

You have the flexibility to use the FSA You have the flexibility to use the FSA compliance reviews and office references to compliance reviews and office references to minimize on-site evaluations and maximize time minimize on-site evaluations and maximize time savings.savings.


Use this flexibility so that “easy” reenrollment Use this flexibility so that “easy” reenrollment plans (those not requiring detailed practice plans (those not requiring detailed practice design, layout and check-out) when combined design, layout and check-out) when combined with “more difficult” plans will result in the with “more difficult” plans will result in the overall 52% reduction in time per contract. overall 52% reduction in time per contract.

““Continuous CRP/CREP/FWP”Continuous CRP/CREP/FWP”

The FY 2006 CRP streamlining did not changed The FY 2006 CRP streamlining did not changed our TA responsibilities in CCRP.our TA responsibilities in CCRP.

OMB and the Chief have expressed an interest OMB and the Chief have expressed an interest to concerns to identify potential streamlined to concerns to identify potential streamlined work tasks for Continuous CRP for FY 2007. work tasks for Continuous CRP for FY 2007. Within existing CRP policy field staff should Within existing CRP policy field staff should strive to become more efficient. strive to become more efficient.

CRP REIMBURSEMENTCRP REIMBURSEMENT

Our current FY2007 CRP TA request was $85 Our current FY2007 CRP TA request was $85 million. NRCS received ?million. NRCS received ?

In the President’s FY 2007 budget CRP TA is In the President’s FY 2007 budget CRP TA is $80 million. $80 million.

CRP TA Reimbursement RequestCRP TA Reimbursement Request

Acres Acres ContractsContracts

General Signup 35 (2General Signup 35 (2ndnd Year) Year) 1,500,000 1,500,000 23,500 23,500 General Signup 33 (2nd Year) General Signup 33 (2nd Year) 1,007,793 1,007,793 17,75017,750Farmable Wetlands 31 (2Farmable Wetlands 31 (2ndnd Year) 25,000 Year) 25,000 1,613 1,613 Continuous Signup 31 (2Continuous Signup 31 (2ndnd Year) 404,000 Year) 404,000 37,757 37,757Continuous Signup 34 (1Continuous Signup 34 (1stst Year) Year) 906,000 906,000 53,982 53,982Re-Enrollments 32 (1Re-Enrollments 32 (1stst Year) Year) 2,460,8352,460,835 29,154 29,154Re-Enrollments 32 (2Re-Enrollments 32 (2ndnd Year) Year) 2,741,9292,741,929 32,076 32,076

Total Reimbursement CostTotal Reimbursement Cost $131,092,632 $131,092,632

FY 2007 CRP FY 2007 CRP REIMBURSEMENT REIMBURSEMENT

We need to make the most of the current flexibility to We need to make the most of the current flexibility to more efficiently accomplish the required core CRP work more efficiently accomplish the required core CRP work tasks within the available TA allocation.tasks within the available TA allocation.

Each state needs to monitor their CRP TA allocation, do Each state needs to monitor their CRP TA allocation, do not “over-spend” your allocation.not “over-spend” your allocation.

FY 2007 CRP FY 2007 CRP REIMBURSEMENTREIMBURSEMENT

NRCS will work with OMB in the development and finalization of CRP efficiency measures to ensure that they address the concerns identified in the apportionment language.

fy 2007 conservation reserve program (crp). conservation reserve program topics agency roles and...

Documents

crp ta

crp responsibilities

crp contract

crp delivery

benefits of crp

ta costs

ta work tasks

streamlined crp work