FR Doc 05-5895

[Federal Register: March 25, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 57)]
[Notices]
[Page 15277-15283]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25mr05-20]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Conservation Security Program

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service and Commodity Credit
Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the sign-up CSP-05-01 for the
Conservation Security Program (CSP). This sign-up will be open from
March 28, 2005, through May 27, 2005, in selected 8-digit watersheds in
all 50 States and the Caribbean.

DATES: The administrative actions announced in the notice are effective
on March 25, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Derickson, Branch Chief--
Stewardship Programs, Financial Assistance Programs Division, NRCS,
P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013-2890, telephone: (202) 720-1845;
fax: (202) 720-4265. Submit e-mail to: craig.derickson@usda.gov,
Attention: Conservation Security Program.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In an Interim Final Rule published
concurrent with this notice, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) established the implementing regulations for
Conservation Security Program (CSP). The CSP is a voluntary program
administered by NRCS using authorities and funds of the Commodity
Credit Corporation, that provides financial and technical assistance to
producers who advance the conservation and improvement of soil, water,
air, energy, plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes on
Tribal and private working lands.
This document announces the CSP-05-01 sign-up that will be from
March 28, 2005, through May 27, 2005, in selected 8-digit watersheds in
all 50 States and the Caribbean, which can be viewed at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/2005_CSP_WS/index.html.
These

watersheds were selected using the process set forth in the May 4,
2004, notice to the Federal Register. In addition to other data
sources, this process used National Resources Inventory data to assess
land use, agricultural input intensity, and historic conservation
stewardship in watersheds nationwide. NRCS State Conservationists
recommended a list of potential watersheds after gaining advice from
the State Technical Committees. The final selection of FY

[[Page 15278]]

2005 watersheds was announced by the Secretary of Agriculture on
November 1, 2004. NRCS has decided to allow limited sign-up in the 2004
sign-up watersheds to bring the total eligible watersheds to 220. The
sign-up will only include those producers who do not have an existing
CSP contract.
To be eligible for CSP, a majority of the agricultural operation
must be within the limits of one of the selected watersheds.
Applications which meet the minimum requirements as set forth in the
interim final rule (listed below) will be placed in enrollment
categories for funding consideration. Categories will be funded in
order from A through E until funds are exhausted. If funds are not
available to fund an entire category, then the applications will fall
into subcategories and funded in order until funds are exhausted.
Applicants can submit only one application for this sign-up.
Participants in an existing CSP contract are not eligible to be an
applicant or a participant on more than one contract. Therefore anyone
receiving a payment from an existing CSP contract is not eligible to
apply for this sign-up or to receive payment in the form of a share
from any new contract resulting from this sign-up.
Producers should begin the application process by filling out a
self-assessment and then to determine if they meet the basic
qualification for CSP. Self-assessment workbooks are available in hard
copy at USDA Service Centers within the watersheds, and electronically
for download or an interactive Web site linked from http: //
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/2005_CSP_WS/index.html. The self-

assessment workbook includes a benchmark inventory where the applicant
documents the conservation practices and activities that are on going
on their operation. This benchmark inventory serves as the basis for
the stewardship plan. Once the producer determines that they meet the
minimum requirements for CSP, as outlined in the workbook, they should
make an appointment for an interview to discuss their application with
the NRCS local staff.
In order to apply, applicants must submit:
1. A completed self-assessment workbook, including the benchmark
inventory;
2. Documentation for calendar years 2003 and 2004 to show the
stewardship completed including fertilizer, nutrient, and pesticide
application schedules, tillage, and grazing schedules if applicable.
3. Completed CCC-1200 available through the self-assessment online
guide, Web site, and any USDA Service Center.
Applicants are encouraged to attend preliminary workshops, which
will be announced locally, the basic qualifications will be explained,
and assistance provided to understand the self-assessment workbook and
benchmark inventory.
CSP is offered at three tiers of participation. Some payments are
adjusted based on the tier, and some payments are tier-neutral. See
payment information below.

Minimum Tier Eligibility and Contract Requirements

The following are the minimum tier eligibility and contract
requirements:
CSP Tier I--the benchmark condition inventory demonstrates to the
satisfaction of NRCS that the applicant has addressed the nationally
significant resource concerns of water quality and soil quality to the
minimum level of treatment for any eligible landuse on part of the
agricultural operation. Only the acreage meeting such requirements is
eligible for stewardship and existing practice payments in CSP.
CSP Tier II--the benchmark condition inventory demonstrates to the
satisfaction of NRCS that the applicant has addressed the nationally
significant resource concerns of water quality and soil quality to the
minimum level of treatment for all eligible land uses on the entire
agricultural operation. Additionally, the applicant must agree to
address another significant resource concern applicable to their
watershed to be completed by the end of the contract period. If the
applicable resource concern is already addressed or does not pertain to
the operation, then this requirement is waived.
CSP Tier III--the benchmark condition inventory demonstrates to the
satisfaction of NRCS that the applicant has addressed all of the
existing resource concerns listed in Section III of the NRCS Field
Office Technical Guide (FOTG) with a resource management system that
meets the minimum level of treatment for all eligible land uses on the
entire agricultural operation.

Delineation of the Agriculture Operation

Delineating an agriculture operation for CSP is an important part
in determining the Tier of the contract, stewardship payments, and the
required level of conservation treatment needed for participation. The
applicant will delineate the agriculture operation to include all
agricultural lands, and other lands such as farmstead, feedlots, and
headquarters and incidental forestlands, under the control of the
participant and constituting a cohesive management unit that is
operated with equipment, labor, accounting system, and management that
is substantially separate from any other. In delineating the
agriculture operation, Farm Service Agency farm boundaries may be used.
If farm boundaries are used in the application, the entire farm area
must be included within the delineation. An applicant may offer one
farm or aggregate farms into one agriculture operation.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to participate in CSP, the applicants must meet the
requirements for eligible applicants, the land offered under contract
must meet the definition of eligible land, and the application must
meet the conservation standards for that land as described below.

Eligible Applicants

To be eligible to participate, an applicant must:
(1) Be in compliance with the highly erodible land and wetland
conservation provisions.
(2) Meet the Adjusted Gross Income requirements.
(3) Show control of the land for the life of the proposed contract
period by providing NRCS with either written evidence or assurance of
control from the landowner. In the case of land allotted by the Bureau
of Indian Affairs (BIA) or Tribal land, there is considered to be
sufficient assurance of control.
(4) Share in risk of producing any crop or livestock and be
entitled to share in the crop or livestock available for marketing from
the agriculture operation. Landlords and owners are ineligible to
submit an application for exclusively cash rented agriculture
operations.
(5) Complete a benchmark condition inventory for the entire
agricultural operation or the portion being enrolled in accordance with
Sec. 1469.7(a) in the Interim Final Rule;
(6) Supply information, as required by NRCS, to determine
eligibility for the program; including but not limited to, information
related to eligibility criteria in this sign-up announcement; and
information to verify the applicant's status as a beginning or limited
resource farmer or rancher if applicable.

Eligible Land

To be eligible for enrollment in CSP, land must be:
(1) Private agricultural land;

[[Page 15279]]

(2) Private non-industrial forested land that is an incidental part
of the agriculture operation (limited to up to ten percent of the
contract acres);
(3) Agricultural land that is Tribal, allotted, or Indian trust
land;
(4) Other incidental parcels (limited to up to ten percent of the
contract acres), as determined by NRCS, which may include, but are not
limited to, land within the bounds of working agricultural land or
small adjacent areas (such as center pivot corners, linear practices,
field borders, turn rows, intermingled small wet areas or riparian
areas); or
(5) Other land on which NRCS determines that conservation treatment
will contribute to an improvement in an identified natural resource
concern, including areas outside the boundary of the agricultural land
or enrolled parcel such as farmsteads, ranch sites, barnyards,
feedlots, equipment storage areas, material handling facilities, and
other such developed areas (limited to up to ten percent of the
contract acres). Other land must be treated in Tier III contracts.

Land Not Eligible for Enrollment in CSP

The following lands are ineligible for enrollment in CSP:
(1) Land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, the Wetlands
Reserve Program, or the Grassland Reserve Program; and
(2) Public land including land owned by a Federal, State, or local
unit of government.
Land referred to above may not receive CSP payments, but the
conservation work on this land may be used to determine if an applicant
meets eligibility criteria for the agricultural operation and may be
described in the Conservation Stewardship Plan.

Land Not Eligible for Any Payment Component in CSP

Land that is used for crop production after May 13, 2002, that had
not been planted, considered to be planted, or devoted to crop
production, as determined by NRCS, for at least 4 of the 6 years
preceding May 13, 2002, is not eligible for any payment component in
CSP.

Conservation Standards for Tier I and Tier II

The following conservation standards apply for Tier I and Tier II:
1. The minimum level of treatment on cropland;
i. The minimum level of treatment for soil quality on cropland is
considered achieved when the Soil Conditioning Index is positive; and
ii. The minimum level of treatment for water quality on cropland is
considered achieved if the benchmark inventory indicates that the
current level of treatment addresses the risks that nutrients,
pesticides, sediment, and salinity present to water quality by meeting
or exceeding the quality criteria for the specific resource concerns of
nutrients, pesticides, sediment and salinity for surface water and
nutrients, pesticides and salinity for ground water, if applicable.
2. The minimum level of treatment on pastureland and rangelands for
Tier I and Tier II is vegetation and animal management, which enhances
the soil resource by following a grazing management plan that provides
for: a forage-animal balance, proper livestock distribution, timing of
use, and managing livestock access to water courses.

Conservation Standards for Tier III

The minimum level of treatment for Tier III on any eligible landuse
is:
1. Assuring all that riparian corridors, including streams and
natural drainages, within the agricultural operation are buffered to
restore, protect, or enhance riparian resources. Riparian corridors, as
appropriate, will be managed or designed to intercept sediment,
nutrients, pesticides, and other materials in surface runoff; reduce
nutrients and other pollutants in shallow subsurface water flow; lower
water temperature; and provide litter fall or structural components for
habitat complexity or to slow out-of-bank floods; and
2. Meeting the quality criteria for the local NRCS FOTG for all
existing resource concerns with these exceptions:
(A) The minimum requirement for soil quality on cropland is
considered achieved when the Soil Conditioning Index value is positive;
(B) The minimum requirement for water quantity--irrigation water
management on cropland or pastureland is considered achieved when the
current level of treatment and management for the system results in a
water use index value of at least 50; and
(C) The minimum requirement for wildlife is considered achieved
when the current level of treatment and management for the system
results in an index value of at least 0.5 of the habitat potential
using a general or species specific habitat assessment guide.

CSP Contract Payments and Limits

CSP contract payments include one or more of the following
components subject to the described limits:
An annual per acre stewardship component for the benchmark
conservation treatment. This component is calculated separately for
each land use by multiplying the number of acres times the tier factor
(0.05 for Tier I, 0.10 for Tier II, and 0.15 for Tier III) times the
stewardship payment rate established for the watershed times the tier
reduction factor (0.25 for Tier I and 0.50 for Tier II, and 0.75 for
Tier III).
An annual existing practice component for maintaining
existing conservation practices. Existing practice payments will be
calculated as a flat rate of 25 percent of the stewardship payment.
A new practice component for additional practices on the
watershed specific list. New practice payments for limited resource
farmers and beginning farmers will be made at not more than 65 percent
cost-share rate. New practice payments for all other contracts will be
made at not more than a 50 percent cost-share rate. All new practice
payments are limited to a $10,000 cumulative total for the contract.
An annual enhancement component for exceptional
conservation effort and additional conservation practices or activities
that provide increased resource benefits beyond the required
conservation standard noted above. This payment will be calculated at a
variable payment rate for enhancement activities that are part of the
benchmark inventory. The annual enhancement payment for the first
contract year for the enhancements documented in the benchmark
inventory will be calculated at a rate initiating at 150 percent for
the 2005 contract year and then at a declining rate for the remainder
of the contract of 90 percent for 2006, 70 percent for 2007, 50 percent
for 2008, 30 percent for 2009, 10 percent for 2010 and zero after 2010.
This is intended to provide contract capacity to add additional
enhancements in the out-years and to encourage participants to make
continuous improvements to their operation. In order to maintain the
same level of payment over the life of the contract, the participant
may add additional enhancement activities of their choice in later
years. The additional enhancements will be paid at a flat rate of 100
percent. The total of all enhancement payments in any one year will not
exceed $13,750 for Tier I, $21,875 for Tier II, and $28,125 for Tier
III annually. The NRCS Chief may allow for special enhancements for
producer-based studies and assessments on a case-by-case watershed
basis.
An advance enhancement payment is available in the FY 2005
sign-up. The

[[Page 15280]]

advance enhancement payment is available to contracts with an initial
enhancement payment as determined in the benchmark inventory and
interview. The advance enhancement payment would shift a portion of
that annual enhancement payment amount into the first-year payment and
deduct it from the following years' payments.
Tier I contracts are for a five-year duration. Tier II and Tier III
contracts are for a five- to 10-year duration at the option of the
participant. Participants who move from Tier I to Tier II or III may
increase their contract length to up to ten years from the original
contract date.
Total annual maximum contract payment limits are $20,000 for Tier
I, $35,000 for Tier II, and $45,000 for Tier III, including any advance
enhancement payment.
The payment components are tailored for the selected watersheds.
For more details, call or visit the local USDA Service Center, or view
on the Web at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/2005_CSP_WS/index.html
.

Enhancement Components Available in This Sign-up

The following are the enhancement components available this sign-
up:
1. Additional conservation treatment above the quality criteria for
soil quality, nutrient management, pest management, irrigation water
management, grazing, air and energy management; and
2. Addressing locally identified conservation needs shown on the
watershed specific enhancement lists.
The payment components are tailored for the selected watersheds.
For more details, call or visit the local USDA Service Center, or view
on the Web at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/2005_CSP_WS/index.html
.

The Administration budget projects that between 12,000 and 13,000
contracts will be available under this sign-up, with roughly 45 percent
of those in Tier I, 45 percent in Tier II, and 10 percent in Tier III.

CSP Enrollment Categories and Subcategories

Technical adjustments to the enrollment categories were made based
on field testing of the criteria published in a previous notice. This
notice provides updated enrollment category criteria.
The CSP will fund the enrollment categories A through E in
alphabetical order (Attachment 1). If an enrollment category
cannot be completely funded, then subcategories will be funded in the
following order:
1. Applicant is a limited resource producer;
2. Applicant is a participant in an on-going monitoring program;
3. Agricultural operation in a designated water conservation area
or aquifer zone;
4. Agricultural operation in a designated drought area;
5. Agricultural operation in a designated water quality area, such
as designated watersheds with Total Maximum Daily Loading (TMDL) limits
with a priority on pesticides;
6. Agricultural operation in a designated water quality area, such
as designated watersheds with TMDL limits with a priority on nutrients;
7. Agricultural operation in a designated water quality area, such
as designated watersheds with TMDL limits with a priority on sediment;
8. Agricultural operation in a designated non-attainment area for
air quality or other local or regionally designated air quality zones;
9. Agricultural operation in a designated area for threatened and
endangered species habitat creation and protection;
10. Participating in an ongoing watersheds plan or conservation
project;
11. Agricultural operation is intermingled with public land where
there is no way to distinguish the public from the private land for
management purposes; and
12. Other applications.
Designated means ``officially assigned a priority by a Federal,
State, or local unit of government'' prior to this notice. If a
subcategory cannot be fully funded, applicants will be offered the FY
2005 CSP contract payment on a prorated basis.

Signed in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2005.
Bruce I. Knight,
Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation, Chief, Natural Resources
Conservation Service.

2005 CSP Enrollment Categories--Criteria by Land Use and Category

Cropland
[Row crops, closely grown crops, hay or pasture in rotation with row or
closely grown crops, orchards, vineyards, horticultural crops, and
permanent hayland]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Criteria
----------------------------------------------
Stewardship practices
Category Soil conditioning and activities (from
index list below) in place for
at least two years
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A........................ SCI of >= 0.30 or At least 2 unique
STIR rating of < = practices activities
15. from each area of Soil
Quality, Water Quality,
and Wildlife Habitat.
B........................ SCI of >= 0.20 or At least 1 unique
STIR rating of < = practice or activities
30. from each area of Soil
Quality, Water Quality,
and Wildlife Habitat,
and one additional
practice from any of
the areas.
C........................ SCI of >= 0.10 or At least 1 unique
STIR rating of < = practice or activity
60. from each area of Soil
Quality, Water Quality
and Wildlife Habitat.
D........................ SCI of >= 0.10 or At least 2 unique
STIR rating of < = practices or activities
100. from any of the areas.
E........................ ................... *Must meet minimum
program eligibility
requirements as defined
in 7 CFR 1469.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pasture
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Criteria
----------------------------------------------
Stewardship practices
Category Pasture condition and activities (from
score list below) in place for
at least two years
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A........................ At least 45........ At least 2 unique
practices or activities
from each area of Soil
Quality, Water Quality,
and 1 Wildlife Habitat.

[[Page 15281]]

B........................ At least 40........ At least 1 unique
practice or activities
from each area of Soil
Quality, Water Quality,
and Wildlife Habitat,
and one additional
practice from any of
the areas.
C........................ At least 35........ At least 1 unique
practice or activity
from each area of Soil
Quality, Water Quality
and Wildlife Habitat.
D........................ At least 35........ At least 2 unique
practices or activities
from any of the areas.
E........................ ................... *Must meet minimum
program eligibility
requirements as defined
in 7 CFR 1469.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Range
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Criteria
----------------------------------------------
Stewardship practices
Category and activities (from
Rangeland health list below) in place for
at least two years
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A........................ None to slight for Prescribed Grazing plus
all 3 attributes. at least 1 unique
practice or activity
from each area of Soil
Quality, Water Quality
and Wildlife Habitat.
B........................ None to slight for Prescribed Grazing plus
2 attributes and at least 1 unique
slight to moderate practice or activity
for 1 attribute. from any 2 of the
following areas of Soil
Quality, Water Quality
and Wildlife Habitat.
C........................ None to slight for Prescribed Grazing plus
1 attribute and at least 1 unique
slight to moderate practice or activity
for 2 attributes. from any 2 of the
following areas of Soil
Quality, Water Quality
and Wildlife Habitat.
D........................ Slight to moderate Prescribed Grazing plus
or higher for 2 at least 1 unique
attributes and practice or activity
slight to moderate from each of the
or moderate to following areas of Soil
extreme for 1 Quality, Water Quality
attribute. and Wildlife Habitat.
E........................ ................... *Must meet minimum
program eligibility
requirements as defined
in 7 CFR 1469.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

2005 CSP Enrollment Categories--Criteria by Land Use and Category

Cropland Soil Quality--Stewardship Practice and Activity List for Soil
Quality

Conservation crop rotation expanded with increased amount
of sod or perennial crops in rotation for a minimum of 2 years; or a
high biomass crop every other year, or annual cover crop, or a
combination of crops that match soil water storage with crop water use
needs.
Residue management system with no-till or strip tillage
systems to maintain plant residues on the soil surface year-round.
Contour orchards and other fruit areas with cultural
operations for vineyards, or minor crops performed on the contour.
Cover crops of grasses, legumes, forbs, or other
herbaceous plants established for seasonal cover, or with chipping
residue in orchards, vineyards, or minor crops systems.
Nutrient management with soil test and/or plant tissue
test on annual basis to meet crop needs.
Crop management with use of certified crop consultants to
monitor need for herbicide and pesticide applications.
Soil salinity management on irrigated cropland with soil
amendments such as polyacrylamide (PAM) or gypsum.
Contour buffer strips with permanent, herbaceous
vegetative cover established across the slope and alternated down the
slope with parallel, wider cropped strips.
Filter strip of herbaceous vegetation situated between
cropland, grazing land, or forestland and environmentally sensitive
areas.
Field borders with a strip of permanent vegetation
established at the edge or around the perimeter of a field.
Grassed waterway that is shaped or graded to required
dimensions and established with suitable vegetation.
Alley cropping with trees or shrubs planted in single or
multiple rows with agronomic, horticultural crops or forages produced
between rows of woody plants.
Stripcropping with row crops, forages, small grains, or
fallow in alternating across a field.
Riparian forest buffer of trees and/or shrubs located
adjacent to and up-gradient from watercourses or water bodies.
Riparian herbaceous cover consisting of grasses, grass-
like plants and forbs.
Windbreak and shelterbelt establishment of single or
multiple rows of trees or shrubs.
Hedgerow planting with the establishment of dense
vegetation.
Herbaceous wind barriers with vegetation established in
rows or narrow strips across the prevailing wind direction.
Cross wind trap strips with herbaceous cover resistant to
wind erosion.
Pasture and hayland plantings for establishing native or
introduced forage species.
Forage harvest management for improved ground cover,
protection from soil erosion and to improve soil characteristics.

2005 CSP Enrollment Categories--Criteria by Land Use and Category

Cropland Water Quality--Stewardship Practice and Activity List for
Water Quality

Cropland WQ--Permanent Vegetation Practices and Activities
Cover crops of grasses, legumes, forbs, or other
herbaceous plants established for seasonal cover.
Contour buffer strips with permanent, herbaceous
vegetative cover established across the slope and alternated down the
slope with parallel, wider cropped strips.
Water control structures to catch, manage and properly use
water applications.
Critical area planting that establishes permanent
vegetation on sites with high erosion rates, and physical, chemical or
biological conditions that prevent the

[[Page 15282]]

establishment of vegetation with normal practices.
Field borders with a strip of permanent vegetation
established at the edge or around the perimeter of a field.
Filter strip with herbaceous vegetation between cropland,
grazing land, or forestland and environmentally sensitive areas.
Hedgerow planting of dense vegetation in a linear design.
Pasture and hayland planting to provide increased sod or
perennial crops in rotation for a minimum of 2 years.
Riparian forest buffer of trees and/or shrubs located
adjacent to and up-gradient from watercourses or water bodies.
Riparian herbaceous cover consisting of grasses, grass-
like plants and forbs.
Grassed waterway that is shaped or graded to required
dimensions and established with suitable vegetation.
Cropland WQ--Water Management Practices and Activities
Sediment basins to collect and store debris or sediment.
Soil salinity management on irrigated cropland with soil
amendments such as polyacrylamide (PAM) or gypsum.
Water and sediment control basins to trap sediment and
detain water.
Wetland enhancement to increase function and values.
Wetland restoration and rehabilitation of a drained or
degraded wetland to restore natural condition.
Irrigation system with micro-irrigation for distribution
of water directly to the plant root zone.
Irrigation system with MESA, LIPC, LEPA or similar high
efficiency irrigation system to supply crop needs that matches water
application to crops, soils and topography.
Irrigation water management by determining and controlling
the volume, frequency, and application rate of irrigation water, and

--Improved system efficiency by evaluations and adjustment;
--Use of data from on-farm weather station; and
--Use of tensiometers or other techniques to assess and improve
irrigation water management.

Crop rotation and selection to minimize the use of
irrigation by planting alternative crops with reduced water needs.
Drainage water management through seasonal on-farm water
storage and retention.
Irrigation with a tailwater return system which utilizes
the collection, storage, and transportation of irrigation tailwater for
reuse.
Cropland WQ--Pest Management Practices and Activities
Pest management activities, including:

--Precise nutrient application of such as--banding, side dressing,
injection, fertigation.
--Split nitrogen application to meet crop needs.
--Test soil and/or plant tissue annually.
--Use yield monitoring data to determine nutrient needs.
--Waste utilization to control pathogen and organic runoff.
--Feed management and additives.

2005 CSP Enrollment Categories--Criteria by Land Use and Category

Cropland Wildlife Habitat--Stewardship Practice and Activity List for
Wildlife Habitat (Activities to improve fish and wildlife habitat)

Conservation crop rotation with increased amount of sod or
perennial crops in rotation for a minimum of 2 years.
Cover crops of grasses, legumes, forbs, or other
herbaceous plants established for seasonal cover.
Critical area planting that establishes permanent
vegetation on sites with high erosion rates, and other conditions that
prevent the establishment of vegetation with normal practices.
Pest management by:

--Spot spraying activities and other control of noxious/invasive weeds.
--Minimize pesticide use by selecting plant varieties to minimize the
application of pesticides.
--Use a risk assessment tool such as WINPST or others to select the
least toxic pesticides and herbicides to minimize harmful environmental
effects.
--Use of beneficial insects.
Pasture and hay plantings by establishing native or
introduced forage species.
Forage harvest management with timely cutting and removal
of forages from the field as hay, green-chop or ensilage, or by mowing
crops from center of field outward
Wildlife habitat management in approved management plan or
Private Lands Agreement that meets the needs for food, cover or water
for targeted species.
Wetland restoration and rehabilitation of a drained or
degraded wetland to restore wetland functions and values.
Wetland enhancement to increase function and values.
Drainage water management with control of water surface
elevations and discharge from surface and subsurface drainage systems.
Shallow water development to provide open water on fields
and moist soil areas to facilitate waterfowl resting and feeding and
provide habitat for reptiles, amphibians and other aquatic species.
Stream habitat management activities to maintain, improve,
or restore physical, chemical and biological functions of a stream.
Wildlife habitat management by winter flooding of cropland
fields for species in need of conservation.
Windbreak and shelterbelt establishment of single or
multiple rows of trees or shrubs.
Hedgerow planting of dense heterogeneous vegetation in a
linear design.
Field borders with permanent vegetation at the edge or
around the perimeter of a field for wildlife.
Riparian forest buffer of trees and/or shrubs located
adjacent to and up-gradient from watercourses or water bodies.
Riparian herbaceous cover consisting of grasses, grass-
like plants and forbs.
Drainage water management through seasonal on-farm water
storage and retention.

2005 CSP Enrollment Categories--Criteria by Land Use and Category

Grazing Lands: Stewardship Practice and Activity List for Plant Health
and Soil Quality (Activities To Improve Soil Quality or the Health of
the Plant Community)

Brush management for removal, reduction or manipulation of
non-herbaceous plants.
Pasture and hay plantings by establishing permanent
vegetative cover.

[[Page 15283]]

Range planting to establish adapted perennial vegetation.
Prescribed burning by applying controlled fire to a
predetermined area.
Grassed waterway that is shaped or graded to required
dimensions and established with suitable vegetation.
Grazing land mechanical treatment modifying physical soil
and/or plant conditions.
Channel bank stabilization by establishing and maintaining
vegetation.
Soil salinity management on non-irrigated grazing lands.
Prescribed grazing management including:

--Bottomland or riparian area treated as a separate grazing treatment
unit and alternative watering facilities in place.
--Grazing distribution facilitated by managing watering locations and
rotating feeding and salting areas.
--Use of decision support tools in development of grazing and/or animal
management plans, such as Grazing Lands Spatial Analysis Tool (GSAT),
Nutritional Balance Analyzer (NUTBAL), etc.
--Participating in grass-banking or stockpiling.
--Application of monitoring plan for improved grazing management.

Riparian herbaceous cover improvements with cover
consisting of grasses, grass-like plants and forbs.
Nutrient management with soil and/or plant tissue test
every 3 years on pastures not receiving confinement wastes or annual
tests where confinement wastes are applied.
Irrigation water management properly determining and
controlling the volume, frequency, and application rate of irrigation
water in a planned, efficient manner.
Heavy use area protection and stabilization by
establishing vegetative cover, surfacing with suitable materials, and/
or installing needed structures.

2005 CSP Enrollment Categories--Criteria by Land Use and Category

Grazing Lands: Stewardship Practice and Activity List for Water Quality

Prescribed grazing management by use of decision support
tools in development of grazing and/or animal management plans, such as
Grazing Lands Spatial Analysis Tool (GSAT), Nutritional Balance
Analyzer (NUTBAL), etc., or application of monitoring plan.
Brush management for removal, reduction or manipulation of
non-herbaceous plants.
Water well constructed to access aquifers.
Watering facility for providing animal access to water.
Critical area planting that establishes permanent
vegetation on sites with high erosion rates, and physical, chemical or
biological conditions that prevent the establishment of vegetation with
normal practices.
Fence (sensitive area protection only) to control movement
of animals and people.
Spring development that provides water for a conservation
need.
Pipeline installed to convey water for livestock,
wildlife, or recreation.
Nutrient management by:

--Soil and/or plant tissue test every 3 years on pastures not receiving
confinement wastes or annual tests where confinement wastes are
applied.
--Direct injection of animal wastes.
--Split nitrogen applications to meet current crop needs.
Integrated pest management to control weeds, brush,
insects, or diseases.
Stream crossing constructed to provide a travel way for
people, livestock, equipment, or vehicles.
Stream habitat management activities to maintain, improve,
or restore physical, chemical and biological functions of a stream.
Streambank and shoreline protection treatments to
stabilize and protect banks of streams, constructed channels,
shorelines of lakes, reservoirs, or estuaries.
Water and sediment control basins to trap sediment and
detain water.
Livestock watering areas have controlled access.
Riparian herbaceous cover improvements with additions of
grasses, grass-like plants and forbs.
Wetland enhancement to increase function and values.
Wetland restoration and rehabilitation of a drained or
degraded wetland to restore natural condition.
Waste utilization to control pathogen and organic runoff.

CSP Enrollment Categories--Criteria by Resource Concern

Grazing Lands: Stewardship Practice and Activity List for Wildlife
Habitat (Activities To Improve Fish and Wildlife Habitat)

Channel bank stabilization by establishing and maintaining
vegetation.
Critical area planting that establishes permanent
vegetation on sites with high erosion rates, physical, chemical or
biological conditions that prevent the establishment of vegetation with
normal practices.
Heavy use area protection and stabilization by
establishing vegetative cover, surfacing with suitable materials, and/
or installing needed structures.
Pasture and hay plantings of native or introduced forage
species.
Prescribed burning by applying controlled fire to a
predetermined area.
Riparian herbaceous cover improvements with additions of
grasses, grass-like plants and forbs.
Spring development that provides water during critical
times.
Stream habitat improvement and management activities to
maintain, improve, or restore physical, chemical and biological
functions of a stream.
Streambank and shoreline protection treatments to
stabilize and protect banks of streams, constructed channels,
shorelines of lakes, reservoirs, or estuaries.
Water well constructed to access aquifers.
Watering facility for providing animal access to water.
Wetland enhancement to increase function and values.
Wetland restoration and rehabilitation of a drained or
degraded wetland to restore functions and values.
Wildlife watering facility that meets the needs of
targeted species.
Wildlife habitat management by:

--Application of an approved management plan or Private Lands Agreement
that meets the needs for food, cover or water for targeted species.
--Enhance wildlife habitat linkages and corridors by creating a mosaic
or pattern.
--Management that provides for shallow water and wetland wildlife
habitat improvement.

Prescribed grazing management that:

--Adds functional group pastures to improve pasture condition.
--Interseeding of desirable forages and legumes
--Timed grazing on a portion of paddocks to create habitat for targeted
species.
--Increased plant diversity--forbs and legumes greater than 40%.
--Patch burn/graze to improve wildlife habitat diversity and cover.

Integrated pest management activities for weeds, brush,
insects, or diseases that include follow-up treatment.
Brush management for removal, reduction or manipulation of
non-herbaceous plants.
Range planting to establishment of adapted perennial
vegetation.

[FR Doc. 05-5895 Filed 3-24-05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-16-P