[PCA] Farm Bill Update & NATIVE PLANTS: Feral Swine Control Pilot Program (due 8/19/19); Response to Flooding (cover crop planting)

[De Angelis, Patricia]

Please see the FORWARD below for two opportunities from NRCS with a nexus
to native plants:

1) Feral pigs: The rooting activity of feral pigs destroys native plants
and provides openings for non-natives; APHIS calls feral pigs "ecosystem
engineers" for their ability to shift plant composition in grasslands and
forests; an especially dire problem on islands.

USDA Feral Swine Impacts:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/wildlife_damage/2016/fsc-feral-swine-impacts-tes.pdf
USGS Biology and impacts of Pacific Islands invasive species:
https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70197481

2) Cover Crops: According to USDA NRCS, cover crops may include grasses,
legumes, for small grain crops, of which there are several U.S. natives, as
well as technical notes on the use of native forbs and grasses.

NRCS role in developing native plants for federal land:
https://youtu.be/yA5nlNgAn08
California native cover crops:
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/capmctn12954.pdf
Montana & wyoming native forb:
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/mtpmctn12938.pdf
Factors to consider when cover cropping with native species:
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/lapmctn9047.pdf
USDA PLANTS cover crops: https://plants.usda.gov/about_cover_crops.html

FORWARD:
*Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program *
On June 20, the USDA announced it will invest $75 million toward the
control of feral swine through the Feral Swine Eradication and Control
Pilot Program
<https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/newsroom/releases/?cid=nrcseprd1465468>.
Program
funding was provided by the 2018 Farm Bill for a joint effort with USDA’s
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) to address the threat feral swine pose to
agriculture, native ecosystems and human and animal health. The initial
effort will be focused in 20 high population areas in 10 states
<https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/programs/farmbill/?cid=NRCSEPRD1461219>:
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma,
North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.  NRCS will direct up to $33.75
million of the allocated funds toward partnership efforts to work with
landowners in identified pilot projects in targeted areas. Applications are
being accepted through Aug. 19, 2019.

Pilot projects will consist broadly of three coordinated components: 1)
feral swine removal by APHIS; 2) restoration efforts supported by NRCS; and
3) assistance to producers for feral swine control provided through
partnership agreements with non-federal partners. Projects can be one to
three years in duration.  The call for proposals
<https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=USDA-NRCS-MULTI-FSCP-19-GEN0010253>
 is intended for non-federal partners to provide landowner assistance for
on-farm trapping and provide related services as part of the pilot projects
described above.


*Targeted Assistance to Plant Cover Crops*
In response to severe flooding in the Midwest that has delayed or prevented
planting <https://www.farmers.gov/manage/prevented-planting> of crops, the
NRCS is helping producers manage soil erosion and re-establish soil health
by sharing the cost of planting cover crops on affected acres through
the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program
<https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/eqip/>.
NRCS is holding special sign-ups for this program in Michigan, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. While farmers can apply for
the program anytime, these special sign-ups are geared for impacted farmers
to plant cover crops quickly. Producers can graze, or chop a cover crop
planted with NRCS assistance and be eligible for a prevented planting
payment. Producers should contact their local NRCS office
<https://www.farmers.gov/service-center-locator> to learn about special
sign-ups. State-specific resources include:

Missouri sign-up: NRCS Announces Funding to Plant Cover Crops on Flooded
Cropland Acreage
<https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/mo/newsroom/releases/b6caa8e3-5a39-410c-bdac-374b08a30795/>
Minnesota sign-up, Special NRCS Program Sign-up Announced: Cover Crops for
Fallow Fields
<https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/mn/newsroom/releases/662c27eb-15fc-499f-be81-2e42f8a54e20/>
South Dakota sign-up, Special New Signup for Environmental Quality
Incentives Program
<https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/sd/newsroom/releases/?cid=NRCSEPRD1463415>
Nebraska sign-up,  Funds Available to Plant Severely Weather Damaged Acres
to Cover Crops
<https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/ne/newsroom/releases/?cid=NRCSEPRD1455029>
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