Part 502 - Subpart A - Common Terms - Highlighted

Schedule of Operations

(1) Use the 1155 official title when referring to the schedule of operations. (2) The portion of the plan that contains the practices, activities, extent, and timelines needed to address identified natural resource concerns.

Cost-Share Payment

The payments made to a participant, under the particular program, specifically mentioned. Calculated based upon determination of actual cost multiplied by the authorized cost-share rate. This method of payment is no longer supported for programs administered through ProTracts.

Cost-Share Rate

The percentage of the cost paid by the Federal government for completing the installation of a practice.

Lifespan

The period of time specified during which the conservation practice or activity is to be maintained and used for its intended purpose. Practice lifespans are documented by NRCS in the Conservation Practice Standards (CPS) database.

Environmental Evaluation (EE)

A concurrent part of the planning process in which the potential long-term and short-term impacts of an action on people, their physical or social surroundings, and nature are evaluated, and alternative actions explored. Documented on Form NRCS-CPA-52.

Vegetative Practice

A conservation practice that involves the establishment or planting of an herbaceous or woody vegetation to conserve, protect from degradation, or improve soil, water, or related natural resources in the most cost-effective manner. Examples include, but are not limited to, contour buffer strips, filter strips, critical area plantings, and tree and shrub planting.

Mitigation

The compensation for functions and values that are lost on a converted wetland through restoration, enhancement, or creation.

Conservation Impacts

The differences between anticipated effects of treatment in comparison to existing or benchmark conditions. Differences may be expressed by narrative, quantitative, visual, or other means. Impacts are used as a basis for making informed conservation decisions.

Cost

The estimated amount incurred, paid, or engaged to be paid by a participant for equipment use, materials, and services needed to implement a practice, component, or activity.

Practice Code

The identifying number associated with a conservation practice, enhancement, enhancement bundle, or activity as assigned in the NRCS Conservation Practice Standards (CPS) database.

Soil Loss Tolerance (T)

The maximum average annual erosion rate specified in the FOTG that will not adversely impact the long-term productivity of the soil.

Practice Lifespan

the time period in which the conservation practices are to be used and maintained for their intended purposes as defined by NRCS technical references.

Environmental Assessment (EA)

A concise public document that briefly provides sufficient evidence and analysis to determine whether to prepare a more comprehensive environmental impact statement or a finding of no significant impact.

Technical Determination

A conclusion concerning the status and condition of natural resources and cultural practices based on science and best professional judgment of natural resource professionals. Note: The term "technical determination" will always be used when referring to conclusions made related to the Food Security Act Title XII programs appealed to FSA county committees.

Veteran Farmer or Rancher

A farmer or rancher who has served in the Armed Forces (as defined in section 101(10) of title 38) and who (A) has not operated a farm or ranch; (B) has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 years; or (C) or is a veteran (as defined in section 101 of that title) who has first obtained status as a veteran (as so defined) during the most recent 10-year period.

Land-Based Conservation Practice

A land-based conservation practice is implemented on eligible land to address a resource concern.

Contract

A legal document that specifies the rights and obligations of any participant enrolled in the program. A contract is a binding agreement for the transfer of financial assistance from USDA to the participant.

Limited-Resource Farmer or Rancher

A limited-resource farmer or rancher is either of the following: (1) A person who meets both of the following criteria: (a) With direct or indirect gross farm sales not more than the current indexed value in each of the previous 2 fiscal years (adjusted for inflation using Prices Paid by Farmer Index as compiled by National Agricultural Statistical Service). (b) Has a total household income at or below the national poverty level for a family of four, or less than 50 percent of county median household income in each of the previous 2 years (to be determined annually using U.S. Department of Commerce Data) (2) A legal entity or joint operation if all individual members independently qualify under paragraph (1) above.

Eligible Person

A natural person who meets program requirements for participation. Does not include an eligible legal entity.

Contract Item Number (CIN)

A number or number and letter used to identify required conservation practices and activities and identifiable components.

Field

A part of a farm that is separated from the balance of the farm by permanent boundaries such as fences, roads, permanent waterways, woodlands, other similar features, or crop lines (in cases where farming practices make it possible that such crop lines are not subject to change), or other similar features.

Advance Payment

A payment that may be made available in advance of the installation of the conservation practice. An advance payment may only be made if authorized by program authority.

Owner

A person who has sufficient legal ownership of the land, including a person who is buying the acreage under purchase agreement; each spouse in a community property State; each spouse when spouses own property jointly; and a person who owns life-estate property.

Operator

A person who is in general control of the farming operation on the farm. Also, an individual, entity, or joint operation that is determined to be in general control of the farming operations on the farm during the current year.

Beginning Farmer or Rancher

A person, Indian Tribe, Tribal corporation, or legal entity who -- (1) Has not operated a farm, ranch, or NIPF, or who has operated a farm, ranch, or NIPF for not more than 10 consecutive years. This requirement applies to all members of an entity who will materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch. (2) In the case of a contract with an individual (individually, or with the immediate family), material and substantial participation requires that the individual provide substantial day-to-day labor and management of the farm or ranch, consistent with the practices in the country or State where the farm is located. (3) In the case of a contract with an entity or joint operation, all members must materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch. Material and substantial participation requires that each of the members provide some amount of the management, or labor and management necessary for day-to-day activities, such that if each of the members did not provide these inputs, operation of the farm or ranch would be seriously impaired.

Participant

A person, legal entity, Indian Tribe, native corporation, or eligible entity that has been accepted into the program and who is receiving payment or is responsible for implementing the terms and conditions of a USDA program contract or easement agreement to purchase.

Planner

A person, qualified by training and experience, who effectively assists the participant in completing the planning process.

Incentive Practice

A practice or set of practices approved by the Secretary that, when implemented and maintained on eligible land, addresses one or more priority resource concerns.

Structural Practice

A practice that involves a constructed facility, land shaping, or permanent vegetative cover designed to preserve soil; reduce runoff of nutrients, sediment, and pesticides; enhance wildlife habitat; or for other purposes. Examples include animal waste facilities, terraces, grassed waterways, contour grass strips, filter strips, tail water pits, permanent wildlife habitat, and constructed wetlands.

Socially Disadvantaged

A producer who is a member of a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudices without regard to members' individual qualities. These groups consist of American Indians or Alaskan Natives, Asians, Blacks or African Americans, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics. A socially disadvantaged applicant is an individual or entity that is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. For an entity, at least 50-percent ownership in the legal entity must be held by socially disadvantaged individuals. Note: Gender is not a covered group under the 1990 Farm Bill definition.

Native Vegetation

A species that is a part of the original flora of the area in question.

Cost List

A summary of practice payment rates for a select list of practices that is formatted for use in agency-approved contracting and planning software.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

A sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks. See conservation practice standard 595.

Land Cover/Use

A term that includes categories of land cover and categories of land use. Land cover is the vegetation or other kind of material that covers the land surface. Land use is the purpose of human activity on the land; it is usually, but not always, related to land cover. The National Resources Inventory uses the term "land cover/use" to identify categories that account for all the surface area of the United States. A term used by NRCS to identify the intent of the client with regard to the purpose to which a land unity is to be put. The two designations of land use are the official NRCS designation and the client land use designation agreed to by the client and planner.

Conservation Activity

Activity performed that contributes to the protection, preservation, management, or restoration of natural resources on agricultural and forest lands.

Concurrence

Agreement of all parties on the item in question.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

An agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, formerly called the Soil Conservation Service, that helps farmers and foresters better manage natural resources and improve their operations.

Wetland Functions

An area of land having some or all of the following attributes: - Dynamic surface water storage - Long-term surface water storage - Subsurface water storage - Dissipation of energy - Cycling of nutrients - Retention of particulates - Export of organic carbon and detritus - Maintenance of plant and animal communities

Soil Map Unit (or "map unit")

An area of the landscape shown on a soil map with a common definition and name in terms of soil types or other qualities.

Cost Estimate

An estimate of the cost associated with practice implementation.

Easement

An interest in land defined and delineated in a deed whereby the landowner conveys rights, title, and/or interests in a property to the grantee, but the landowner retains fee-title ownership.

Joint Operation

As defined in 7 CFR Section 1400.3, a joint operation is a general partnership, joint venture, or other similar business organization in which members are jointly and severally liable for the obligations of the organization.

Conservation Benefit

Conservation benefit means the improved condition of a natural resource resulting from the implementation of a conservation practice or activity.

Converted Wetland

Converted wetland (CW or CW+year) means a wetland that has been drained, dredged, filled, leveled, or otherwise manipulated (including the removal of woody vegetation or any activity that results in impairing or reducing the flow, circulation, or reach of water) for the purpose of, or to have the effect of, making possible the production of an agricultural commodity if such production would not have ben possible but for such action, and, before such action, such land was wetland, farmed wetland, or farmed wetland-pasture and was neither highly erodible land nor highly erodible cropland.

Perennial Crops (from FSA AD-1026) HELC/WC

Crops planted to reduce inputs necessary to produce food and fiber, but are not limited to, ornamentals, tree fruits, tree nuts, grapes, olives, native pasture, and perennial forage. These crops eliminating replanting after harvest, can reduce topsoil losses due to erosion, increase biological carbon sequestration within the soil, and greatly reduce waterway pollution through agricultural runoff.

Water Quality

Describes the condition of the water and its resource concerns or opportunities, including concerns such as excessive nutrients, pesticides, sediment, contaminants, pathogens, and turbidity in surface waters and excessive nutrients and pesticides in ground waters.

Enhancement

Enhancements are conservation activities used to treat resource concerns and improve conservation performance. Enhancements address additional considerations or criteria that exceed the minimum requirements of the associated base conservation practice. NRCS identifies the enhancement criteria and implementation requirements in the enhancement guide sheet.

Wetland

Land that has a predominance of hydric coils an dis undated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support a prevalence of hydrophytic vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions that support a prevalence of such vegetation under normal circumstances.

Riparian Areas

Land that occurs along streams, channels, rivers, and other water bodies. They are normally distinctly different from the surrounding land because of unique soil and vegetation characteristics, may be identified by distinct vegetative communities that are reflective of soil conditions normally wetter than adjacent soils, and generally provide a corridor for the movement of wildlife.

Animal Unit

One thousand pounds of live weight of any given livestock species or any combination of livestock species.

Wetland Hydrology

Permanent or periodic inundation, or prolonged soil saturation sufficient to create anaerobic conditions on the soil

Hydrophytic Vegetation

Plants growing in water or in a substrate that is at least periodically deficient in oxygen during the growing season as a result of saturation or inundation by water.

Ranking Period

Ranking period is synonymous with batching period or signup. The intent is to provide a deadline by which applications must be received in order to be considered for funding in that funding cycle.

National Payment Rate (CSP)

Rate based, to the maximum extent practicable, on costs incurred by the participant, income forgone by the participant, and expected environmental benefits.

Structural and Vegetative Conservation Practices and Activities

Structural and vegetative conservation practices and activities are those that primarily involve the establishment, improvement, construction, or installation of site-specific measures to conserve, protect from degradation, or improve natural resources in a cost-effective manner. Structural and vegetative practices and activities are those that have a lifespan of two or more years.

Hydric Soil

Soil that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in its upper part (Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States, NTCHS, 1994).

Approving Official

The NRCS employee authorized to sign conservation program contracts, contract modifications, and payment requests.

Practice Implementation

The action taken by a producer or contractor to install or carry out a planned conservations practice to address a natural resource concern, meet the technical requirements of the design standard, and achieve an environmental benefit for the intended practice lifespan.

Signup Notice

The public notification document that NRCS provides to describe the particular requirements for a specific conservation program signup.

Nationally Significant Resource Concerns

The significant resource concerns identified by NRCS in conservation program announcements.

Payment Rate

The sum of all eligible estimated incurred costs and income foregone per typical unit of practice implemented multiplied by the program payment percentage.

Contract Period

The term in which the contract is effective and legally binding.