Conservation Planning and Program Sign-up

Agriculture or forest landowners in New Hampshire interested in protecting, conserving, or restoring the natural resources on their property through technical or financial assistance, or a conservation easement, should contact their local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office to begin the conservation planning process.  Applications for Farm Bill programs may be submitted at any time year-round; however, there are certain cut-off ranking dates.  If you miss a ranking cut-off date, your application may be retained, at your request, and reviewed for the next cut-off date.   In order for your application to be considered for funding, landowners/operators must submit a complete application and have cleared all eligibility requirements to be considered in the next round of ranking.  The last ranking date was October 29, 2010.  The next general ranking date will likely be next October.  However, there may be other ranking dates specific to certain programs, like CSP, throughout the year.

“NRCS conservation programs help farmers and forest landowners promote production and environmental quality on farm and forest land, address water quality and quantity challenges, and protect valuable wetland ecosystems, agricultural lands, and wildlife habitat,” said Rick Ellsmore, NRCS State Conservationist for New Hampshire. “NRCS conservation professionals will discuss with you your conservation objectives, help you identify resource concerns, and suggest options and alternatives for treatment. We will also identify conservation programs that may provide you with financial assistance for the implementation of many conservation practices.”

Examples of eligible lands in New Hampshire include privately owned:

·         Agricultural land

·         Grasslands

·         Non-industrial forest lands

·         Freshwater wetlands and salt marshes

·         Coastal habitats, and rivers and streams 
 

Emphasis areas in New Hampshire are:


·         Livestock and grazing issues

·         Cropland – including orchards, specialty crops, high tunnel and greenhouse operations

·         Forestry

·         Organic Agriculture  

·         Fish and Wildlife Habitat – including native pollinator habitat

·         Energy Conservation

The 2008 Farm Bill provides higher payments for land owners who qualify as beginning farmers, limited resource producers, or who are “socially disadvantaged” because they belong to racial or ethnic groups that have historically been subjected to prejudice. Such landowners can receive up to 90 percent of the costs associated with planning and implementing conservation measures and up to 30 percent of expected costs may be provided in advance.

Financial Assistance Programs: 

 ·         Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) – This program provides assistance to landowners who want to improve fish and wildlife habitat or restore natural ecosystems on their land.  NRCS provides compensation for part of the cost of establishing and maintaining conservation practices that are necessary for enhancing and improving wildlife habitat and restoring natural ecosystems.  A list of practices is available on the NRCS New Hampshire website.

·         Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) – Through EQIP, farmers may receive financial and technical help with structural and management conservation practices on agricultural and forest land. EQIP in New Hampshire offers financial assistance to help off-set the costs of eligible conservation practices. Payments may also be made to encourage a farmer to adopt land management practices, such as nutrient management, manure management, integrated pest management, or wildlife habitat management. Lists of practices are available on the NRCS New Hampshire website for general, organic, and seasonal high tunnels.

·         Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA) – This program provides assistance to agricultural producers to voluntarily address issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operations.  Producers may construct or improve water management structures or irrigation structures; plant trees for windbreaks or improve water quality; and mitigate risk through production diversification or resource conservation practices, including soil erosion control, integrated pest management, or transition to organic farming.  A list of practices is available on the NRCS New Hampshire website.

·         Some newer practices include:

    1.  Maple:  pan preheaters and reverse osmosis systems
    2.  Integrated Pest Management:  Deer fencing, bird netting
    3.  Seasonal High Tunnels for Crops

Easement Programs:

·         Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) – This easement program provides funding to purchase conservation easements and complete wetland restorations; offering the opportunity for landowners to voluntarily protect, restore and enhance wetlands on their property.  To be eligible, the landowner must have owned the land for at least seven years prior to enrolling the land in the program, with some exceptions.  Additionally, the land must demonstrate resource concerns (such as degraded wetland functions and values) that are restorable and will enhance wildlife benefits. 

The program offers landowners two options: permanent easements and restoration cost-share agreements of a minimum 10-year duration.  For permanent easements, the USDA pays 100 percent of the easement and the costs of restoring the wetland.  For a 10 year restoration cost-share agreement to re-establish degraded or lost wetland habitat, the USDA pays 75 percent of the cost of the restoration activity. This 10-year agreement does not place an easement on the property. The landowner provides the restoration site without reimbursement.

·         Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) – This program provides matching funds to purchase conservation easements to keep productive farm and ranch land in agricultural uses.  USDA provides funds to State, Tribal, or local governments and non-governmental organizations (eligible entities) to acquire conservation easements from landowners.  USDA provides up to 50 percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation easement.  The eligible entities must provide at least half of the appraised fair market value of the conservation easement.

To qualify, the land must have fifty percent prime, unique, or important farmland soils; have a historic or archeological resource; or have land that supports the policy of a State or local farm and ranch land protection program.  The land must also: be part of a pending offer from a State, tribe, or local farmland protection program; be privately owned; have a conservation plan; be large enough to sustain agricultural production; be accessible to markets for what the land produces; have adequate infrastructure and agricultural support services; and have surrounding parcels of land that can support long-term sustainable agricultural production. 

·       Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) – This program is a voluntary conservation program that emphasizes support for working grazing operations, enhancement of plant and animal biodiversity, and protection of grassland under threat of conversion to other uses.  Participants voluntarily limit future development and cropping uses of the land while retaining the right to conduct common grazing practices and operations related to the production of forage and seeding, subject to certain restrictions during nesting seasons of bird species that are in significant decline or are protected under Federal or State law. A grazing management plan is required for participants.  The program offers permanent conservation easements, rental cost-share agreements and ten, fifteen or twenty-year rental contracts.

NRCS has offices in Concord, Conway, Epping, Lancaster, Milford, Orford, and Walpole, which work with local conservation districts and other partners to serve farmers and landowners throughout the state.  Office telephone numbers are:

Concord:          603-223-6023

Conway:          603-447-2771

Epping:            603-679-1587

Lancaster:        603-788-4651

Milford:            603-673-2409

Orford:            603-353-4651

Walpole:          603-756-2988

 Contact your local office for more information. General program information is available on the NRCS New Hampshire website at www.nh.nrcs.usda.gov.   

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