Organic Conservation Technical Support 

1st Half FY12 

A Report on first half FY 2012 Technical Support Provided by Oregon Tilth for Organic Conservation under the Contribution Agreement with the USDA-NRCS WNTSC

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• In the first half of fiscal year 2012, Oregon Tilth’s Organic Conservation Specialist has:
• Conducted 9 workshops or trainings, for more than 140 NRCS employees, as well as an additional 300 NRCS clients and partners. 
• Provided State-specific technical or project planning support in 17 states (7 in the west), related to EQIP Organic Initiative outreach and training, job specifications, and questions related to NOP regulations. 
• Continued to coordinate a series of Organic Agriculture webinars. Thus far in FY2012, 330 NRCS lines and 73 non-NRCS lines have dialed in to participate in ‘Organic IPM’ and ‘Using RUSLE2 in Organic Systems’ and 187 lines called into the eOrganic webinar.  
• Developed the NRCS National Organic Training Strategy
• Administered and reported on the 2012 survey to NRCS state organic contacts
• Provided technical and program review and/or assistance for several national efforts:
  • EQIP Organic Initiative (OI) Continuous Process Improvement 
• FY2012 OI Ranking and Practice List Development
• National OI website development
• National NRCS OI SharePoint development
• National Organic Communication Strategy
• OI Practice List, state waiver reviews
  • National organic payment schedule support 
  • Development of 317 guidance for use in non-livestock systems (draft)
  • National Organic CIG, NRCS liaison team
  • USDA Organic Working Group
  • Ongoing requests for organic information or review from national and regional NRCS offices.

DETAILED REPORT FOR 1st HALF FY 2012 

This detailed report provides a summary of NRCS technical support and training provided by Oregon Tilth during the first half of FY2012.  This report is divided into three parts:  State-specific technical support and training; national support; and work with external partners.  

PART 1: State-specific technical support and training

In the 1st half of FY2012 State-specific support was provided to 17 States (7 of these were in the West Region).  Support was provided in the form of providing guidance and technical resources, assistance with job specifications, guidance related to NOP regulations, trainings, or other assistance as requested by the States. 

The Organic Conservation Specialist delivered 9 training sessions addressing organic conservation in agricultural landscapes.  These training sessions occurred in 4 States. These workshops or trainings range from 1-hour talks to 2-day conservation planning on organic farm workshops. These presentations were delivered in collaboration with the NRCS.  All of our presentations to agricultural audiences highlight the opportunities for technical and financial support from the NRCS.  Over 140 NRCS employees received in-depth organic training in the first half of FY2012, as well as an additional 300 partners or potential clients. Approximately 500 NRCS staff and 300 external partners have attended webinars coordinated or presented by Oregon Tilth staff at the WNTSC. The combined total represents more than 1,200 people who received direct training on NRCS organic conservation assistance and programs in the past six months. 

Because of our contribution agreement with the WNTSC, the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE) has committed to supporting our trainings and work on the development of organic technical documents. Currently, SARE is providing funding for nine 2-day training on conservation in organic systems in ID, OR, CA, and NV. These courses, targeting NRCS staff and partners, are taking place during fiscal years 2013 to 2014. This funding is not match for current NRCS contribution agreements, but leverages the WNTSC’s investment to greatly expand our training capacity to the NRCS and agency partners.

Specific state assistance is outlined below. Technical support to Western States is in bold.

• Alaska
  • Ongoing support of state level organic conservation work 
  • Provide clarification and guidance on CAP 138
• Arizona 
  • Ongoing support of state level organic conservation work 
  • Assistance in developing outreach strategy
  • Working with State Office to develop comprehensive training and outreach strategy
• California 
  • Ongoing support of state level organic conservation work 
  • Presented ‘Conservation Planning on Organic Farms’ at the annual Ecological Farming Conference in Monterey, CA on Feb. 2nd, 2012
• Idaho 
  • Ongoing support of state level organic conservation work 
• Kentucky
  • Ongoing support of state level organic conservation work 
• Louisiana
  • Ongoing support of state level organic conservation work 
  • Presented at 3 1-day workshops on organic production in Alexandria, Ruston, and Baton Rouge on Nov. 29th- Dec. 1st
  • Provided technical document and guidance for use of 595 and 317 in organic systems
• Massachusetts
  • Ongoing support of state level organic conservation work 
  • Work with external partners, farmers, and certifiers to assess MA EQIP OI program
• Michigan
  • Ongoing support of state level organic conservation work 
  • Work with external partners, farmers, and certifiers to assess MI EQIP OI program
  • Providing support and guidance for the development of a summer 2013 NRCS organic training
• Missouri
  • Ongoing support of state level organic conservation work 
  • Providing support and guidance for the development of an advanced-level organic training course
• Oregon 
  • Developed a Season Extension and Year Round Production presentation for the “What’s Your Connection?” Eastern Oregon Food & Farm Connection Conference, March 15th, 2012
  • Provided workshop coordination and facilitation for a 3-day 590 Organic and Manure JAA training in Salem, OR, Feb. 27-29th, 2012 (Oregon NRCS contract)
  • Facilitated a lunchtime Q&A session on the EQIP OI at the Oregon Small Farms Conference in Corvallis, OR, Feb. 25th, 2012
  • Coordinated and presented a panel presentation ‘Conservation on Organic Farms’ at the North Willamette Horticulture Society Annual Meeting in Canby, OR, Jan. 10th
  • Ongoing support to NRCS state office, field offices, and landowners for organic conservation work 
  • Serve on NRCS State Organic Advisory Committee
• Pacific Island Areas
  • Provided workshop coordination and facilitation for 2 2-day trainings on Organic Production on Oahu and the Big Island, October 17-21st, 2012 
  • Ongoing support of state level organic conservation work 
  • Provided guidance and technical materials on Korean Natural Farming and National Organic Program regulations
• Pennsylvania
  • Ongoing technical support to state and field office staff 
• South Carolina
  • Ongoing support of state level organic conservation work 
• Texas
  • Ongoing support of state level organic conservation work 
  • Worked with TX State Office to develop a funding proposal and outline for 6 regional organic trainings for NRCS staff and landowners on organic production for Fall 2013
• Washington
  • Ongoing support of state level organic conservation work 
  • Providing support and guidance for the development of a summer 2012 NRCS organic training
• West Virginia
  • Ongoing support to NRCS state office, field offices, and landowners for organic conservation work 
• Wisconsin
  • Ongoing support of state level organic conservation work 
  • Providing support and guidance for the development of a summer 2012 NRCS organic training

National Webinars

• Presented “NRCS EQIP Technical and Financial Support for Conservation on Organic Farms” national eOrganic webinar. 187 lines connected. (3/29/2012)
• Coordinated the “Using RUSLE2 in Organic Systems” national webinar.  223 lines connected. (2/14/2012)
• Coordinated the “Organic Integrated Pest Management” national webinar.  180 lines connected. (12/13/2011)

PART 2:  National support

• National NRCS Organic Training Strategy: Oregon Tilth was asked by NRCS leadership, at the urge of external partners, to develop a document for use by all entities involved with organic training of NRCS staff. This 24-page document identifies key individuals, internal and external, that are providing organic training to NRCS, an analysis of training needs with recommendations, an overview of methods, a list of developed materials, and a calendar to aid in coordination. (January 2012)
• National NRCS Organic Survey: Oregon Tilth disseminated this survey to NRCS state organic contacts in January 2012 to assess training, technical, and outreach assistance needs. A summary report was prepared and shared with states, NTSCs, and national organic contacts in February 2012. 
• National EQIP OI Support: Oregon Tilth staff at the WNTSC served on the EQIP OI Continuous Process Improvement project which has evolved into regular participation and collaboration with the national EQIP team.  We have provided significant technical support on the NRCS EQIP Organic Initiative bulletin and attachments that were released in November 2011. This included: support on development of national EQIP OI practice list and review of state waivers, development of self-certification worksheet, development of a draft National Organic Communication Strategy, review of the NOP-NRCS correlation matrix, review of national EQIP OI website, and facilitation of a state office call to review and discuss EQIP OI program changes. (On-going)
• Conservation Activity Plan Supporting Transition to Organic (CAP 138): We continue to provide support related to the standard and criteria of the CAP 138. Numerous meetings have been held with TSPs, the national TSP team, S&T leads, and NRCS state offices to assess this practice, its usability, and the development of a sample training strategy for use by states and partners. (On-going)
• Accessing the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Organic Initiative for Conversion or Expansion, ATTRA document: This was identified by the EQIP team as a tool for outreach to be included on the national NRCS EQIP OI website. Oregon Tilth staff worked with the EQIP team, ATTRA, and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition to update and revise the document according to the EQIP OI 2012 bulletin. (January 2012) 
• Organic 595 Job Sheet and webinar: Per requests from numerous state offices, Oregon Tilth staff worked with Giulio Ferruzzi, WNTSC Conservation Agronomist, and the National Pest Management team to develop a 595 job sheet for use in organic systems. This document is intended to provide guidance in systems that primarily rely on Prevention & Avoidance as a means of pest management. (September 2011)
• Compost Facility (317) tech note in development: Oregon Tilth staff continue to collaborate with William Boyd, Manure Management Team Leader, on writing a technical note that guides conservation planners through the process of developing Compost Facility job specifications in non-livestock systems. (In Progress)
• Organic payment schedule scenarios: Oregon Tilth staff at the WNTSC has continued to provide feedback on the development of payment schedules scenarios appropriate for organic and small-scale systems. Input was submitted on 590 national scenario templates as well as the development of Prevention & Avoidance scenarios for 595. We have provided assistance on organic inputs to the National Cost Component Team, as requested. (In Progress)
• USDA Organic Working Group: We continue to participate as an NRCS representative. Oregon Tilth has also provided feedback and input on the curriculum being developed for the USDA Organic Literacy Initiative. (On-going) 
• National organic conservation brochure in development: We continue to work on a national brochure about Organic Conservation. However, other priorities have prevented Oregon Tilth staff from moving this effort further along. (In Progress)

PART 3:  Partner support

Oregon Tilth’s relationships with external sustainable agriculture non-profits has been incredibly valuable for increasing collaboration and building relationships between these groups and NRCS. Partners rely on Oregon Tilth for support and assistance related to conservation on organic farms, clarification on NRCS programs and policy, and feedback on trainings and strategy.  The trust and transparency of Oregon Tilth’s relationships with its partners has led to an improved perception of NRCS and greater collaboration. Conversely, Oregon Tilth is able to provide NRCS with the viewpoint and priorities of organic stakeholder groups’ to ensure this important perspective is duly considered in decision making and planning priorities. 

• As part of the National organic CIG liaison team, Oregon Tilth provides feedback on the deliverables of the CIG project. Additionally, the Oregon Tilth staff at the WNTSC has been invited by the CIG team to participate in and provide feedback during their working meetings. This collaboration has enabled CIG project partners, NRCS and Oregon Tilth to more effectively strategize organic trainings and technical priorities while avoiding duplicative efforts.
• On-going support to National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) member groups on issues related to conservation planning on organic farms and Organic Initiative outreach.
  • Coordinated follow-up on NRCS state organic surveys with appropriate NSAC members (March 2012)
  • Facilitated call between NSAC members and EQIP team to address outreach strategy for EQIP OI sign-up (February 21st, 2012)
  • Presented an overview on NRCS payment schedules to National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition members at their winter meeting in Massachusetts (Jan. 24th, 2012) 
  • Presented the NRCS National Organic Training Strategy to sustainable agriculture partner organizations in Massachusetts (Jan. 22nd, 2012)
  • Collected and disseminated NRCS organic producer profiles (January 2012)
  • Provided information and clarification on CAP 138 criteria and template (January 2012)
  • Provided support and guidance on EQIP OI bulletin and attachments (November 2011)
  • Facilitated EQIP OI FY2012 call between NSAC members and EQIP team (October 26, 2011)
  • Provide regular guidance and support to NSAC member groups in NC, SC, FL, WI, ME, NJ, ID, OR, CA, MT, VA, IA (On-going)