Laurie Riley and Karl Christians

Missouri-Madison Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Addendum meeting

DNRC Building Conference Room, Helena

February 25 2011, 9:00 a.m.

MRCDC has been spearheading amendments to the $50,000,000 Missouri-Madison CREP since 2006 in order to make the program more attractive to producers in Blaine, Broadwater, Cascade, Choteau, Fergus, Gallatin, Lewis & Clark, Madison, and Phillips Counties.

Participants included:

• Laurie Riley, MRCDC
• Karl Christians, DNRC and MRCDC
• Rob Hazelwood, PPL Montana
• Valeria Bickwermert, FSA
• Tim Ouellette, NRCS and MRCDC
• Ron Nadwornick, NRCS
• Steve Leathe, PPL Montana (Fish Biologist)

With representation from FSA, NRCS, State of MT, PPL Montana, and Conservation Districts, we reached agreement on an addendum that makes the following changes:

·         In CP22 (Riparian Buffer) and CP29 (Marginal Pastureland Wildlife Habitat Buffer) the  maximum buffer width was increased to 1,320 feet from the top of the streambank within the historic floodplain.

·         In CP 22 practice provisions allow natural regeneration, provided that NRCS or TSP with technical advisory assistance determines that under normal conditions appropriate cover will be established within 5 years of CRP-1 effective date.  Provided that all eligibility requirements are met, at the end of and/or during the 5-year establishment period, cost-share will be allowed for practices to restore and enhance missing components of the approved cover objectives, as necessary.  At the end of and/or during the 5-year establishment period, cost-share will be allowed for practices to enhance missing components of the approved wildlife habitat.

·         Short term grazing is allowed as a management activity for marginal pastureland practices.   Short term grazing may be allowed at most 2 to 3 times during a 15 year contract.  There is no cost-share for grazing.

·       For marginal pastureland within the flood plain area adjacent to seasonal streams where natural vegetation is primarily a mixture of grasses, shrubs, and forbs and is otherwise eligible according to Farm Service Agency Handbook 2-CRP, the base soil rental rate shall be the posted marginal pastureland rates

·       For marginal pastureland within the flood plain area adjacent to perennial stream or permanent water body where natural vegetation is primarily a mixture of grasses, shrubs, and forbs and is otherwise eligible according to Farm Service Agency Handbook 2-CRP, the base soil rental rate shall be $50 per acre.

·       For marginal pastureland within the flood plain area adjacent to both seasonal and perennial streams or permanent water body where natural vegetation is primarily a mixture of grasses, shrubs, and forbs and is otherwise eligible according to Farm Service Agency Handbook 2-CRP, the rate is 40 percent.

·         Make a one-time Signing Iincentive Payment (SIP) for land enrolled in practices consistent with continuous CRP enrollments, under the terms of the Farm Service Agency Handbook 2-CRP.  This payment will be considered to be, and treated as, a rental payment for payment limitation purposes and all other purposes.

·         Make a one-time Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) for practices consistent with continuous CRP enrollments under the terms of the Farm Service Agency Handbook 2-CRP.  This payment will be considered to be, and treated as, a rental payment for payment limitation purposes and all other purposes.

The Council will write a letter of support to Bruce nelson, Director, USDA Farm Service Agency, Bozeman.

The meeting participants will cooperate in making presentations of the CREP to the conservations districts in the counties involved in a coordinated effort to solicit more producer participation.