Area Two - 2007 Summary of Accomplishments

Updated 08/05/2008

J. David Stipes, Assistant State Conservationist - Field Operations
Area 2 Office

NRCS Area 2 Outreach Activities

In November 2006, NRCS employees assisted with the Kentucky Small Farmer’s Conference at Kentucky State University.

In July 2007, Area 2 assisted the Kentucky Civil Rights Committee with presentations at the Kentucky State University (KSU) “Third Thursday Event”. The program included Greenhouse Production, No-Till Tobacco, Soil Quality, and NRCS Cost Share Programs.

In September 2007, Area 2 employees made presentations at in KSU’s Biennial Field Day.

At the KSU events NRCS employees demonstrated conservation technologies and provided program outreach to over 300 small and limited resource producers representing several sectors of the Kentucky population involved in Agriculture.

Area 2 employees provided assistance for the grazing field day on the Nelson County prescribed grazing demonstration farm in September 2007. Over 150 local livestock producers attended.

Provided leadership and technical assistance during the planning and implementation of a Prescribed Grazing Demonstration farm in Henry County, Kentucky.

Area 2 had presentations from members of the KY NRCS Civil Rights Committee at each Area all personnel meeting.

Area 2 Personnel Information

Cindy Smaage joined us from NRCS in North Dakota. Cindy is headquartered in Hardinsburg, Kentucky assisting Breckinridge, Meade and other counties as a Soil Conservation Technician.

The Area 2 Office relocated from Frankfort to Lexington, Kentucky at the State Office building in October.

Area 2 Program Activities

(RC&D) Approximately five WRP and wetland mitigation sites are being worked on which involve hydrology restoration, wetland creation and other practices that address local resource concerns while providing opportunities for environmental credits.

(RC&D) Area 2 Coordinators are assisting councils with projects involving Farmland Preservation, Water Quality, Animal By-Product Management, Nutrient Management, Prescribed Grazing Techniques and other important issues.

(RC&D) –In January 2007, Carolyn Oldfield was appointed as the “acting” RC&D Coordinator for the Eagle RC&D Council upon the retirement of Theoda Franklin.

(EQIP) –An area wide effort was made to cancel, modify or complete all 1996 EQIP contacts and to reduce a back log of subsequent year contracts. In February 2007, the area staff conducted a workshop at the Area 2 office in Frankfort for all DC’s and RC’s for the purpose of providing training regarding EQIP contract status reviews, modifications and cancellations. The staff provided “draft” letters for DC’s to send to contract participants that more efficiently communicated scheduled practices and required performance time. They were also encouraged to use tracking sheets to better document EQIP status reviews.

(EQIP) During the 2007 ranking period, 728 EQIP applications were ranked in Area 2. Out of these 728, 539 applications were eligible and 387 applications were approved for funding/contracting which resulted in an acceptance rate of 72%. During the month of April 2007, the Area 2 EQIP contract review team (consisting of the RC’s, Mary Ann Sharp, Sam Miller and Adam Jones) quality reviewed each contract prior to approval.

(EQIP) In the fall of 2006 and spring of 2007 an EQIP response team began functioning in Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Owen, Grant, Franklin, Scott and Anderson Counties. This team consisted of a Resource Conservationist Team Leader (Will Turner), District Conservationists (Ed Thompson, Paul Veech, Peggy Jackson and Steve Ewalt) Soil Conservation Technician (Bob Ricks) and 80-20 Technician (Kirsten Anderson) and Engineering Staff (Bill Thomas and Martha Marsh). This team is currently inventorying the EQIP workload in these counties and staff assignments are being made to accomplish the priorities identified. The team members will change slightly due to the KY NRCS Office Re-Structuring Plan.

(WRP) - 2 easements in closing process, 4 contracts in installation. A WRP team is functioning in Area 2 composed of Glen Abney (RC/Team Leader), John Overing (RC&D Coordinator), Wes Little (KDFWR Liaison), District Conservationist’s, Resource Conservationists, Conservation Technicians and other KDFWR liaison’s. This team is assisting DC’s to complete all phases of planning and implementation. This team has developed a WRP planning/contracting tracking system for the area to ensure that all program requirements are implemented consistently.

(WRP) Area 2 hosted three WRP field tours on May 8 and May 10, 2007 in Lincoln, Marion and Nelson Counties. These tours were a partnership effort with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), the KY Heritage RC&D, the Lincoln, Marion and Nelson County Conservation Districts, and the Soil and Water Conservation Society. These tours showcased WRP planning and implementation strategies and proved effective in addressing the program goals and objectives at the local, state and federal levels as well as increasing program applications.

(GRP) – Completed closing of the final easement (Franklin County) in the fall of 2006. During 2007 all GRP contracts were monitored in accordance with program policies.

(CSP) – Mary Ann Sharp, DC Danville is serving as the lead CSP contact person in the area. Mary Ann helped to facilitate implementation and payment processes involving approved CSP contracts. During September 2007 all CSP contracts were reviewed and payments were processed in accordance with program policies.

(WHIP) – Quality reviewed 200 pre-2003 existing contracts and processed 34 new 2007 contracts.

(FRPP) – Employees in Fayette, Scott, Madison and other counties are assisting sponsors to leverage funds through the federal programs and PACE for the protection of Farm Lands. Carolyn Oldfield, RC&D Coordinator facilitated Farmland Preservation Workshops in those towns. As a result of these workshops local communities are enhancing preservation efforts which will hopefully increase program participation.


(CRP)- Area 2 personnel attended a CREP training workshop in Cave City during the week of January 23, 2007 and a CREP field Day on August 23, 2007. A CREP team consisting of USDA personnel along with state and local employees is functioning well in Area 2. Jason Miller, SC in Russell County 5 is serving as the team leader. This team is proving to be a very effective management tool to address workload spikes in the designated CREP counties which is a result of project area expansion, land eligibility changes and rental rate increases. CREP workload impacts NRCS operations in Taylor, Green, Russell and Grayson Counties.

(Watershed/PL-566) – The Area 2 office is providing overall coordination during the operation and maintenance reviews of existing structures and with the completion of annual/final status reviews. Area 2 staff are assisting sponsors in the Plum Creek Watershed in their response to an intense situation created by a change in the Flood Hazard Classification. The construction process is currently underway.

(State Cost-Share) During 2007, approximately 680 new practices were approved for funding in the Area 2 counties. .

Area 2 Performance Goal Accomplishments

In Area 2 at the end of FY07, the percentage accomplishment in Area-Wide Performance Goals was as follows: CTA-Gen Con Plans Written=114%, Cropland w/Cons. Applied Soil Quality=133%, Land w/Cons. Applied Water Quality=101%, CNMP Written=96%, CNMP Applied=113%, Grazing/Forest Applied=273% and N.Fed. Applied Fish/Wildlife Hab.=711%.

All but 3 of the Area Wide goals assigned to Area 2 were above 90% completion.
 

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