MD.180.9.1, CPA - Targeted Grazing Plans Western Maryland Pilot

Maryland Bulletin: 180-9-1
Subject: CPA - Targeted Grazing Plans Western Maryland Pilot
Date: June 12, 2009

Purpose. To announce a pilot planning process in order to streamline development of Grazing Plans developed for participation in FY09 conservation programs and completion of plans developed under prior year conservation programs.

Expiration Date. September 30, 2008.

Explanation. 

A pilot process to streamline grazing planning has been developed for Garrett, Allegany, Washington and Frederick Counties. This process is developed to allow planners who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in developing prescribed grazing plans to streamline the process involved when working with a producer requesting financial assistance. Planning experience will allow for the targeting of concepts critical for a specific plan success while meeting the specifications of the National 528 standard.

Guiding Principles: Elmer Dengler, Maryland NRCS Grazing Specialist, has developed the following guiding principles planners in the pilot are must use when developing a prescribed grazing plan.

• A simple abstract, written or in part in table form, shall be used to convey the following issues for the specific grazing system as required by the National 528 Prescribed Grazing Standard:
  • Resource Concerns - there usually will be water quality concerns due to soil erosion from poorly vegetated areas and concentrations of livestock in and near streams),
  • Basic Resource Inventory and Planned Activities,
  • Goals and objectives developed in consultation with the producer,
  • Monitoring plan to monitor grazing heights and rotation documentation and annual field evaluation by technical staff,
  • Drought Management Plan the producer has for management during drought conditions to protect the resource base.
• Either calculated forage demand and yield or local “rules of thumb” based on grazing management principles shall be used to establish a basic feed and forage balance showing that for the period being grazed, adequate feed is either provided by pasture or through supplemental feeding.

The Maryland State Grazing Specialist will provide technical oversight to monitor implementation of the pilot project. Each planner within the pilot area must submit to the State Grazing Specialist the first plan developed under this process for review. Plans not meeting the criteria in the NRCS National 528 standard will not be approved. Planners may resubmit a corrected plan no more than three times for review. A planner not meeting the criteria after a third review will be required to work with their supervisor and the State Grazing Specialist to correct deficiencies. At the end of the fiscal year, a random sample of plans will be reviewed from all four counties to determine if the pilot will become standard operating procedure for advanced planners.

This pilot process may be used to develop prescribed grazing plans for FY09 conservation program applications and any prior year prescribed grazing plans not yet developed.

Contact. If you have any questions you may contact Elmer Dengler at 443-482-2922 for resource questions and Tom Morgart at 443-482-2927 for program questions.

MARK A. ROSE
State Conservationist

/s/

ANNE M. LYNN
State Resource Conservationist

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