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Title 180 – General Manual

Part 409 - Conservation Planning Policy

OH409.1 Conservation Planning Objective.

  1. Conservation Planning Assistance on Livestock Operations. For livestock operations that have insufficient land resources (using Ohio NRCS approved software listed in the FOTG) to utilize the wastes and nutrients produced either on a volume or phosphorus crop removal basis, technical assistance shall be limited to the inventory and analysis stage (step 4 of the planning process) until the producer can do one of the following: (1) provide spreading agreements for a minimum of 5 years for the needed land, (2) provide a plan for other utilization options (brokering, sale, transfer, etc.), or (3) a combination of (1) and (2). For livestock operations planning the use of a lagoon manure storage/treatment system that have insufficient land resources to utilize the wastes and nutrients produced either on a volume or phosphorus crop removal basis, the estimate of volume and amount of nutrients expected to be in the lagoon at the end of its life span will be provided to and discussed with the client prior to final design. If the client makes the decision to proceed, the following statement will be included in the CNMP in the “Manure and Wastewater Handling and Storage Section” and signed by the decision maker: “At the end of the projected lifespan (X years) of this structure, (X volume) of waste and “X” amount of nutrients are estimated to be in the lagoon. The closure or reconditioning of this structure will require (X amount) of acres for utilization or the wastes/nutrients will be disposed/utilized using other technologies recommended by local, State, or Federal laws, rules, or regulations. The cost could be extensive.”


  2. The goal of the Unified National Strategy is to develop a CNMP on all Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs). However, with our limited staff, we must focus our CNMP planning efforts on the higher risk resource challenges. The following policy provides guidance to determine if a CNMP is needed for an AFO:

    CNMPs are not required under the following "lower risk" circumstances:

    1. Livestock heavy use pads installed under practice standard 757i.
    2. Pasture based operations with no manure storage structure or winter feeding area.
    3. Livestock operations with "solid manure handling and storage" that meet all of the following criteria:

    1. There is no settling basin with a constructed filter strip involved,
    2. There is less than 350 tons of solid manure collected annually,
    3. There is at least one acre available for manure application for each 4 tons of manure collected, and
    4. The farm headquarters and the land that will have manure applied are under a conservation management system.

    Instead of a CNMP for these operations, an "operation and maintenance plan" for the planned practices (heavy use pads and manure storage structures) needs to be developed that outlines how the facility will be operated and guidelines on how and where the manure will be applied. A sample of a management plan is provided in the FOTG, Section I, Software and Plan Formats.

    1.  Progressive planning for operations not involving a "Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan" (CNMP). During the conservation planning process when a client can make some decisions to address resource concerns, but not all decisions necessary to meet the criteria for a Resource Management System (RMS), the "Progressive Planning" concept of technical assistance can be provided. The following guidance shall be followed for "Progressive Planning:”

    1. Technical assistance can be provided to apply single or multiple conservation practices as long as those practices can function to achieve their planned purpose and the practice/treatment can be maintained. For example, crop residue management can be applied and maintained without meeting nutrient concerns for water quality. Likewise, assistance to install a grassed waterway shall not be provided if erosion within the watershed or field is not controlled to a level that will allow the waterway to function and be maintained.
    2. At a minimum, the record of decisions shall be recorded in the Customer Service Toolkit (CST) Plan and Practice Schedule. At least one “Alternative Plan shall be prepared in CST and provided to the client that would achieve an RMS. In addition, the appropriate planning documentation to implement and maintain the planned practice(s) shall also be provided to the client.

    2.  Progressive planning for livestock operations involving a CNMP. "Progressive Planning" does not apply to new or expanding livestock operations. "Progressive Planning" can be used for existing operations that do not involve a significant change in size. When progressive planning is used with a livestock operation involving a CNMP, the following shall be provided to the client:

    1. A "Progressive Plan” documenting the decisions made, the remaining treatment alternatives needed to achieve an RMS, and a suggested schedule of implementation to achieve an RMS within a reasonable time (2-4 years).

OH409.3  Requirements for Providing RMS Conservation Planning Assistance.

  1. Ohio list of certified conservation planners. The State Resource Conservationist shall maintain a list of certified conservation planners in Ohio consisting of NRCS employees, volunteers, and partnership employees. Technical Service Providers (TSPs) certified for conservation planning are maintained nationally by NRCS on the TechReg Website. NRCS supervisors are to send the names, titles, and addresses of the individuals completing the certification requirements to State Resource Conservationist for the issuance of a certificate signed by the State Conservationist.


OH409.9 Minimum Criteria to be a Certified Conservation Planner.

    All employees in the soil conservationist, agronomy, and soil conservation technician series and others designated by the NRCS State Resource Conservationist shall be certified as conservation planners.

    Employees in the engineering and engineering technician series shall complete Modules 1-8 of the National Conservation Planning Course as a minimum or equivalent training approved by the State Conservationist.

  1. Ohio minimum qualifications and criteria needed to be certified as a conservation planner. All Ohio USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service employees who provide on-site conservation planning technical assistance to land users or training to employees and partners shall be certified (have job approval) for conservation planning. Soil and water conservation district employees and partnership employees who provide on-site conservation planning technical assistance to land users or training to employees and partners are encouraged to be certified (have job approval) for conservation planning. The following is the minimum criteria to be certified as a "conservation planner" in Ohio:
  1. Successful completion of Conservation Planning Course (Modules 1-9 of the NEDC “Conservation Planning”) or its equivalent taught by instructors selected by the State Resource Conservationist.
  2. A minimum of 6 month’s job experience. This requirement can be waived by the State Conservationist if the Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations can document to the State Conservationist that the individual has all the necessary skills to be certified as a conservation planner.
  3. Supervisor concurrence is required for the candidate to become certified as a conservation planner. Supervisors can recommend to the State Conservationist individuals that clearly demonstrate conservation planning proficiency, but have not completed formal training.
  1. Completion of one RMS plan for a Conservation Management Unit (CMU).

    2.  
    1. Candidates must satisfactorily complete at least one conservation plan with a conservation planner, designated by the Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations, observing the development of the plan in the field with the decisionmaker. Resource Conservationists and others designated by the State Resource Conservationist are authorized to certify employees and partners as certified conservation planners.

  2. Individual Development Plans (IDPs). Certifications are granted for a 3-year period. It is the responsibility of the individual to maintain records of continuing education completed and experience to be recertified at the end of the 3-year period. Training may include sessions approved for Certified Crop Adviser “Continuing Education Units” (CEUs) or NRCS training approved by the Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations. The minimum amount of continuing education is 25 hours over 3 years. Each RMS plan developed is credited for 5 hours of continuing education credit up to a maximum of 15 hours of the 25 hours required during the 3-year period. If additional skills become necessary during the 3-year period, individuals will be notified of the training opportunities to acquire those skills. The State Conservationist may require the completion of specific training in order to maintain and update planning skills. In this case, all certified planners will be notified that attendance at specific training events is mandatory.

    The State Conservationist will make the final determination regarding action taken when a certified conservation planner does not achieve a successful review during a regularly scheduled technical quality assurance review. A successful review is one in which the planner is found to have followed applicable NRCS policy, procedures, and technical criteria for conservation planning.
     
  3. Ohio "State Quality Assurance" for conservation planning, CNMPs, and management practice plans.

    The State Resource Conservationist or designee from the State level shall perform an annual review in at least one field office in each administrative area with the respective Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations and/or Resource Conservationist to ensure quality planning and implementation. A representative number of the conservation plans, CNMPs, Nutrient Management Plans, Pest Management Plans, and management type practices planned/applied within the previous 12 months will be evaluated to include a representative number of the plans reviewed in the field for compliance with policy, procedure, and technical criteria. The annual reviews can be conducted as part of the Ohio Field Office Quality Assurance process.

The Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations, through their respective Resource Conservationist or other designee, shall perform quality reviews in each field office midway through the 5-year Ohio Field Office Quality Assurance period. A representative number of conservation plans, CNMPs, Nutrient Management Plans, Pest Management Plans, and management type practices planned/applied within the previous 12 months will be evaluated to include a representative number of the plans reviewed in the field for compliance with policy, procedure, and technical criteria. The State Conservationist or Assistance State Conservationist for Field Operations may designate more frequent reviews. The District Conservationist shall perform quality reviews on a representative number of plans for other Natural Resources Conservation Service and partnership employees in the field office annually. A minimum of one plan for each individual for each approved practice shall be reviewed and evaluated with a representative amount reviewed in the field to ensure compliance with policy and technical criteria. These reviews can be conducted as part of the Ohio Field Office Quality Assurance process.

Quality Reviews for Technical Service Providers (TSPs).  The respective District Conservationist or other individual(s) designated by the Assistant State Conservationist Field Operations shall perform quality reviews on a representative number of the plans prepared by technical service providers in the respective field office areas annually.

Records for quality assurance.  The results of the "quality assurance" reviews are to be shared with the next upper level supervisor along with recommendations to correct the areas needing improvement. The results of the reviews and recommended actions for improvement shall be filed in the NRCS records system under 180-12, Technical Assistance/Quality Reviews.

OH409.10 Minimum Standards for Providers of Conservation Technical Assistance Associated with Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans and Nutrient Management Component Plans of a Conservation Plan.

  1. CNMP certifications are granted for a 3-year period. It is the responsibility of the individual to maintain records of continuing education completed and experience to be recertified at the end of the 3-year period. Training may include sessions approved for Certified Crop Adviser “Continuing Education Units” (CEUs) or NRCS training designated by the Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations. The minimum amount of continuing education is 25 hours over 3 years. Each CNMP plan developed is credited for 5 hours of continuing education credit up to a maximum of 15 hours of the 25 hours required during the 3-year period. If additional skills become necessary during the 3-year period, individuals will be notified of the training opportunities to acquire those skills.
     
  2. Individuals pursuing certification as CNMP, Land Treatment, Nutrient Management, or Manure and Wastewater Handling and Storage Specialists shall complete the appropriate Ohio NRCS training programs or other training approved by the State Conservationist. The State Conservationist can waive the formal training for persons who can clearly demonstrate they understand and can apply the minimum certification criteria in OH409.9(c). The final phase for each type of certification will be the development of a plan for the appropriate certification that meets all policy, procedures, technical standards, and decision maker objectives. Ohio NRCS CNMP training programs include:

    3.  
    1. CNMP Specialist Program. A CNMP specialist must be a certified conservation planner. In addition, individuals must complete the formal Ohio CNMP course. The formal course can be waived by the State Conservationist if the individual can clearly demonstrate skill level “4,” apply independently, for the CNMP planning, development, and implementation.
       
    2. Manure and Wastewater Storage and Handling. The individual shall complete the formal Ohio Manure and Wastewater Storage and Handling course. The formal course can be waived by the State Conservationist if the individual can clearly demonstrate skill level “4,” apply independently, for the CNMP manure and wastewater storage and handling planning, development, and implementation.
       
    3. Land Treatment Specialist. The individual must be a certified conservation planner to meet the minimum criteria as land treatment specialist.
       
    4. Nutrient Management Specialist. Individuals must complete the Nutrient Management Track of the Nutrient and Pest Management Considerations for Conservation Planning Course; or the formal Ohio NRCS Nutrient Management Course. The formal course can be waived by the State Conservationist if the individual can clearly demonstrate skill level “4,” apply independently, for the nutrient management planning, development, and implementation.

OH409.11  Minimum Standards for Providers of Conservation Technical Assistance Associated with Conservation Planning that includes Pest Management.

  1. Individuals pursuing certification as a Pest Management Specialist shall complete the appropriate Ohio NRCS training programs or other training approved by the State Conservationist. The State Conservationist can waive the formal training for persons who can clearly demonstrate that they understand and can apply the minimum certification criteria (skill level 4 – apply independently). The final phase for "Pest Management Specialist" certification will be the development of a pest management component of the overall conservation plan that meets all policy, procedures, technical standards, and decisionmaker objectives. Pest Management Specialist certifications are granted for a 3-year period. It is the responsibility of the individual to maintain records of continuing education completed and experience to be re-certified at the end of the 3-year period. Training may include sessions approved for Certified Crop Adviser “Continuing Education Units” (CEUs) or NRCS training designated by the Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations. The minimum amount of continuing education is 25 hours over 3 years. Each Pest Management Component of the conservation plan developed is credited for 5 hours of continuing education credit up to a maximum of 15 hours of the 25 hours required during the 3-year period. If additional skills become necessary during the 3-year period, individuals will be notified of the training opportunities to acquire those skills.

    (180-GM, Amendment OH6, January 2004)                             OH409-24

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