Mission Support ServicesOperations Associate Chief Area

Aaron LausterNational Sustainable Agriculture LeadStrategic Natural Resource Initiatives

Aaron LausterNational Sustainable Agriculture LeadStrategic Natural Resource Initiatives January 2018January 2018

Resource Stewardship Evaluation (RSE)What is it?

The Resource Stewardship Evaluation (RSE) is a voluntary service provided to producers as part of the conservation planning process.

RSE pairs key stewardship indicators and evaluation methods for a defined subset of nationally important resource concerns.

All information is protected as part of the client’s individual conservation plan.

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RSE Objectives

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Improve Customer Service• Develop framework for Stewardship Recognition• Support Sustainability metrics producers need for buyers and export markets

• Efficient and Technically Credible to support Client Decision Making

Improve Efficiency• Integrate with Conservation Planning and CDSI• Information useable in Program Ranking and 

Eligibility as part of conservation delivery

Cropland Stewardship Achievement

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RSET StatusLand Use Evaluations Available• Crop In Use• Pasture & Range 2.0 Rolled out in April• Stand Alone Tool 3.0 Rolled out in Sept• Forestry 4.0 (March Expected)• Farmstead 4.0 (March Expected)• Associated Ag Land 4.0 (March Expected)

Completed • 1321 evaluations on 863 PLUs• 414 Clients• 268 Users• 70,000 Acres

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Mission Support Services

RSE Utilization

Take care of the land and the land will take care of you.– Hugh Hammond Bennett

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Stewardship Recognition

“If you’re going to be in farming today, you’re going to have to pay attention to detail. And I believe NRCS and soil conservation can really help, I really do.” – Maryland farmer

Maryland Farmpumpkin, corn,

soybeans, wheat

Existing no-till operation, with cover crops on highly erodible

soils achieved all stewardship thresholds

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Conservation Planning and Communication

Delaware FarmNo-Till

corn, soybeans 8

Empowering ProducersNew Jersey Farm

corn, soybeans conversion to hay

Tenant farmer used RS to address landowners resource concerns and stay farming

“Using planning knowledge and the RS tool NRCS staff helped the producer evaluate alternative options that would meet the landowners DRCC easement restrictions but still allow agricultural production. Plan achieved the soil erosion, water quality, and habitat improvements the DRCC wanted while allowing the farmer to keep land vital to his business in production.” – District Conservationist9

Effects of Programs

-100,000

-50,000

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

Total Nitrogen(lbs)

Soil Carbon Loss(lbs)

Iowa RSE Pilot Results

Benchmark Planned RS Threshold

40%Reduction

60%Reduction

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

Sediment (tons) Total Phosphorus(lbs)

Iowa RSE Pilot Results

Benchmark Planned RS Threshold

70%Reduction

40%Reduction

Fields AcresChange in Key Environmental Indicators

Sediment (tons)

Total Nitrogen

(lbs)

Total Phosphorus

(lbs)

Soil Carbon

(lbs)

25 987 2,900 28,400 4,400 118,700

The referenced numbers reflect all RS evaluations which have completed a benchmark and planned alternative.  Values are estimated from CEAP analysis of the effects of meeting thresholds and the RSE results of individual fields.

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RSE UsageClients: 392Land Units: 822Crop: 29,437 AcresPasture: 1,800 AcresRange: 41,142 Acres

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Mission Support Services

RSE Partnerships

If we are bold in our thinking, courageous in accepting new ideas, and willing to work with instead of against our land, we shall find in conservation farming an avenue to the greatest food production the world has ever known.– Hugh Hammond Bennett

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RSE Outside Partners

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Interoperability

• Metric Harmonization• Data Sharing• User Privacy• User Service

How do we best serve farmers and tell the Conservation Story together?

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Stewardship Recognition

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Mission Support Services

RSE Trailblazers &Soil Health Champions

Out of the long list of nature’s gifts to man, none is perhaps so utterly essential to human life as soil.– Hugh Hammond Bennett

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Soil Health Champion (East)

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Soil Health Champion (West)

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