 October 2023
For more information or to subscribe to this monthly update, contact Coreen Fallat at Coreen.Fallat@wisconsin.gov.
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Table of Contents
2022 Wisconsin Report on Soil and Water Conservation Now Available
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The 2022 Wisconsin Report on Soil and Water Conservation is now available on our website. The report provides an overview of the varied conservation activities across the state. This year’s report features Pierce, Dunn, Washburn, Milwaukee, and Iowa counties, with highlights from Juneau, Florence, Outagamie, Waupaca, Door, Marinette, Green Lake, Manitowoc, Calumet, Clark, and Jefferson counties. Please share the report and the stories with your networks to help us spread the word about the conservation work across the state! |
New Cooperative Agreement with NRCS
DATCP's Bureau of Land and Water Resources (BLWR) was awarded approximately $2.15 million in funding from USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service over four years for four positions. These positions will help deliver technical assistance and outreach related to conservation engineering, hydrologic and hydraulic engineering, soil health, and conservation agronomy/nutrient management. More details will be shared as we move forward with recruiting for these positions. We thank NRCS for their partnership on these mutual priorities.
Soil and Water Resources Management Grants
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The 2024 Joint Allocation Plan was presented to the Land and Water Board on October 3.
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Until ATCP 50 receives approval from the Governor and legislature, the new practices are not available for cost-share.
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Requests to transfer cost share funds between counties are due to DATCP by December 1, 2023.
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Please submit reimbursement requests as projects are completed.
ATCP 50 Rule Revision Update
The ATCP Board approved the final draft of the revision to ATCP 50 at their Board meeting on September 21. The rule now moves on to the Governor for approval and then it will go to the legislature. Stay tuned!
Nutrient Management News
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If you were unable to attend the Nutrient Management Regional Meetings, you can find the recordings of the presentations, as well as the slides, on the DATCP Nutrient Management Training webpage: DATCP Home Nutrient Management Regional Trainings (wi.gov).
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Please reach out to Andrea Topper, andrea.topper@wisconsin.gov, if you are planning to have a Nutrient Management Farmer Education Training and would like assistance.
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Counties need to submit their annual Nutrient Management numbers to Cody Calkins via the NM Annual Survey by November 15. Please reach out to Cody at cody.calkins@wisconsin.gov if you need the link or any help with the survey or accompanying survey assistant spreadsheet.
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Contracting for the 2024 NMFE grant awards will begin as soon as the 2024 Joint Allocation Plan is approved by DATCP and DNR.
Soil Health
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The new Soil Health website has been launched and the landing page can be found here. Content will be added as it is developed so check back often. Contact Randy Zogbaum at randy.zogbaum@wi.gov with questions. |
Conservation Engineering
Last month, the Wisconsin Land+Water Technical Committee posted a companion document to supplement the DNR NR 151 Direct Runoff to Waters of the state guidance. It provides additional considerations, checklists, and information on the use and limitations of models when determining whether a site has a direct runoff from feedlots to Waters of the State. The link shared last month no longer works as there was an update to the APLE-Lots model portion of Appendix C. The updated document can be found here: Companion Document: Determining Direct Runoff from Feedlots to Waters of the State.
Farmland Preservation Program and Agricultural Enterprise Areas (AEA)
- Applications for FP plans and zoning ordinance certification that are due before the end of this calendar year must be received by October 1, 2023 in order to guarantee staff can complete their review. Extensions may be available to eligible areas. Email DATCPWorkingLands@wisconsin.gov with applications or questions.
- We are prioritizing FP agreement applications that are submitted to the department by November 6, 2023. We will continue to accept and process agreement applications as they are received after that date; however, those submitted later than November 6 may not be processed before the end of the taxable year. We encourage landowners to apply early to ensure they can receive the 2023 tax credit. The FP agreement application can be
found below.
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
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State Agreement Submittal Deadline 11/10/2023 for Payments in 2023: Friday, November 10, 2023 is the deadline for submitting completed CREP agreements (LWR-283) to DATCP to ensure they make it through processing for state payments before the end of the calendar year. Agreements submitted to DATCP after that date may be processed and paid after January 1, 2024. If a landowner wants to claim their State CREP payment on 2023 taxes, it will need to be paid prior to December 31, 2023.
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Reminders for Submitting Enrollments to the DATCP secure website: Submittal help can be found on page 2 of the CREP Instructions for 15-Year Agreements or page 4 of the CREP Instructions for Perpetual Easements. Both are on the DATCP CREP “For Counties” webpage. Please be sure to follow the file naming guidelines listed in the instructions when submitting enrollment materials to the secure website. DATCP receives agreements, transfers, buyouts, and cost share requests to this site and the naming protocol helps ensure your documents get to the correct location and are processed in a timely manner.
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Final Agreement Materials Sent to LCD: Once DATCP has finalized processing a CREP agreement, a paper incentive check is mailed to LCD offices. When the check is mailed, DATCP sends an email to the LCD’s that includes the documents listed below. A reminder that LCD’s should keep a copy of these documents in your secure files and print a copy of each to provide the landowner with their check. Please be on the lookout for this email when you receive the check in the mail.
- State Practice Reimbursement Form - LWR-287
- Fully Signed Page-One of CREP Agreement - LWR-283
- CREP Data Sheet (summarizes agreement with acres enrolled, payments, etc.)
Agricultural Impact Statement (AIS) Program
 Curious about what the AIS program is and does? Check out the "Intro to the AIS program" video here.
Do you have questions about the AIS program? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page that addresses many of your top AIS questions. You can also contact DATCPAgImpactStatements@wi.gov with questions
regarding any active AIS statement or the AIS program.
Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant (PLWPG) Program
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The 2024 application period for Producer-Led Watershed Protection grants has closed. The Department received a record total of 47 applications to the program, totaling almost $1.6 million. The review process is underway and award decision letters will go out in November. If you have any questions, please contact Dana Christel at dana.christel@wi.gov.
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The 2024 Annual Workshop will be held on February 20, 2024 at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau. Registration is open. To register, visit https://forms.office.com/g/TYws700vCD.
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We have funding for groups to host regional winter workshops or spring field days in the range of $500-$1,500 per event through the Producer-Led Regional Network effort. Contact your regional coordinator or Dana Christel for more information or if you have ideas for a shared, collaborative event to host with other groups in your region.
Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program (NOPP)
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There will be a 2024 grant cycle with a new requirement. All research projects will require UW approval prior to the submission of the grant application. If you have ideas, please contact Monica Schauer as soon as possible (monica.schauer@wisc.edu).
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A new FAQ document is available at NOP.wi.gov. Subscribe to program updates here.
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To follow along with the NOPP recipients and learn about the work they are doing, you can request to join the Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program Facebook group administered by UW-Extension.
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Crop Insurance Rebates for Planting Cover Crops Program
- Farms that applied for the crop insurance premium rebate for planting cover crops program for the 2022-2023 application period that (1), have an eligible and active crop insurance policy; and (2), submitted correct field and
acreage information, should see a discount on their upcoming crop insurance bills. Visit CoverCropRebate.wi.gov for more information. Subscribe to program updates here.
• The application for the Crop Insurance Rebates for Planting Cover Crops Program will open in December 2023, pending approval of an emergency rule for the program. Frequently asked questions about the program can be found on the Cover Crops webpage. Contact datcpcc@wisconsin.gov with any additional questions.
Legislation Updates
Tools and Resources
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NEW Bureau of Land and Water Training Request Form
The DATCP Bureau of Land and Water has put together a new form for county staff and local governments to request training on programs and activities offered and supported by bureau staff. This form will allow you or your staff to request training in multiple areas at once and will allow bureau staff to better coordinate our training efforts. The training request form can be found here.
• Drought Monitoring
You can be a part of the National Drought Mitigation Center’s Drought Monitoring Network. The link below will take you to the Drought Impacts Toolkit. Choose "Submit A Report" and complete the survey to include local information in the survey.
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Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Division of Agricultural Resource Management
Bureau of Land and Water Resources
2811 Agriculture Dr.
P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708
https://www.datcp.wi.gov
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