ok lahoma carbon pr · as a resu of them r 31, 2012 table 1. p certified acres co2e seq outreach...
TRANSCRIPT
OkCaPr
Devecarbprotwateof beto enbenecarb
FY2010
klahoarboogra
eloping hon offseocols aner qualityest manansure thefits of aon offse
0 CIG #69‐3A
oman am
high quaet verificnd quanty improvagemente enviroagricultuets
A75‐10‐167
a
ality ation tifying vementst practiconmentaral
s ces al
Acknowledgements This material is based upon work supported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under #69‐3A75‐10‐167 from the FY2010 Conservation Innovation Grant. Support was also provided by Touchstone Energy via Western Farmers Electric Cooperative and the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma Forestry Services, participating Oklahoma Conservation Districts, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Any options, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Direct questions or comments to:
Oklahoma Carbon Program
Oklahoma Conservation Commission 2800 N. Lincoln Boulevard, Suite 160
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105 USA Ph: 405.522.4739
Email: [email protected]
This publication is issued by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission as authorized by Mike Thralls, Executive Director. Copies have not been printed but are available through the agency website. Two printout copies have been deposited with the Publications Clearinghouse of the Oklahoma State Department of Libraries. All programs and services of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and Oklahoma’s Conservation Districts are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital status or disability. 2013.12/SH
Table o
Introduct
Project O
Use of Co
Load Redu
Verificatio
No‐Till .....
Seeded G
Rangeland
Forestry ..
Soil Samp
Project Ad
Appendix
Appendix
Appendix
Appendix
List of TaTable 1: P
Table 2: E
Table 3: T
Table 4: D
Table 5: P
List of FigFigure 1: P
Figure 2: N
f Contents
ion ...............
utreach ........
nservation D
uctions .........
on Protocols a
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rasslands .....
d ..................
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pling ..............
dministration
A: Verifier Tr
B: Field Verif
C: Progressiv
D: Analysis o
ables Project acres a
Estimated am
Training curric
Description of
Proposed and
gures Project locati
No‐Till field v
s
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istricts for Fie
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and Handboo
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n ....................
raining Progra
fication Resul
ve Crediting M
of Conservatio
and estimate
ount of CO2e
culum of form
f forested acr
actual projec
on eligible co
verification tra
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eld Verificatio
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ok ..................
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am ................
lts .................
Matrix ...........
on District Pro
d amount of
e sequestered
mal and on‐th
es that partic
ct budget exp
ounties. .........
aining for ver
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oficiency with
CO2e seques
d by participa
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rifiers .............
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h Rangeland M
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Monitoring M
2012 ..............
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Name: O
Project Twater qubenefits
Agreeme
Project D
Contact Phone NE‐Mail: s
Period C
Project E
Introdu This projOklahomrelated wpurpose protocolsvalue to open to p
Figure 1.
The Oklaprevent ssequestecombine
Oklahoma Co
Title: Develouality improvof agricultu
ent Number
Director: St
InformationNumber: 405stacy.hansen
Covered by R
End Date: S
uction
ect completma, paired thwater qualityof this projes for agricultensure envirproducers in
Eligible coun
homa Carbosoil erosion,er or avoid es research, n
FY 2010 Execut
onservation
oping high qvements of ral carbon o
r: FY10 CIG #
acy Hansen
n: 5‐522‐4739 n@conserva
Report: Sep
eptember 1
ed carbon seem with soiy improvemeect was to detural and silvronmental bn 19 Oklahom
ties comprisi
on Program ( and improvmissions of gnatural reso
Conservative Sum
n Commissio
quality carbobest manageoffsets
#69‐3A75‐10
tion.ok.gov
tember 14,
4, 2013
equestrationl sampling, aents can be evelop, test,vicultural prbenefits of ecma counties
ng project ar
(OCP) encouve air qualitygreenhouseurce protect
ation Innmary of D
on
on offset verement pract
0‐167
2010 – Sept
n verificationand demonsbundled for and implemactices that cosystem m(Fig. 1).
rea
urages Oklahy by voluntar gases (GHGtion, and sta
novation GDeliverab
rification protices to ensu
tember 14, 2
n protocols strated how ecosystem
ment carbonare recognizarket transa
homans to prily adoptingG). By develoate‐backed v
Grant bles
otocols and qure the envir
2013
under develverified carbmarket tran sequestratized to have actions. The
rotect wateg conservatiooping a progrverification o
quantifying ronmental
lopment in bon offsets ansactions. Thon verificaticarbon marproject was
r quality, on practicesram that of carbon off
4
and he ion rket s
s that
fsets,
Oklahomagricultu With enastate ageunique bexisting cNatural Rinfrastruhelps mavoluntary The Oklabased in commit tand othethat theiis imperathose whsequestr One of thfederal atogetherbecause For this pConservaforestlanarea. TheOklahomOklahomproject aClimate Edioxide (the CIG p
ma has a modre, forestry,
abling legislaency the autbecause it is conservationResources Cocture of ageaintain or imy practices t
homa Carboscience, reato improveder ecosystemr systems arative that theho are willingation and an
he things thagencies, priv to develop of these val
project, an ination Districtnd owners ine purpose ofma Carbon Prma soil carborea with 3‐yExchange (CCCO2). This pproject.
del, voluntar and geolog
ation dating hority to vera model diffn programs oonservation ncies that agprove the echat sustain n
on Program casonable to i manageme
m service benre based on sey also be usg to engage n overall red
at make thisvate companthe programuable partne
n‐state electts (OACD) to 19 countiesf the purcharogram, and n sequestratyear carbon CX) and to sprivate carbo
ry program tic sequestra
back to 200rify and certferent from moffered by stService (NRgricultural pconomic vitanatural reso
continues tomplement, nt practicesnefits. Whilesound scienser‐friendly,in best manduction in GH
state progrnies, nonprom for optimuerships that
tric cooperato purchase cas for three yse was to prmethodologtion rates. Tcontracts uset the carboon offset pilo
that maximization.
1, Oklahomaify carbon omandatory ctate and fedCS), the proproducers knality of the aources for fut
o explore poand achieva that result ie all carbon mce and creat, both for thonagement prHG in the atm
am unique iofits, universum benefit towe were ab
tive partnerearbon offsetears. These rovide a framgies to verifyThe buyer assing the samon offset payot project pr
zes the qual
a was one ofoffsets from vcap and tradderal agenciegram capitanow and trusagricultural sture generat
olicies, methoable by produin greenhoumarket progte positive, vose attemptractices that mosphere.
s the partnesities, and coo Oklahomable to bring t
ed with the ts from agriccounties commework for ty carbon offked OACD to
me sequestrayment at $3.rovided part
ity of offsets
f the first stavoluntary prde systems. es, includingalizes on the st. The innovsector whiletions.
ods, and staucers willinguse gas (GHGgrams must sverifiable beting to securresult in car
ership with oonservation businesses this project t
Oklahoma Acultural prodmprised thethe developfsets, and to o aggregate ation rates as.50/metric tof the requ
s from
ates to give ractices. ThisBy overlappg the USDA existing vative progra encouragin
ndards that g to voluntarG) sequestratstrive to assenefits, we fere offsets anrbon
other state adistricts woand citizensto fruition.
Association oducers and e CIG projectment of the gather dataproducers is the Chicagon of carbonired match f
5
a s is ing
am g
are rily tion ure eel it nd for
and rking s. It is
of
t a on n the o n for
Project
ObjectiveConservaowners iowners tis necessorder to workshopracticeslocally‐le
Results: summer Personalthe progword of minterest. As a resuof them r31, 2012
Table 1. P
Certified
Acres
CO2e seq
Outreachsummaritype, avotons of Cpractice. over 90%metric to7,859 paGreenhono‐till; 12
Outreach
e: Sign prodation Districtn the projecto implemensary becausetest verificaps about thes, particularled meetings,
Producer papromoting tized fliers wram and premouth, and Six subsequult of outreacremaining th(Table 1).
Project acres
. (Mtons)
h resumed des for the paoided loss ofCO2e sequesThanks to p
% of the certons of CO2e ssenger vehuse Gas Equ23 acres of r
ducers to thrts (OACD) wct area. The gnt BMPs and e participatiotion protocoe environmey related to marketing,
articipation the project aere designeess release te3 informatioent presentch efforts ovhrough the e
and estimate
201
15,39
5,43
uring the finarticipating f sediment, ntered, and tparticipating ified acres e(Table 2), wicles, accorduivalencies Criparian buff
ree‐year carill provide ogoal of this ocontracts toon of landowols and colleental and ecoecosystem mand media c
was critical and taking and for each pemplates weonal meetingations werever 73 produend of the p
ed amount of
0
91 3
31 1
nal year of thproducers. Tnitrogen andhe equivaleproducers,
each year, anhich is roughding to the ECalculator. Thfer, 7,975 ac
bon contracutreach to aoutreach is to sell the reswners is integct soil samponomic advamarket transcampaigns.
to the projend reviewingarticipating ere providedgs in wester made to proucers signed roject with 8
f CO2e seque
2011
30,707
12,967
he project wThe summard phosphoront number owe were abnd estimate hly the annuEnvironmenthe practicesres of grassl
cts. The Oklaagriculture pto encouragesulting carbogral to the sples. OACD wantages of cosactions. Ou
ect’s successg applicationconservatiod to each disn Oklahomaoducers at v carbon con86,936 acres
estered 2010‐
2012
40,838
19,323
when we crearies includedous from theof car emissile to field‐tecarbon sequual greenhoutal Protectio included 20and, and 10
ahoma Assocproducers ane producerson offsets touccess of thwill hold infoonservationutreach activ
s. In 2011 wens to determon district tostrict. This pua generated various localtracts to pars certified as
‐2012
Total
86,936
37,721
ated persond number of eir land, estimons that weest verificatiouestration touse gas emisns Agency’s 0,264 acres o0,317 acres o
ciation of nd forestland and forestlao the buyer. is project inrmational managemevities will inc
e spent the mine eligibilit help promoublicity, locaproducer ly‐led meetirticipate, wits of Decemb
6
1
alized acres, practmated metriere offset by on methodsotaling 37,72ssions from online of continuouof rangeland
6
d and This
ent clude
ty. ote al
ings. th 59 ber
tice ic their s on 21
us d.
Table 2. E
Use of C Objectivecarbon oimplemeproject athe verificorrectlythem in t Results: years. Wgrasslandrequires to certificdistricts fsenior vescores onon prefeclaims foOklahomhow to pformats. to verify The methdistricts sand who classroomwere proNRCS par
Estimated am
Conservati
e: Use Conseoffsets. For tnt the verifirea. CIG funied fields as y. The Projecthe CIG final
Districts useWe created a ds and no‐tilclassroom acation, and cfirst verifiederifiers was sn written tesrred procedor payment. Tma to assist wprocess, labeDistricts hadfields indep
hods develosigned agreecommitted m and field tovided to startners provid
mount of CO2e
ion Distric
ervation Dishis project, cation protonds will be usa way to quct Director w report.
ed the verifiVerifier Tral fields. It is and field instcontinuing e a portion ofselected bassts. As part oures for comThe lead verwith field verel, and send d to successendently.
ped during tements to prtheir staff totraining, andaff from 11 cded portions
e sequestere
ts for Field
stricts to conparticipatingocols in no‐tsed to pay Sality assure
will compare
cation methaining Prograsimilar to thtruction, as weducation thf their produed on attenof their trainmpleting andrifier from thrification andproducer apfully demon
this project wrovide verifio attending d 200 hours oconservations of the form
d by particip
d Verificat
nduct perforg Conservatiill fields andenior Verifiethat verifierthe initial an
hods to fieldam (Appendhe NRCS procwell as succeereafter. Acucers’ acres dance at muning, districtsd submitting he Conservad to district pplications astrate their
were taughtcation servicverifier trainof on the jobn districts witmal classroom
pants per cou
ion
rmance baseion Districts grasslands ers certified rs are implemnd quality as
d verify overdix A) for appcess for conessful democcording to owith a senioultiple classrs also receivfield forms,tion Commioffices as nend verificatifield skills b
t to conservaces for the Onings. Over 5b field trainithin the prom training a
nty 2010‐201
ed verificatiwill field tesunder carboby NRCS to menting thessurance res
r 80,000 acreproved verifiservation plnstration of our new traior verifier. Troom and fieved administ, pictures, timssion traveleecessary to ton forms in
before they w
ation districtOklahoma Ca50 hours of fng during fieoject area (Tand all of the
12
ion of soil st and on contract ire‐verify 10%e protocol sults and inc
es during thiers of seedean writers af field skills pning model, he first groueld trainings trative trainimesheets, aed western train districtthe preferrewere approv
t staff whosearbon Prograformal eld assessmeable 3). State formal field
7
n the % of
clude
e 3 ed and prior up of and ng nd
t staff ed ved
e am
ents e d
training. conservachange fProgram verificati Challengannuallyto‐year. Tand errotraining. if we werdistrict stmemory paperwoverifiers
Figure 2.
The on the jation districtrom the statin consultaton results.
ges: Overall, . This meantTo help verifrs in interpreWe also askre meeting ttaff was thatretention fr
ork. From thithroughout
No‐Till field v
job training staff and a ted objectivetion with NR
the biggest t that conserfiers keep upetation or fiked district stheir trainingt they wanterom year to ys we determthe year.
verification tr
was providelead verifiere is that senRCS, not cert
educationalrvation distrp their skills,eld forms wtaff to compg needs. Theed more fielyear, which mined that w
raining for ve
ed by a cadrer from the Oior verifiers tified by NRC
challenge wict staff nee, we emailedere presenteplete post‐cle comment rd training timis to be expe
we need mor
erifiers
e of senior vklahoma Cowere certifiCS. See Appe
was that verieded to retaid quizzes beed at the neass evaluatireceived mome. There wected. This rre trainings a
verifiers comnservation Ced by the Oendix B for a
ification wasin the new ktween verifiext annual claons so we coost often fromwas definitelyresulted in sand overall c
mprised of Commissionklahoma Ca summary o
s only done knowledge yication seasoassroom ould determm conservaty a lack of ome errors contact with
8
. A rbon of the
ear‐ons
mine tion
on h
Table 3. Training curriculum of formal and on‐the‐job training provided to conservation districts
*2009 (hours)
*2010 (hours)
2011 (hours)
2012 (hours)
2013 (hours)
Form
al Training
(3)Verifier training
C markets, offsets, and verification
Aggregator’s perspective
What is soil C sequestration?
Forestry carbon sequestration
Recognizing what you’re looking for: Assessing no‐till fields I
Recognizing what you’re looking for: Assessing seeded grasslands I
(3)Verifier training
Soil C seq: The link to conservation mgmt
Aggregator’s perspective
Recognizing what you’re looking for: Assessing no‐till fields II
Recognizing what you’re looking for: Assessing seeded grasslands II
Verifier perspective: notes from the field
(6)Grassland field verification I
(6)Grassland field verification II
(6)No‐till field verification I
(3)Continuing education for verifiers
4‐level certification program requirements
Project overview
Producer applications
OSU’s soil C sampling program
Related projects in OK
(3)Continuing education for verifiers
Project update
Nutrient mgmt for N20 reductions
Improving our methods for quality results
Rangeland worksheets, monitoring, and verification overview
(3)Nutrient management and water quality
(3)Soil sampling with a hand probe
(6)Rangeland health and field monitoring I
(6)Rangeland health and field monitoring II
Coming in 2014
NRCS’s Soil Health 101
**On the Job Training No‐till field
data collection
No‐till field data collection
Grassland field data collection
No‐till field data collection
Grasslands field data collection
No‐till field data collection
Grassland field data collection
Rangeland field data collection
Rangeland field data collection
*Pre‐dates project start date. **Hours vary by district.
Load Re Objectivein the pr Results: Twater quinstallationutrientsestimateproject awater) w10,651 toconversioinstallatio
To furthemuch it wsedimentbundled with verimanagem
Verifica
Objectiveverificatipracticesknowledgother sta Results: Ttaught thparticipaprovide vand to mverificativerifiers,funds wit Two of thExchangemanagem
eductions
e: Estimate oject area u
The practiceuality so one on or contins, and sedimd the reductrea. The yea
was estimateons of sedimon from tillaon of riparia
er quantify twould cost at and nutriefor paymentfied soil carbment.
ation Proto
e: Create a von handboos for carbon geable agricates and nati
The project he methods ating acres. Averification smake them uson costs dow making mothin Oklahom
he methodoe’s (CCX) no‐ment princip
the reductiousing the EPA
es implemengoal of this
nuation of bement enteringtion of sedimar 2010‐2012d at 203,342
ment. The thrage to no‐till an buffer.
his ecosystea water treatnts from drit with the cabon offsets c
ocols and H
verification ok for use bysequestratioculture and fional market
completed to conservaAs a verificatservices, we sable by nonwn, allowingre offset proma.
logies were ‐till and rangples in them
on of sedimeA STEP‐L mo
nted during tproject wasest managemg waterbodiment, nitrog2 load reduc2 pounds of ree practice cropping, co
em service btment facilitnking waterarbon offsetcan encoura
Handbook
handbook. Cy agriculture on in Oklahoforestry proft registries.
drafts of 3 vation districttion programrecognized n‐specialistsg conservatiooject funds a
based on mgeland protoare based o
ent, nitrogeodel.
this project as to sequestement practices. Using theen, and phoction (the amnitrogen; 39types used onversion fr
enefit of they in western. This is a co payment. Bage the adop
Compile all pprofessionaoma. These pfessionals. T
verification pts, and thenm offering cothe need to. This has thon districts tavailable to p
anagement ocols. We sen NRCS stan
en, and phos
also have ther GHG by fices (BMPs) the U.S. EPA Sosphorous lomount not le9,381 poundto arrive at trom cropland
e practices, wn OK to remoo‐benefit thaBundling thisption of mor
protocols froals to evaluaprotocols wihe protocols
protocols ann used the monservation o standardizee advantagethe opportuproducers, a
requiremenlected the Cndards and m
sphorous loa
e co‐benefitnancially inchat reduce bTEP‐L spreadoading to streeaving the lads of phosphthis numberd to seeded
we plan to cove the equiat could theos water qualre conservat
om this projte agriculturill be replicas can also be
nd a soil sammethods to cdistricts thee data collece of keeping nity to train and keeping
nts in the ChCCX protocolmanagemen
ading to stre
t of protectincentivizing thbacteria, dsheet tool,eams in the and and entehorous; and r were: grassland, a
alculate howivalent load oretically be ity improvemion
ect into a ral and foresble by e adopted by
mpling protocollect data fe opportunitction methodfuture and work amore projec
icago Climatls because tht principles.
10
eams
ng he
we
ering
and
w of
ment
stry
y
ocol, from ty to ds
s ct
te he
While fulproject, tfor grouncreated:
N
Se
Im
So
During derequiremthe convgrasslandemphasizReferringtier standstandardmanagemof the mathis proje ProgramimplemecompletiNRCS as
No‐Till Objective Results: Wsignifican“croplanmanagemdiscontinmatter. Hof cover sequestrstandardWe prepfallowingpremise
ll‐scale verifthe field datnd‐truthing t
No‐Till Carbo
eeded Grass
mproved Ran
oil sampling
evelopmentments might ersion from d, and the avze improvedg to the growdard progresd is intendedment, creatioatrix and quect, but we p
m Note: The Ontation of thon and resuldrafts.
e: Implemen
We developnt experiencd” by FSA thment. Primanuation of tilHowever, thcrops as an ation. The md are based oared a rationg, biomass mon which th
ication (100a collection to inform mo
n Sequestra
slands Carbo
ngeland Man
protocol
t of the methapply in Okltillage to novoided convd managemewing body ofssive manag to result in on of wildlifeantification plan to cont
Oklahoma Cohe Oklahomalts of the CIG
nt verificatio
ped a methoce and backghat were conry carbon sellage, which is protocol aadditional remanagementon NRCS mannale explainmanagemente managem
% of acres inmethods deodeling resu
tion Verifica
on Sequestra
nagement C
hods, we alsahoma. Who‐tillage, conersion of ranent for seconf research ongement credimproved soe habitat, anof the ecosyinue to deve
onservation a Carbon ProG project. As
on protocols
odology integround in agnverted fromequestrationslows the oxalso assessesesource to at restrictionsnagement sting the requt, and burninent requirem
n a project) ieveloped maults. The follo
ation Protoco
ation Verifica
Carbon Seque
o considereile the primanversion fromngeland to andary carbonn quantifyiniting matrix oil health, rend protectioystem servicelop it.
Commissionogram in pas such, the m
s for no‐till
nded for usegriculture. Itm conventionn occurs in fiexygenation os crop rotatiassess and pos and requiretandards anuirements peng in Oklahoment is base
is typically nay be used aowing field m
ol
ation Protoc
estration Ve
d how the Cary carbon sm marginal canother use,n sequestratg ecosystemfor each praeduced emisn of water qce benefits w
n is still devert because w
methodologie
e by trainedt applies to fnal tillage toelds manageof soil and thon, residue otentially crements in thd a review oertaining to oma. Each seed and is acc
not financiallt any scale fmethodolog
col
erification Pr
CCX project asequestratiocropland to we drafted tion and ecom services, wactice (Appessions from nquality. The fwere beyond
eloping policwe were awaes are being
d professionfields designo continuoused with no‐the breakdowmanagemenredit secondhe no‐till perof the scientgrazing, striection title stcompanied b
ly feasible fofor verificatiogies were
rotocol
and managen comes froseeded standards t
osystem heawe drafted a endix C). Eacnutrient full developd the scope o
cies for full aiting the submitted t
nals with nated as s no‐tillage till due to thewn of organint, and the uary carbon rformance ific literaturep‐till, hayingtates the by an
11
or a on or
ment om
hat lth. 5‐h
ment of
to
e ic use
e. g,
explanatdetails. Challengtill field dcarbon oconditionbecome
Seeded Objective Results: Wworking croppingsprigged that tilledmanagedecosyste The methmethodsparametehealth, bwhere thmethodomanagemrequiremrationalean explan Challengeligibilityapplicatiorangelaneligibilitya decisio“historic screeningrangelan The otheseemed d
ion. The me
ges: There wdata collectiooffsets since n index remaavailable to
Grassland
e: Implemen
We developin consultatg history, desto permaned cropland isd it has the pm service be
hods and vas. Due to maers assessedbut can be ushe secondaryology includement, and plments pertaine states the pnation. See t
ges: Much timy of the acreon and we nd on the FSAy. To assist pn tree, whic578 form” tg, we determd section fo
er challenge difficult to th
thods were
eren’t manyon methodsthe practiceains positiveprovide a cl
ds
nt verificatio
ped a methotion with ansignated as “ent perennias a source ofpotential to senefits. The
lues developny variablesd cannot be sed to detery GHG sequee: number olant productning to grazipremise on wthe draft see
me was spens under appneeded to esA Form 578, roducers anh is includedthat producemined there r more deta
was that afthe districts,
tested on ov
y challenges . The early he does involve with strip tear basis for
on protocols
odology for un experience“cropland” bal grass on orf GHG until istore greatemethods we
ped were bas and other iused to estamine a levelestration resf acres seedtion. The proing, haying, awhich the meded grassla
nt screening lication. Prostablish howwhich was t
nd conservatd in the proters can obtaiwere more ils about tha
ter learning tat first. We
ver 20,000 a
with the devhurdle was dve tillage. Weill, we wouldr excluding t
s for grassla
use by persoed grazinglanby the Farm r after Januait is converteer amounts oere field test
sed on comndicators noablish an ovel of stand estsults. The paed, vegetatiotocol contaand biomass
management ands protoc
the produceoducers provw to differentthe primary tion districtstocol. Late inin from FSA.rangeland aat.
the no‐till malso added s
acres. See th
velopment, determining e determined include it fthe practice.
nds
ons trained inds specialisServices Ageary 1, 2001. ed to seededof GHG and pted on over
mon Oklahoot evaluatederall value ortablishmentarameters asion type, plains a rationas managemerequiremenol for detail
er applicatiovided their Ftiate betweedocument w with this sten this proces. Once we soacres eligible
methods, thesome confus
he draft no‐t
teaching, orif strip‐till shed that becafor now unti.
in grasslandst. It appliesency (FSA), sIt is based od grassland aprovide a br7,500 acres
oma NRCS evd on the fieldr rating for ct and maintessessed withant cover, soale explaininent. Each secnt is based als.
ons to determSA Form 578en seeded grwe used to dep in the futss we learneorted througe than antici
grasslands sion by teac
till protocol
r use of the nhould qualifyuse the soil il specific da
d data collecs to fields witseeded or on the premiand is well‐roader suite .
valuation d form, the condition or enance, which this oil cover, curng the ction of the ccompanied
mine the 8 with their rasslands andetermine inture, we cred that theregh the pre‐pated. See t
methods hing two
12
for
no‐y for
ta
ction th a
ise
of
ch is
rrent
d by
nd nitial ated e is a
the
separatedecided of gathermore expthe more
Rangel Objectivewith OK NWe will hcarbon otechnicaldeterminrequirem Results: Whealth anis intendsupport tmanagemand Woo After talkrangelanhealth prrequiremusable bymanagemappraisacan be scOverall, ocomplem We held variationgrazinglamethodsproducerdistricts, and a “tr We hiredcollection
methods annot to use hring data witperience thee reliable the
land
e: Adapt an NRCS to chohire a retiredoffsets duringl than grasslne if rangelaments for ran
We developnd monitoried for use othe historic ment plan. Todward Coun
king with rand verificatiorinciples thaments in the y conservatiment requirels to evaluatcaled as neeour experienment modele
two field trans of the lineands specialis throughoutrs in attendawe created raining refres
d a retired Nn experience
nd talking aboops and weth a pasture ey had with te results.
existing ranoose an existd NRCS (or eg year one. Cand or consend verificatingeland verif
ped a methong working n actively grplant commThe methodsnties.
ngeland specon protocol ct we want toCCX protocoon districts, ements. Thiste project added and usence has showed assumptio
ainings and t‐point intersst. Producert the year toance stayed a Common Rsher” video
RCS soil sciee to do on‐th
bout clippingeighing, andstick, visualthe methods
ngeland veriting rangelanquivalent) eCurrent rangervation tillaon can be dofiers in Okla
odology intein consultatrazed or hayunity and ars were field t
cialists and rcreated yearo encourageol, we set ouwhich coulds approach isdditionality aed for groundwn us that caons of GHG r
two classroosect and dryrs with rangeo help informfor the fieldRangeland Pusing photo
entist and a ghe‐job traini
g and weighid instead tau observations, the more c
fication prond verificatioemployee to geland verifiage verificatone by conshoma.
nded for usetion with anyed native grre used for gtested on ov
researchersrs ago by CCXe in Oklahomut to developd be used tos more expeand baselined‐truthing foarbon offsetreductions.
om sessions y‐weight raneland contram their mana training. ToPlants of Dewos and footag
graduate stuing of distric
ing. After thught the walns, and assocomfortable
otocol for Okon protocol field test thcation prototion protocoservation dis
e by personn experiencerass rangelangrazing or haver 8,000 acr
in OklahomX and partnema. Based onp a field data monitor ranensive than ue scenarios. Hor model calt buyers wan
where rangk methods wacts were invagement deco facilitate lewey and Woge from the
udent from Octs during th
e first field tking field traciated calcue the district
klahoma. Coand adapt ithe protocol bocols are muls. This step stricts and to
ns with trained grazinglannds in Oklahaying accordres of range
a, we determers containen the managa collection ngelands to using projecHowever, fielibration andnt eyes on th
eland healthwere taught vited so theycisions. Two earning and roodward Coutwo training
OSU with rae collection
training, we ansect methulations. Thets became an
ontinue to wt to Oklahomby verifying uch more will be used
o set minimu
ing in rangends specialishoma that ing to a land in Dew
mined that ted the rangeement methodologverify they mt‐based landeld monitorid validation.he ground to
h principles aby an NRCSy could use tof the severetention byunties field ggs.
ngeland datof field data
13
hod nd
work ma.
d to um
eland st. It
wey
the land
gy, meet d ng . o
and the n y the guide
a a.
The gradincluding(Append Challengwant to tThis affecthe realitNRCS grasystem fomonitoriproducermanagemproductioestimate Gatheringrazingladistricts thelped pin/out dapaired wgrazing prank metneeded. The datasecond tproficienthe meth
Forestry Objectivewith Oklafor forestproject areview. RAssessmeProgram by the Socalculato Results: protocol
uate studeng an analysisix D).
ges: We endeturn away incted how wety of how thazinglands spor each prodng methodsrs with moniment recordon, progress GHG seque
g baseline dands specialito collect baroducers fillates, numbeith ecologicaplan for eachthods to collRangeland d collection rraining befoncy with the hods based o
y
e: Adapt a foahoma Forestry. The protrea. We willResources usent written fforest manaouthern Groor.
We set out tto verify a f
nt also provid of the distr
ed up with mnterested proe designed te process wpecialist wouducer. Then, would be taitoring. Thess, in consults toward grastration of r
data on 10,00st working waseline data. out. The for of livestocal site descrih producer. Tect field datdata collectioesults from re the next methods as on the asses
orestry verifstry Servicestocol will bel submit the sed to adaptfor the USFSagement guiup of State F
to use the Corestry carb
ded a techniicts’ proficie
more rangelaoducers, so the methodoould work inuld conduct a monitorinaught to prose data wereation with aazing managerangelands v
00 acres waswith us. As a First, we crerm collectedk, weight, aniptions, and The districts ta to determon is challenthe first yearound of verobserved insment.
fication prots (OFS) to dee field testedprotocol to t a forestry pS, Georgia’s fidelines, prinForesters, an
limate Actiobon offset su
ical consultaency with the
and acres pawe raised ouology, whichn the future.baseline invng plan wouoducers and e to be used a grazinglandement plan verified for c
s too much tn alternate eated a mand managemend key grassaerial mapsthen used t
mine if changnging, especiar were not orification. Wn 2013 (Appe
tocol for Okevelop a carbd by foresterthe Americaprotocol willforest verificnciples for fond the USFS
on Reserve’sub‐project. T
ation on range methods, a
articipating tur cap of 3,0h turned out . We had oriventories anld be createdistricts so d with ecologds specialist,goals, and ucarbon credit
to ask of theplan, we wonagement plent informats species in ts, was used bthe line‐poinges to the maially when loof the qualit
We prepared endix D). We
klahoma. OCbon sequestrs verifying fan Carbon R include thecation protoorest carbonCOLE carbo
Improved FThis was in co
geland delivand suggest
than planned000 acres upto more acciginally pland then prescd for the prodistricts cougical site des, to assess foultimately fots.
e one state Norked with Nlanning formtion by field,the field. Thiby NRCS to cnt transect aanagement ooking at divty we wantean assessmee plan to ma
CC will contintration verifiorestry carbRegistry (ACRe Oklahoma Focol, Forest Sn sequestraton sequestra
orest Managonsideration
erables, ed changes
d. We didn’tp to 10,000 acurately reflened that an cribe a grazioducer, and ld assist scriptions anorage r the OCP to
NRCS NRCS to trainm that distric, including tuis informatiocreate a gennd dry‐weigplans were verse landscd, so we helent of districake changes
nue our worication protobon offsets inR) for peer Forest ResouStewardshiption developation rate
gement (IFMn of the
14
t acres. ect
ng
nd
o
n the cts urn on, eral ght
apes. d a ct to
rk ocol n the
urce p ped
M)
OklahombecominOklahomconsultindeterminand emisforestlancertified challengesequestr Table 4. D
Acres D
206
320
155
4 S
154
10
20
10
10
40
148
90
200
540
26
112
15
15 S
2075 T
Challengproject. TOFS recowouldn’t The forespromotewe engagdid not h
ma Carbon Prg an approv
ma carbon offng with a proned that the ssions reductnds was the o2,075 acres es what resoation projec
Description of
Description
Loblolly pine/
Loblolly pine
Loblolly pine/
SMZs
Loblolly pine/
Loblolly pine
Loblolly plant
Uneven aged
Uneven aged
Loblolly plant
Uneven aged
Uneven aged
Uneven aged
Uneven aged
Loblolly plant
Loblolly plant
Loblolly pine
SMZs loblolly
Total
ges: OklahomThis meant tommended wt know until
ster most fad to OFS dirged contribuhave the tim
rogram, wored verifier fofset projectsofessional foClimate Acttions througone we wanfor paymenources we wct in the futu
f forested acr
/hardwood p
plantation –
/hardwood –
/hardwood ‐
plantation ‐ a
tation ‐ age 1
shortleaf/oa
shortleaf/oa
tation ‐ age 3
hardwood st
shortleaf/ha
shortleaf/ha
oak/hardwo
tation – plant
tation – plant
– age 21
y/hardwood ‐
ma was plaguthat foresterwe delay thethen the ful
miliar with cector and hauted to the pe to delve in
rking with Okor a nationas. After revieorester versetion Reservegh increased ted to test innt (Table 4). Wwould need toure.
res that parti
lantation – pl
planted 3/20
age 32
age 32
age 12
4
ak stand ‐ age
ak stand ‐ age
tand ‐ age 60
ardwood stan
ardwood stan
od stand ‐ ag
ted 2/2012
ted 3/2011
age 21
ued with drors were busye initial assesl scale of mo
carbon markad to reduceproject but wnto the comp
klahoma Forl registry anewing multiped in carbon ’s IFM protoforest carbon OklahomaWe had seveo successful
icipated in th
lanted 3/2012
010
30
30
d ‐ age 50
d ‐ age 30
ge 35
ought and wy fighting firessments untortality.
kets and foree his consultwere much lplexities dur
restry Servicnd for perforple forestry vmarkets, pr
ocol IFM for on sequestraa. We workeeral challengly verify an I
he project
2
wildfires durines. Trees wetil the follow
estry verificating time on ess familiar ring the time
ces, to potenrming verificverification rotocols, andquantifying ation on nond with five lages, but did IFM for carb
ng the first yere very drouwing year bec
ation protocthe project.with carboneframe allott
ntially pursueation of protocols, ad accountingGHG remov
n‐federal U.Sandowners alearn from tbon
year of the ught stressecause we
ols was . Other OFS n protocols ated.
15
e
nd g, we vals S. and those
d so
staff and
The aggrshare thedirector t We couldmodel, aOklahombe a barr We looke(cross‐timOklahomOklahomlookup tawe decid We begaeligible chad submmeeting,cited wasmanagemof privateforest mamatchedmanagemput in pla Three foracres to dcarbon seand spotsequestrStewardsof visit, tplanted ospecies/s We had pdeterminso we coThis was in comm
egator’s cone managemeto fully unde
d not determnd there we
ma to calculatrier to future
ed at the ratmbers, lobloma’s vegetatima values. It wables in CCX’ded to use th
n the forestounties in somitted no‐ob, 10 of the 15s that the poment that woely owned foanagement. the duratioment of 60‐yace by the ag
resters spendetermine eequestration‐checked thation as an oship Programract numberor stand agestand type.
problems caned we had nuld not calcudue to a lacunication be
ntract with foent plans witerstand the a
mine Oklahoere not enoute statisticale projects, w
tes used by Tlly, shortleaon type andwas determ’s August 20he USFS COL
ry project byoutheast Okbligation app5 producers otential carbould likely borests underThe contrac
on of the CIGyear old hardggregator.
nt a significaneligibility andn as a manage tracts. Eacobjective ham managemr, county, lege, trees per a
lculating thenot gatheredulate the back of understetween the p
orest landowth the projeassessment
ma carbon sugh Forest Inlly valid sequwe searched
Texas and Arf pine) and sd soil type, bined that th009 protocolE 1605(b) Re
y sending prklahoma. Weplications to decided not
bon offset pabe required. r the categocts were for G project. Madwoods for t
nt amount od to write negement objech tract of lad an individent plan guigal descriptiacre if less th
e carbon seqd enough daseline, whictanding of exproject direc
wners did noct director. Tfindings and
sequestrationventory anduestration rafor another
rkansas sincsoil types as ut using theis was not th, but we dideport for Okl
romotional fe held an infparticipate,t to participaayments did Ultimately, 5ries of afforethree years anagement atimber. A bu
of time doingew, or updatective. An adnd with impual stewardsdelines wereion, forestryhan three ye
questration rata during thh is necessaxactly what ctor and OFS
ot contain laThis made itd prescriptio
on rates for fd Analysis (Fates for Oklaapproach.
e they haveOklahoma. other statehe best ideadn’t like that lahoma.
fliers to consormational , pending moate in the pr not mitigat5 producersestation, refas the offseactivities ranuffer pool of
g forest assete, managemdditional forproved foresship plan wre followed. Dy practice typears of age, b
rate with thehe assessmery to fully imwas neededS.
nguage thatt difficult forons made for
forests withoFIA) data poiahoma. Know
the same veWe consides’ data point. We consid it used aver
servation dismeeting for ore informatroject. The re the costs os contracted forestation aet buyer’s conged from nf 30% payme
essments on ment plans trester compit managemeritten for thoData gatherpe, number basal area, a
e informationts of the complement thd and why, a
t allowed OFr the projectr each tract.
out a validatnts for wing this wo
egetation tyered using ts to extrapoered using trages. Ultim
stricts in theproducers wtion. After theason most of the increaover 2050 aand improveommitment ew plantingent holdback
the contrachat includedled the resuent and carbose acres. ed included of acres, datand
on we had. Wontracted ache IFM protoand a breakd
16
FS to t
ted
ould
pes
olate the ately
e four who he
ase in acres ed
s to k was
cted d ults bon
date te
We cres ocol. down
We did npresent v Throughoanecdotabelieved enough tproject’scontinue Most nonforest immanagemand volunby workinmanagemoffset pathat are b Given theReport fotons carbto 1 metethe total soil C valseemed u As it wasdetailed dynamicsmanagemyrs) is uswhere exwhere a plantatiomanagem To be condecided tthe previtable. Sin Based onyears. Wcome un
not contact avalue was al
out the projal assumptiothat just incto justify a ca timeframe.e based on th
n‐industrial pmprovement pment plan. Tntarily agreeng with a Prment plan thayments for tbeing seque
e limited infor Oklahomabon (C), for ler) and totanon‐soil froue is constaunreasonab
later explaiin the use ofs for the busment plan. Ted for the caxtended rotaspecies chanons. COLE hament and ma
nservative, ato use the livious age clasnce we used
n the estimate did not gader a manag
a resource foso necessary
ect we repeons about adcreasing manarbon offset We develophe informati
private forespractices anThose landowe to managerofessional Fhat includes the estimateestered on th
ormation wea to arrive ative tree, deal non‐soil in om the current from yealy high espe
ned to us, mf forest growsiness as usuThe differencarbon creditations are usnge is planneas very limiteanagement w
after we conve tree categss divided bythis approa
ted rates, pather informagement plan
or assistancey to fully imp
atedly encoudditionality, wnagement int payment. Tped a rationaon we had:
st landownend manage thwners who tae their forestForester to decarbon sequed metric tonheir lands.
e had, we wt sequestratad tree, undthe charts. W
ent age class r 1‐100. Howcially consid
most guidelinwth and yieldual forest mace between tts. COLE can sed, in afforeed, for examed ability to where carbo
nverted fromgory and taky 5, or 10, dech, we did n
articipating fation to deten were asses
e calculatingplement the
untered peowhich madencreases carThis was a diale stateme
ers (NIPF) in Oheir forest reake the timets to a higheevelop or reuestration obns of atmosp
were unsure oion rates. Therstory, dowWe considerfrom the vawever, the redering our la
nes for identd models to anagement, these over aprovide somestation casemple from mmake valid con sequestra
m metric tonske the differepending onnot use a dis
forest landoermine leakased.
g net presente IFM protoc
ople in the foe the projectbon sequestifficult mindnt for the pr
Oklahoma desources usie and initiatier standard tvise a Forestbjectives, arepheric carbo
of how to behe COLE repown dead woored using thalue of the pesulting carbck of baselin
tifying the "efirst projectand again foa representame informates, where deixed conifercomparison ation is a goa
s of carbon trence betwen the age clacount rate f
owners wereage as only t
t value. Calccol.
orestry sectot more challetration and tset to overcroject that a
do not activeing a long‐teive to sign cathan the avet Stewardshe eligible to on dioxide eq
est use the Uort gives valod, forest floe differenceprevious age bon sequestne data.
extra" carbot the "baselior the carboative timefraion toward teforestationr/hardwoodsbetween baal.
to metric toen the curress separatiofor conserva
e paid a totaltracts that h
ulating net
or who heldenging. Manthought thatome within llowed us to
ely undertakeerm forest arbon contraerage landowip Program receive carbquivalent (CO
USFS COLE ues in metrioor, soil (dowe in C values class since ttration rates
on are quite ne" carbon on sequestraame (often 2this, but onlyn is precludes to loblolly aseline fores
ns CO2, weent age classon in the COLtiveness.
l $18,333 fohad or agree
17
ny t was the o
e
acts wner,
bon O2e)
ic wn for the
ation 20 y ed, or
st
s and LE
r two d to
It is our hOklahompotentianational advisory the time
Soil Sam Objectiveunder caresampleof the fieis that OSminimumsequestrdeterminverificatiemployefields incof year thprovide pthat we caccumulaestimate Results: Wcollect sowas devepersons tbecause using soimethodsachievedused to c The soil sway to mcarbon seThe secotype, lanRealizatioaggregatthrough
hope that Okma Carbon Prl offset fundregistry or cgroup whosallotted.
mpling
e: Implemenarbon contrae at the samelds under caSU will use am number ofation rate inned, this samon by carboes and NRCScluded in thehree. The prpoint measucan assess caation of carb of the carbo
We developoil samples feloped and ttrained in soit has not bel probes in gs could likelyd. When projcollect soil sa
sampling promonitor orgaequestered ondary goal wd managemon of the firsed acres undlong term m
klahoma forrogram will cing, and rescreating a prse members
nt soil sampacts. OSU wie locations iarbon contraan establishef samples win that projecmpling methon offset veriS staff. Soil se project durrotocol will burements of arbon sequebon at randoon sequestra
ped a soil samfrom fields dtested for usoil sampling een tested ingravely soil. y be adaptedject costs allamples durin
otocol was dnic carbon min a pool of was to use thent, and geost goal allowder contract
monitoring w
est landowncontinue to cources availotocol speciwe identifie
pling in tandell take 500 sn year threeact in the pred manual sothin a project area. Onceod can be usifiers across samples will ring year onebe used to cocarbon stocestration on om points in ation occurr
mpling methduring field se in no‐till cmethods. It n soils with gHowever, if d to gravely sow, and witng verificatio
developed anmass (OCM) aggregated he site‐specographic locws for accurat during the will improve c
ners can partconsider whable to pursifically for Oed during thi
em with peroil samples e. Our goal isoject area. Toil sampling ct area that e the minimused in combthe nation, be used to ge, and to detollect geo‐reks. The variaa whole fieleach field. Tring through
hodology toverificationcropland andis limited togreater thanaugers weresoils if accurh land manaon of fields u
nd tested towith the priacres underific data collation on theate valuationcontract percurrent soil c
ticipate in cahether theresue becominklahoma. Wis project bu
rformance byear one of s to take soiThe innovati method to provides anum point saination withincluding cogather baseltermine seqeferenced saation across d; thereforeThis will giveout the tota
o allow the t of agricultud planted grao soils that an 5% gravel de used to corate measureager consentunder carbo
o provide a cimary goal tor contract foected to dete rate of carbn of carbon criod. Realizacarbon sequ
arbon offset is enough inng approved We plan to cout were not a
based verificthe carbon l samples froon in this paestablish than accurate avmpling numh performanonservation dline soil carbquestration ramples froma field is tooe, we will moe baseline daal aggregated
trained non‐ural practiceasslands. It ire less than due to the lillect the soiles of soil mat, these metn contract.
onsistent ano determiner carbon offtermine the bon sequestcredits geneation of the suestration ra
t projects. Thnterest, verifiers for
onvene an able to meet
cation of fiecontract andom at least 5art of the proat there is a verage carbober is ce based district bon data frorates at the em fields to o large to exonitor the ata and an d acres.
‐scientist to es. The methis for use by 5% gravel mitations ofl sample, theass could be thods could
nd cost effece the amounfset paymen impacts of stration. rated from tsecond goal ate estimate
18
he
r a
t in
lds d 50% oject
on
m end
xpect
hod
f ese
be
ctive t of ts. soil
the
s and
allow carcurrent p Determinassume tthe succeassessmePractical site‐by‐sicores beiand costs
C
Ccabcosa
Sommh
Vco
Usm
Tmselosiinw
Csa
Soil sampfor a morsamplingconfidencan stimucarbon mdiverse lamethodo
rbon credit ppractice‐base
ning the amothat the variess of effortsent of data climitations tite basis are ing collecteds are limited
ollected 230
onducted a arbon stock y 7 conservaollected soil ampling prot
oil sample amass methodmeasured buand push pr
Variability onontrolled by
Using the fixemall variabil
hrough powmeasure a difequestered ocation. Specite basis, 123nterested in with 10 cores
reated and bamples.
ple collectiore accurate g data with vt that they aulate more amodeling, whandscape ofology details
payments toed payment
ount of carbability in sois to determicollected durto accurate severe. Onld. It is impord. Here is a s
00 samples f
soil samplinmeasuremeation districtsamples frotocol develo
nalysis showd of calculatilk density. Trobe.
n carbon stocy carbon con
ed mass metity caused b
wer analysis, fference of 1in 4 years bacifically, in o3 cores wousimply knows collected fr
began popu
n will allow monetary vavisual, perforare getting wadoption of hich can thenf the Southers.
o take into cos based on r
bon sequestrl carbon stoine the carboring testing determinatiy 4% of the rtant that saummary of o
from project
g training foents using a ts (9 district om 15 locatiooped by OSU
wed that prong carbon stThe analysis
cks within sacentrations
thod to calcuby bulk densi
on average 1.1 Mg C ha‐ased on the order to deteld be requirwing the aggrom each sit
lating an Acc
Oklahoma’s aluation of Ormance‐basewhat they papractices byn be used torn Plains. Se
onsiderationregional defa
ration in eacocks across aon sequesteof this protoon of carbonsites samplemple numbeour results:
t fields using
or verifiers opush probe.employees)ons and maiU.
obes can be utocks was reshows that t
ample sites aand bulk de
ulate carbonity.
123 cores pe‐1 (this is thecurrent estiermine a signed from eacgregate sequte.
cess/GIS soi
soil carbon Oklahoma caed verificatioay for. This my producers. o account foree the soil sa
n site‐specifiault values.
ch field is nota typical fieldered on a fieocol, this assn sequestereed could be ers be limite
g various me
on the prope. Led by OSU) and 6 OCC iled them to
used interchequired to ovthe variance
as well as beensity has on
n stocks is ve
er site woulde amount ofmate of 0.27nificant chanch sample situestration w
l carbon dat
data set to earbon offsetson makes bumeans more The data wir variability ampling prot
c variables i
t a goal of thd in the regiold‐by‐field bsumption waed in a four‐monitored wed so that sit
ethods.
er collection U, the traininstaff. Field vo OSU to field
hangeably buvercome dife is minimize
etween sampnly a small im
ery effective
d be requiref carbon pot7 Mg C ha‐1 nge in carbote. Howevee only need
tabase with o
expand, eves. Combininuyers of carbdemand forill be availabwithin fieldstocol for res
nstead of
his protocol.on would limbasis. Duringas validated:‐year periodwith 10 or fete disturban
of samples fng was attenverifiers d test the so
ut that a fixefferences in ed by using t
ple sites is mpact.
at removing
ed to statistientially yr‐1) at eac
on stocks on r, if we are 13 sample s
over 6,000 s
entually allowg soil carbonbon credits mr offsets, whble for futures and across search and
19
We mit g the : on a ewer ce
for nded
oil
ed
the
g the
cally
ch a by
sites
soil
wing n more hich e soil the
Project
Objective
Results: WMonitori23 July. T
Objectiveproject r
Results: Waddition
Budget: Wslight budverificatipaymentmatch asfrom funproject awe foundproject. FOSU’s wonecessarauthorize
Table 5. P
Category
OCC Per
Supplies
Contract
Conserv
UnexpecFunds:
Total
Administr
e: Attend at
Warren, J., Sng for CarboThe soil sam
e: Submit seesults.
We submittto this final
We successfdget modificon completets weren’t ms planned. Wds paid to prea. Federald it necessarFunds allocaork. Given thry. The third ed us to use
Proposed and
y
sonnel
s
tual:
OS
vation District
OAC
OAC
cted Matchin
OC
OF
ration
t least one N
S. Sharma, Aon Offsets. Ppling researc
emi‐annual p
ted 12 quartl report.
fully met thecations. Becaed before th
made to prodWe replaced tarticipating l funds werery to hire addated for OSUhe high numbudget revitheir cash o
d actual proje
Project To
Feder
$75,000
$4125
$224,467
U $13
ts $1
CD $7
CD
ng
CC
FS
$303,592
NRCS CIG Sho
A. Mullock aPresented atch will be su
performanc
terly financia
e budget andause verificahe CIG projecducers duringthis match wproducers we not paid toditional tem’s soil sampber of delivesion was maovermatch fr
ect budget ex
otal
Propose
ral N
$0
$0
7 $303
37,466 $2
12,001
75,000 $2
$
$0
$0
2 $303
owcase or c
and T. Wilsot the Internaubmitted to
e progress r
al reports an
d match reqation is donect ended. Thg the projectwith state lowho installedo producers. mporary persling work weerables for tade when Okrom their wo
xpenditures
ed
Non‐Federal
3,592
28,591 (in‐kin
$22,500 (cas
20,000 (in‐kin
$255,000 (cas
3,592
comparable
n. 2013. Feaational SWCSpeer review
reports and
nd 6 semi‐an
uirements foe in the fall, his meant that and those cally led cosd the practicThe other bsonnel duringere used forthis project,klahoma Forork on the p
Fed
$94,915
In contr
$208,67
nd) $
sh) $
nd) $
sh)
$0
$0
$303,59
NRCS event
asibility of SoS conferencewed journals
final report
nnual progr
or this projewe did not gat the 2013 funds couldst‐share progce of no‐till wbudget revisig the last 6 mr this withouthis budget restry Servicroject (Table
Project T
Actua
eral
5
ractual $0
77 $3
120,770 $
$12,907
$75,000 $
$0
$0
92 $3
t.
oil Carbon e. Reno, NV for publicat
documenti
ess reports
ect with onlyget year 201carbon offsen’t be used gram overmwithin the ion came whmonths of thut impact to revision becces (OFS) e 5).
Total
al
Non‐Federa
0
03,592
$29,832 (in‐ki
$9,975 (ca
$20,000 (in‐ki
$110,895 (ca
$109,289 (ca
$23,601 (ca
303,592
20
on ion.
ng
in
y 13 et as atch
hen he
came
l
ind)
ash)
ind)
ash)
ash)
ash)
RecognitCarbon Pdevelopimeeting Bellmon Oklahomsuccess hSouthweNatural AFriendly FNational Bringing in which alongsideChina. Transferaprofessiocollect fieThe Oklathe OklahOklahomCarbon PProgramand wateagenciesmeans redefined a
NRCS andemergingdistricts cis provide
Offsets vand foresconservabenefit. Tstaff, and
Publicitypresentaacademic
tion. As a resProgram has ng a programregulatory gSustainabilit
ma Carbon Prhas also appst Farm PresAwakenings Farming: SevWildlife Fedit Home: TaOklahoma we programs i
ability. The onals, are baeld data thahoma Consehoma office
ma Forestry SProgram mods, habitat imer quality pro, the prograealizing the barea, such as
d conservatig. The methocan assist staed.
verified to higstland owneation practicThe methodd other state
y and Recogntions were mc presentatio
sult of its unbeen recogm that is outgoals througty Awards “Erogram and eared in muss, the Soil amagazine, Tven Agricultderation, andking Stock ofwas one of oin other cou
methods incased on NRCSt is audited ervation Comof NRCS, Ok
Services, thedel ties togemprovement ograms. By sm takes a hobenefits of ms a farm, wa
ion district bods discusseate and fede
gh quality sters. The mores, which ms resulting fes looking to
nition. Projemade to govons were ma
nique approanized locallytside of the fh voluntary Environmenits work on tultiple publicnd Water CoThe Oklahomural Practiced a report byof Governmeonly three U.ntries includ
cluded here S methods, aand acted ummission opklahoma Sta Oklahoma Aether severaand restorasharing goalolistic ecosysmultiple constershed, cou
budgets are sed here are aeral program
tandards cane benefits toeans that ulrom this proo create a pr
ect publicity vernment anade at natio
aches and wy, nationally,federal regumeans: Thetal Stewardsthe CIG projcations sinceonservation man newspaes to Sustainy Forest Trenent Engagem.S. states (inding Australi
were develoand are simppon after thperates in pate UniversityAssociation l natural resation programs and technistem approaservation strunty, or grou
suffering ana first step toms at the loc
n bring an opo producers timately soioject can be ogram simila
occurred thnd private senal and inte
ork on this p, and internaulatory arena program waship Award,”ect. Recogne 2011, incluSociety “Coper, the Okln People andnds Ecosyste
ment with thecluding Oregia, Chile, Bra
oped in consplified to asshe results areartnership wy Cooperativof Conservasource initiatms, riparian ical resourceach to conserategies worup of counti
d a new cono standardizal, field leve
ptimum pricthe more likl, air, and waused by carar to Oklaho
roughout thector conservernational co
project, the ationally for a, yet havingas awarded ” which recoition of the ding the Jouonservation Nlahoma Gazed the Environem Marketpe Voluntary gon and Caliazil, Netherla
sultation witsist the non‐e reviewed bwith conservave Extensiontion Districttives includibuffer easees with otheervation manrking synerges.
nservation mzing the wayel when train
ce for agricukely they areater – and abon offsets oma’s.
he project: Avation profeonferences.
Oklahoma its innovatiog success at the 2012 Heognized the Program’s urnal RecordNewsBriefs,”ette, Future nment, by thplace called Carbon Marifornia) featands, Japan,
th NRCS ‐specialist toby a specialisation districtn Service, ts. The Oklahng Farm Bill ement prograer programs nagement, wgistically in a
model is y conservationing and sup
lture produce to continuell of us –alsoverifiers, NR
At least 11 essionals; 3
21
on at
enry
d, the ”
he
rket ured and
o st. ts,
homa
ams, and which
on pport
cers e o RCS
Professio
Academi
P2A
WMLe
WMN
onal Outreac
2010 Pres
2010 Pres
2011 Pres
2011 Pres
2012 Pres
2012 Disp
2012 Proj
2012 Pres
2013 Pres
2013 Pres
2013 US Hin depth, the CIG aw
ic Presentati
oster at the 4.Title: Assegronomy ab
Warren, J., S.Measuremenexington, KY
Warren, J., S.Monitoring foNV on 23 July
ch
sentation at
sentation to
sentation to
sentation to
sented proje
play at four K
ject presenta
sentation to
sented proje
sented to Na
House of Repthe verificatward could b
ions and Pub
American Sessment of sabstracts CD‐R
Sharma, annts. PresenteY on 24 May.
Sharma, A. or Carbon Ofy.
X‐AGG mee
the Oklahom
NACD annu
Oklahoma C
ect at N. Can
Ken Burns Th
ation to WFE
the group “
ect to Sarah
ational Rura
presentativetion programbe replicated
blications
ociety of Agampling metROM. ASA, M
d T. Wilson.ed at the Sou.
Mullock andffsets. Prese
eting in Chica
ma Clean La
ual meeting e
Chapter of S
nadian River
he Dust Bow
EC board of
“North Amer
Bittleman, A
l Assembly i
es Agriculturm and how td and used a
ronomists Mthods for caMadison, WI
2013. Variauthern Soil P
d T. Wilson. ented at the
ago, IL
kes and Wa
ecosystem m
Soil and Wat
Project tour
wl screening
directors
rica 2050”
Agriculture li
n Washingto
re Committehe Oklahomacross the co
Meetings in Crbon credit .
ability in SoilPhysics Work
2013. FeasibInternation
tersheds Ass
markets brea
er Conserva
r for Sustain
events acro
iaison to the
on, DC
ee staff wherma model, mountry
Cincinnati, Omonitoring.
Carbon Stoking Group m
bility of Soil al SWCS con
sociation
akout sessio
tion Society
able OKC
ss Oklahoma
e U.S. EPA
re we discusade possible
OH Oct. 21‐ Published i
ck meeting.
Carbon nference. Re
22
n
y
a
ssed, e by
n
no,
Append
With inpuprogram ffor consedemonstrlevels are Level 1 – T
Has
Level 2 –
Le
Hfi
Level 3 –
Le
Hfiin
C Level 4 –
Le
Hn
C *Separatecertificatisessions a NOTE: To in continu
dix A: Verif
For App
ut from Oklahfor approved rvation plan wration of fieldas follows:
Trainee
as obtained as requested.
Apprentice
evel 1 Trainee
as accompanelds and aske
Independent
evel 2 Appren
as been obseelds. Senior Vnformation ga
ertification by
Senior Verifie
evel 3 Indepe
as successfulo‐till verificat
ertification by
e certificationon in one or band/or field se
maintain ceruing educatio
fier Trainin
Vproved Ve
oma NRCS, thverifiers of swriters and re skills prior to
awareness an
e certification
nied a Senior Ved questions a
t Verifier
ntice certifica
erved by a SenVerifier only oathered.
y the Directo
er / Trainer
endent Verifie
ly instructed tion.
y Director of
ns are requireboth practicesessions based
rtification at an sessions.
ng Program
Verifier Trrifiers of S
he Oklahomaeeded grasslaequires classro certification
nd education
n
Verifier durinas much as ne
tion
nior Verifier toffers guidanc
r of the Oklah
er certificatio
at least 1 cla
the Oklahom
d to verify grs. Senior Verifd on interest a
any level, ver
m
raining PrSeeded Gra
a Carbon Progands and no‐troom and fieln, and continu
by attending
ng verificationecessary to u
to accurately ce as necessa
homa Carbon
n
ssroom *and
ma Carbon Pro
asslands and fiers/Trainersand aptitude.
ifiers must ke
rogram
asslands &
gram has devetill fields. It isd instructionuing educatio
annual class
n of at least 2understand th
verify at leasary to facilitat
n Program
d/or 1 field se
ogram
d no‐till: Verifis will be certif
eep up knowl
& No‐Till Fi
eloped a 4‐les similar to th, as well as suon after. The f
room training
grasslands *he process.
st 3 grasslandte accuracy of
ession on gras
iers may choofied to teach
edge and skil
elds
vel training e NRCS proceuccessful four verifier s
g and field tra
and/or 2 no‐
s *and/or 3 nf process and
sslands *and/
ose to pursue classroom
lls by particip
23
ess
skill
aining
till
no‐till d
/or
pating
Append In 2010, counties)contractsVerificatiacres weConservametric toYear 1, P
In 2010, estimateconversioconfirme516 wereby a deskmetric to
In 2011, metric toto grasslaverificatiineligibleaudit of pmetric to
In 2011 tcontinuounder coConservapaymentper metr
In 2011‐2of CO2e equals pa
In 2012 tmanagem36,711 aacres of runder coby the O
dix B: Field
the Pool 1 p) sequesteres consist of tion occurredre found to ation Common of CO2e fool 1 of the
the Carbon d 3,629 meton to grasslaed by field vee ineligible. Tk audit of pron of CO2 fro
the Carbon ons of carboands, ripariaon of 100 pee. The remaiproducer infon of CO2. Th
the Project sous no‐till anontract. Of thation Commt, and 74.5 aric ton of CO
2012 the foron 2,075 acrayments to p
the reports fment practiccres, which riparian buffontract. Of thklahoma Co
d Verificati
project contred an estimathose signedd on 6,130 acbe out of coission by fierom matchinproject.
Pilot Progratric tons of cands, ripariaerification ofThe remainioducer inforom matching
Pilot Progran dioxide eqan buffers) oercent of thening 7,622 aformation anhis totals a p
sequestered d 7,889 acrehe total acreission. Of thcres were ce2. This total
restry subprores of forestproducers to
for the pilot ces in this princluded 20,fer, and 8,34he total acrenservation C
on Results
racts (the firsated 1,886 md in 2010 andcres, or 85%ompliance anld verificationg funds. Th
m in the N. Ccarbon dioxidn buffers) of 100 percenng 9,134 acrrmation andg funds. This
m in the N. Cquivalent (COon agriculture fields totalacres were cend field verifpayment to p
an estimatees of seededes verified, 2e acres verifertified withs a payment
oject of the land. Producotaling $18,3
and expansioject seques,264 acres o49 acres of res verified, mCommission.
s
st ones signemetric tons od early 2011% of the acrend 6,435 acron and desk his totaled a
Canadian Rivde equivalenn agriculturant of the fieldres were cer field verifics totaled a p
Canadian RivO2e) with coal lands. Theling 9,900 acertified by thfication docuproducers of
ed 9,943 metd grasslands.3,085 acres fied, 388 acrhout field vert to produce
project sequcers were pa333 for two
ion project wstered an esf continuousangeland. Vmore than ni. Of the acre
ed outside oof CO2e with1 consisting os under conres were ceraudit. Produpayment to
ver Watershnt with consal lands. Theds totaling 9rtified by thecation. Produpayment to p
ver Watershonservation pe sequestratcres. Of thoshe Conservauments. Prof $11,175.50
tric tons of C. Verification(>99%) werres were detrification. Prers of $34,80
uestered an aid $3.50 peyears.
were combinstimated 13,s no‐till; 7,8
Verification onety‐nine pees verified, 4
of the pilot ph continuousof 7,223 acrtract. Of thertified by theucers were p producers o
hed sequesteservation prae sequestrat9,650 acres. e Conservatiucers were pproducers of
hed sequestepractices (notion was conse acres, 2,2ation Commoducers were0.
CO2e with 1n occurred ore certified btermined to roducers we00.50.
estimated 5er metric ton
ned. The agr649 metric t89 acres of goccurred on ercent (>99%427 acres, or
program s no‐till. Pooes of no‐till. e total acres,e Oklahoma paid $3.50 pof $6,601.50
ered an actices (no‐tion was Of those acron Commisspaid $3.50 pf $12,701.
ered 3,193 o‐till, convernfirmed by fi78 were ission by a de paid $3.50
15,196 acres on 23,396 acby the Oklahbe ineligible
ere paid $3.5
5,238 metricn of CO2e. Th
ricultural tons of CO2egrassland; 136,679 acre%) were certr less than on
24
l 1 , 821
er 0 for
till,
res, sion er
rsion eld
desk per
of res oma e for 50
c tons his
e on 23 s tified ne
percent (percent (ton of CO Note: Ampayment
(<1%) were d(6.5%) were O2e. This tot
mounts here t held in rese
determined certified wittaled a paym
include the erve.
to be ineligithout field v
ment to prod
20% of each
ible for paymverification. ucers of $49
h agricultura
ment, and 2,Producers w9,300.
al payment a
,541 acres, owere paid $3
and 30% of e
or six and a h3.50 per met
each forestry
25
half tric
y
Append The manthe projemanagemthem to of managboth levecrediting
The 5‐tieproponegreater ereward pcarbon oaggressivimmediacover crofencing cmanagemthe pricehave an i
It is commthe energhigh costapproachland man
dix C: Prog
agement staect, it simplyment from pparticipate, gement thatels of compleg.
er standard snts 5 managecosystem seproducers whoffset paymeve, progressite, quantifiaops, using prcattle from ament creditie and level ofincentive an
mon practicgy sector ants and other h should be nagement th
ressive Ma
andard is a cy wasn’t prudproducers whwe had to kt can result iexity and co
serves two pgement leveervices beneho are in theents, but at aive conservaable, ecosystrecision appla stream. Whng matrix letf managemed benefit, an
e that whend industriesbarriers invapplied to ahat have co‐b
anagemen
critical informdent for us thom we wereep it simpln more ecos‐benefits, w
purposes: It cls from the mefits. The sece early stagea lesser paymation managtem benefitslication for fhy not pay bts carbon ofent effort thnd clear goa
change is d are given tiolved with cgricultural pbenefits to s
nt Crediting
mational andto require thre only payine. However,system serviwe drafted a
clearly lays omost basic tocond purposes of conservment level thement. For es, but not asfertilizer appoth of theseffset project at they can aals for steppi
emanded fome to phasechange. The producers vesociety.
g Matrix
d motivationhe most advang $3.50/me, we realize tce benefits. 5‐tier standa
out in a matro advanced se of the matvation manahan a producexample, stos many beneplication, avoe producers.proponentsafford, whileing up their
or air and wae‐in progressOCP believeenturing to m
nal tool for panced, idealetric ton CO2that there a Thinking of ard for prog
rix for produmanagementrix is that itagement to bcer who is dopping tillagefits as stoppoiding herbic The progres and credit e still allowinmanagemen
ater quality isive technoles that this smake volunta
producers. F, land 2e. If we ware higher levmanageme
gressive
ucers and prnt that result can be usedbenefit fromoing more ge has ping tillage, ucide use, anssive buyers decidng producernt.
improvemenogies due tosame phase‐ary changes
26
or
nted vels nt in
oject lt in d to
m
using d
de rs to
nts, o the ‐in in
2013.12
Okla
Prac
Ecosy
Eligible
Ineligib
DRAFT
ahoma Ca
ctice Perf
ystem Serv
No‐Till
e Fields with a “cropland” by after January with any full w
ble Cropland manimplements inharrows, plowportion of no-otherwise disgreater than 1absent or lesscrop and wea
arbon Pr
formance
vices Progr
cropping history desi FSA and converted 1, 2001, and that is
width tillage implemen
naged with full width ncluding chisels, cultiws, rotary hoes, or sw-tilled cropland that isturbed; no-till croplan1 year; no-till croplans than expected baseather.
rogram
e Standa
ressive Ma
G
ignated as to no-till on or not managed nts
Fie“cspaft
tillage ivators, disks,
weeps; any s tilled or nd fallow for d with residue ed on previous
“Gcroes
ards v.20
anagement
rasslands
elds with a cropping ropland” by FSA that
prigged to permanentter January 1, 2001.
Go back land,” croplanopped, with permanestablished by passive
013
t Crediting
history designated ast were seeded or t perennial grass on o
nd that is no longer ent vegetation e growth.
g Matrix D
Rangelan
s
or
Grazed land native grassegrazing and control of livefertilization, mEdge of fieldthat is too deduring the le1960s lost ththe capacity rangelands. with permanseeding.
DRAFT
nd
d on which the historices, grass like plants, browsing that is exteestock rather than bymowing, or irrigation
d parcels receiving inegraded to sequesterength of the project. “heir topsoil (“A” Horiz to sequester CO2 lik “Go back land,” crop
nent vegetation estab
c plant community is forbs or shrubs suita
ensively managed thry agronomic practice. cidental grazing. Ranr carbon at the expecSoil bank fields” from
zon) and therefore doke unbroken, native, pland that is no longeblished by passive gro
principally able for rough the s, such as
ngeland cted rate m the o not have
er cropped, owth or
2013.12 DRAFT
Continuous No‐Till Progressive Management Crediting Matrix
Mgmt Level
1 2
3 4 5
Soil Health & GHG Seq
Mgmt
ᵒ Conversion of FSA “cropland” from conventional tillage to no tillage
ᵒ Growing crop present ᵒ Residue present and
evenly distributed ᵒ Anchored stalks present ᵒ Cover crops follow low
residue crops ᵒ Burning does not occur ᵒ Grazing ends by 3/15 ᵒ Fallow <12 months ᵒ Hayed annual crops
followed by high residue cover crop
ᵒ At least 50% of soil covered with residue
ᵒ
ᵒ Plants deep-rooted cover crop
ᵒ Adds legume cover crop ᵒ
ᵒ Rotating high residue crops or ᵒ Adds additional crop to rotation
or ᵒ Cover crop cocktail of at least 3
species ᵒ
ᵒ Use of continuous cover crops OR
ᵒ Cover crop cocktail 7 species or greater OR
ᵒ Add 2 additional crops to rotation
Nutrient Mgmt
& Avoided Emissions
ᵒ Conversion of FSA “cropland” from conventional tillage to no tillage
ᵒ
ᵒ Soil test annually ᵒ Fertilizes according to soil
test recommendations and ᵒ Uses split N application,
when applicable to crop ᵒ
ᵒ In-season N incorporation/injection or
ᵒ Slow release nutrients or ᵒ Nitrogen inhibitors or ᵒ Use of N-rich strips
ᵒ Applying fertilizer at variable rates through the use of electronic maps with a GPS receiver by using grid sampling or EC mapping
ᵒ Uses sensor based variable rate application techniques such as NDVI sensing to apply nitrogen fertilizer
Wildlife Mgmt
ᵒ Conversion of FSA “cropland” from conventional tillage to no tillage
ᵒ
ᵒ Plants a cover crop and/or has implemented other contingencies or plantings specifically for improving wildlife habitat
ᵒ .Buffer strips exist around riparian areas
ᵒ Adds pollinator species to cover crop
ᵒ
ᵒ Leaves un-harvested strip around perimeter of field
ᵒ Buffer strips exist along field edges that create corridors for wildlife movement
ᵒ Buffer strips all at least 30 m wide along drainages
ᵒ Using a stripper header for harvesting
ᵒ Buffer strips all at least 46 m wide along drainages
ᵒ Utilizes IPM for pest control
Water Quality Mgmt
ᵒ Conversion of FSA “cropland” from conventional tillage to no tillage
ᵒ If irrigated, an irrigation plan is adhered to
ᵒ Fertilizing according to soil test recommendations
ᵒ Riparian buffer is in place ᵒ Filter strips established ᵒ Applying split nitrogen
applications ᵒ
ᵒ Livestock excluded from buffer ᵒ Utilizing nitrogen injection ᵒ Applying nitrogen rich strip
ᵒ Livestock excluded from stream
ᵒ Has field border ᵒ GPS targeted pest spray ᵒ IPM plan in place ᵒ Using precision
equipment to apply nitrogen
2013.12 DRAFT
Cropland Converted to Seeded Grasslands Progressive Management Crediting Matrix
Mgmt Level
1 2
3 4 5
Soil Health & GHG Seq
Mgmt
ᵒ Conversion from marginal cropland to seeded, managed grassland
ᵒ
ᵒ Grazing management plan created and implemented
ᵒ Manages biomass removal from haying, grazing, or burning so that residual cover remains.
ᵒ Harvest deferment occurs for up to two years when precipitation is less than 60% of local average annual rainfall during the preceding 12 months.
ᵒ Herbicide are not applied unless recommended in the brush management plan and then no more than every 2-3 years at most
ᵒ Stocking rate does not exceed carrying capacity of the field;
ᵒ Grazing does not exceed the recovery capacity of the individual plant species or the plant community based on NRCS Standard 528.
ᵒ Supplemental feeding by grain is minimized or unnecessary.
ᵒ Approved prescribed burn plan in place
ᵒ Drought plan in place and used when needed
ᵒ Bare ground below 75% ᵒ Pasture Trend analysis < 18
ᵒ Grazing meets or exceeds heights as suggested in Table 3 (Bidwell)
ᵒ Actively controlling woody encroachment*
ᵒ Residue height reaches minimum as outlined in Table 3 for non-native forages
ᵒ Pasture Trend analysis 18-24 ᵒ Cool season grasses < 33%
cover
ᵒ Pasture Trend analysis 25-40
ᵒ Grazing on clay soils Light in wet years
ᵒ Grazing on sandy soils Light in dry years
ᵒ Diversifies pasture with 3 or more functional groups
ᵒ Pasture Trend analysis 25-40
ᵒ
Nutrient Mgmt
& Avoided Emissions
ᵒ Conversion from marginal cropland to seeded, managed grassland
ᵒ
ᵒ Soil test is done annually ᵒ Fertilizer applied no more than
once annually unless done as split application and only at rates based on soil test results and nutrient removal calculation. when using a fertilizer that may volatilize.
ᵒ No supplemental feeding ᵒ Pasture Trend analysis < 18 ᵒ Reduced fertilizing due to
legume management
ᵒ Pasture Trend analysis 18-24 ᵒ Fertilizes no more than once every 3 years
ᵒ Pasture Trend analysis 25-40
ᵒ
Wildlife Mgmt
ᵒ Conversion from marginal cropland to seeded, managed grassland
ᵒ
ᵒ Has implemented contingencies or plantings specifically for improving wildlife habitat.
ᵒ Refrains from herbicide application
ᵒ Hays late June to early July and no shorter than 10 inches
ᵒ Riparian buffer in place providing corridor
ᵒ Water sources available for wildlife use
ᵒ Pasture Trend analysis < 18
ᵒ Grazing, fire and haying disturbance managed strategically to create a variety of vegetative cover across property
ᵒ Livestock excluded from buffer or only flash grazing
ᵒ Pasture Trend analysis 18-24
ᵒ Water sources exist with native wetland species present
ᵒ Pasture Trend analysis 25-40
ᵒ
Water Quality Mgmt
ᵒ Conversion from marginal cropland to seeded, managed grassland
ᵒ Refrains from herbicide application
ᵒ
ᵒ Riparian buffer in place ᵒ Pasture Trend analysis < 18
ᵒ Livestock excluded from buffer or only flash grazing
ᵒ Pasture Trend analysis 18-24
ᵒ Livestock excluded from stream
ᵒ Pasture Trend analysis 25-40
2013.12 DRAFT
Improved Rangeland Management Progressive Management Crediting Matrix
Mgmt Level
1 2 3 4 5
Soil Health & GHG Seq
Mgmt
ᵒ Grazing plan created and implemented
ᵒ Maintains written logs that document forage-animal balance, grazing schedule with stocking rates, with any use of the contingency plan.
ᵒ
ᵒ Drought plan in place and used when needed
ᵒ Approved prescribed burn plan in place.
ᵒ Brush management plan in place
ᵒ Hay harvested no more than once yearly before July 15 to height at least 4”
ᵒ Harvest deferment occurs for up to 2 years when precipitation is <60% of local avg annual rainfall during preceding 12 mos.
ᵒ Vegetation and residue covering >60% of soil surface
ᵒ Range Health -10 to -5 ᵒ Soil disturbance during
brush removal less than 50% and not accelerating erosion
ᵒ Plant species observed in 1m by 1m quadrats 35-59% of ecological site
ᵒ Refrains from herbicide application unless prescribed
ᵒ
ᵒ Key species average height taller than 6 inches (as listed in ecological site descriptions from NRCS)
ᵒ Actively controls woody encroachment*
ᵒ Utilizes exclosures to monitor growth of key species
ᵒ Prescribed fire applied in accordance with historic frequency and approved plan
ᵒ Plant species observed in 1m by 1m quadrats 60-74% of ecological site
ᵒ Range Health -4 to 5
ᵒ Grazing on clay soils Light in wet years
ᵒ Grazing on sandy soils Light in dry years
ᵒ Range Health 5+ ᵒ Plant species observed in
1m by 1m quadrats represent >75% of ecological site
Nutrient Mgmt
& Avoided Emissions
ᵒ Soil test annually on hayed lands
ᵒ Fertilizer application does not occur except on hayed lands and then when based on soil test results and nutrient removal calculations
ᵒ Brush removal via chemical or mechanical techniques occurs on less than 10% of the acreage.
ᵒ Supplemental feeding of cattle does not occur
ᵒ
ᵒ Range Health 5+ ᵒ
Wildlife Mgmt
ᵒ Grazing plan created and implemented
ᵒ
ᵒ Creates and implements wildlife management plan
ᵒ
ᵒ Implements contingencies for improving wildlife habitat.
ᵒ Refrains from herbicide application
ᵒ Water sources available for wildlife use
ᵒ Refrains from haying until after July 1 and no shorter than 10 inches
ᵒ Grazing, fire and/or haying disturbance managed strategically to create a variety of vegetative cover
ᵒ Range Health -4 to 5 ᵒ
ᵒ Range Health 5+ ᵒ Plant diversity >30 species
in a 1m by 1m quadrat ᵒ Water sources exist with
native wetland species present
ᵒ
Water Quality Mgmt
ᵒ Grazing plan created and implemented
ᵒ Plant base pedestalling < 10 mm high
ᵒ
ᵒ Livestock excluded from buffer or only flash grazing
ᵒ Fire return interval 3+ years ᵒ Refrains from herbicide
application.
ᵒ Livestock excluded from stream or drawn away using fire
ᵒ Plant base pedestalling < 5mm high,
ᵒ Range Health -4 to 5
ᵒ Exposed soil is <5% ᵒ No evidence of rill,
pedestals or terracettes
Appendix D: Analysis of Conservation District Proficiency with Rangeland Monitoring Methods
Rangeland Monitoring: An Analysis of Conservation District Proficiency with Methods
District Proficiency with Data Collection Methods. One 200 foot transect could be completed in 1‐2 hours. Two people were found to be most efficient for each transect. One person could complete the monitoring of a transect, but the time per transect would increase to 3 hours. Some time was taken to locate fields and access points. Hopefully this time could be reduced with the use of GPS points and notes taken by verifiers noting access points to each property. Monitoring went more smoothly when verifiers contacted landowners ahead of time to ensure gates would be open, and also gain clarification on the exact location of the property. We tried many combinations of sampling order. What worked best was to conduct the line‐point and production at the same time, thus reducing walking time up and down the transect. Length of time to sample depended on species abundance (lots of production meant multiple bags to weigh), diversity (species identification takes time), and the wind (windy days made it harder to sample production). This step can only be sped up with increased plant ID knowledge, and teamwork between verifiers. Each field took about 4 hours for travel, monitoring, and data entry. The current protocols are not sustainable from a financial standpoint. An organized district employee could shave off almost 2 hours a day by having accurate maps, knowing where fields are, and knowing if gates need to be unlocked. However, even with 2 skilled employees and low plant diversity, each field took at least 1 hour to monitor, in addition to the driving time to get there. As the program moves forward, we will need to find ways to shave off the amount of time designated to each property enrolled. Establishing a Baseline. The methods currently outlined are vital to gain a clear picture of the overall health of the landscape. The information collected is also used to design grazing plans for the landowner. We suggest using the proposed protocol to gather a baseline datasheet for each property that enrolls. In this way, we can use minimal monitoring, or monitoring on rotation later to track the progress of the landscape while enrolled in the Oklahoma Carbon Program. We recommend baseline sampling for the first 2 years in the program. If one of those years contains a severe drought (less than 40% of average rainfall), then baseline could be extended 1 more year for a total of 3 years. This is to gain a good representation of the average production for that property. If we try to design a grazing plan or estimate site condition during a severe drought, our data will be skewed toward less healthy rangeland. By buffering a severe drought with other years, hopefully the plants will meet a more expected production levels. Rotational Monitoring. After a baseline has been established, we suggest sampling a portion of the registered properties each year. 1/4 to 1/3 of rangeland properties registered should be a frequent enough return interval to observe any shifts in the health of the rangeland. Since rangelands vary so much from year to year, long‐term datasets are better for representing the
landscapsoil or plamore congrasses, wgeneral ineeds of
We sugge10‐year cand hopescheduleall properotate, co
Reductiohours pewith a fe
1. RinpaLad
2. Dinmgafouaeti
3. Ca
4. Cgo
In total, wcollectionsuggeste
pe trends. Thant biomassncerned withwoody shrubdea of the pauditors.
est collectincheck‐up forefully keeps e for a set of erties enrolleovering only
on of Transer field is toow suggestio
Reduce the nnstead of 10 roduction rand annual foandscape picown samplin
Drop Line‐Pontermediatemost limitingave district eorm by any esing the prodding a newstimate the me by 15‐20
ontinue usinnd with eno
ontinue usinoals better t
we believe wn years by ad above).
he Oklahomas. We are noh functional bs, and annupresence and
g a new basr all propertimonitoring properties eed will be samy 20% of enr
ct Line or Sao much time ns.
number of pfeet (5 clippates for majoorb. We donctures will ang time by 3
oint and repl/advanced k for inexperemployees temployee. Moduction hoow datasheet tpercent cov0 minutes.
ng Range Heugh samplin
ng 200‐ft trato keep the l
we can cut mlternating be
a Carbon Prot particularlygroup repreual forbs wild abundance
eline datashes could be times to a menrolled in tmpled (100%olled proper
ampling Poinfor carbon v
roduction saped, 5 estimor plant grou’t need a larssist in estim30 minutes
lace with Toknowledge oienced emplthe most diffMost botanisop, we are gathat verifiersver of those s
ealth Assessng, can be ca
ansect. Becalonger trans
monitoring tietween base
ogram is intey concernedesentation. Cl be generale of these gr
heet every 1done 50% a
minimum eache program % of those erties.
nts. Rangelaverifiers. To
amples by hated). For thups: Woody,rge number mating produ
op Dominantof rangelandloyees. We fficulty and wsts use a framaining diverss can use to species on t
sment Form.alibrated to p
ause of rangeect and just
me to 30 mieline collecti
erested in thd with specieCarbon storaized for carbroups on the
0 years or soat a time. Thch year. Tab within the snrolled). Yea
ands are hightry and shor
half. Sample he OCP, we o, Perennial Fof samples tuction amou
t Species. Li plant identfound, whilewe did not ome to estimasity estimateidentify thehe landscap
. This form tproduction a
elands varia sample few
inutes durinions and sim
he addition oes compositiage rates of bon calculate landscape w
o. After beinis spreads thble D‐1 showsame year. Tars 3‐9, mon
hly variable, rten this, we
production only need a Forb, C4 grasto gain this qunts per field
ne‐point reqification. The working, thbserve any mate diversityes. For covere top 5 domipe. This will c
takes 10 minand overall r
bility, it will wer times alo
ng non‐baselmplified sum
of GHG into tion. We are C4 and C3 ions. Gainingwill serve th
ng registeredhe workloadws the samplThe first 2 yenitoring will
but spendine have come
every 20 feegeneral ideasses, C3 grassquick estimad. This will c
quires is form is thhat this formmastery of ty and cover. r, we suggesnant speciescut sampling
nutes to fill orange health
serve the Oong the trans
ine data maries (as
28
the
g a e
d, the d out ing ears,
ng 2 e up
et a of ses, ate. ut
e m his By st s and g
out, h.
CP’s sect.
Mastery good planot haveidentificaresearchremembeprofessiorangelan Time Speare trainebasis. KnWe can tthe local strongly district euntil thenaccuracy Data Ent2013.Weenter theshorten tProductio We foun“unknowerrors whdouble‐cforms wi Conclusiorangelanverificatioffices win the proTraining verifier. W
of Methodsnt identifica any plant IDation, keepining plants usered next yeonals. The trd monitorin
ent. To shorted and requowing the ptrain 3‐4 peodistrict empsuggest the mployee cann, a Senior Vy.
try. We reviee entered all e data for 12this time by on form to a
d numerouswn” plants enhere samplinhecked befoth more pra
on. The traind monitorinon for this p
were located oject. As a reProgram andWe also plan
s. The weakntion skills. WD backgrounng track of using on‐line ear. This is uaining sessiog at the det
ten monitorired to attenlants can cuople to becoployee and cannual trainn prove theiVerifier shou
ewed the ranthe data for
2 fields: 40 mhalf. We alsa database. T
s errors in thntered into tng points haore submissiactice.
ning sessiong at the detproject werein the projeesult of our d continue mn to introduc
ness of the rWe found thand. We taughnknown pladatabases. Wnderstandabons we heldail currently
ing time, wend plant ID tt the Line‐Pome Senior Rcomplete rannings for ever plant ID skuld lead the m
ngeland datar Dewey Couminutes per fo suggest linThis will cut
e forms entthe electrond duplicateson. We belie
s we held arail currently not vetted fect area, andfindings, wemonitoring wce plant iden
rangeland mat the four dht them simpnts, looking We aren’t coble as plant are not eno
y required.
e suggest thatraining and oint samplinRange Verifiengeland moneryone. And,kills and can monitoring a
a collection unty. It took field. Cuttingnking the Radown on pro
ered by the ic forms. Ths, or were meve district e
re not enougy required. Tfor aptituded their consee plan to addwith two peontification in
ethods is thdistrict emplple conceptsfor key charonfident all tID can be diough to prep
at a small sepractice plang time fromers. These penitoring toge, with time, be promoteat each distr
packets sub2 of us worg out the linange Health Aocessing tim
district empe production
missing ranksemployees c
gh to preparhe district ste. They wereervation distd rangelandsople per fieldnto the verif
at verifiers noyees we ws of plant prracteristics othis trainingfficult even pare a new v
et of long‐terant ID skills om 50 minuteseople can paether. We wpractice, aned to a Seniorict to ensur
mitted to thking togethee‐point dataAssessmentme in the off
ployees. Then form had ms. These formcan fill out th
re a new vertaff trained fe selected berict was a ws to the 4‐Led, with one ier training c
need to havewere training essing for of plants, an will be for erifier for
rm employeon a semi‐ans to 25 minuartner up witwould still d training, aor Verifier. Be efficiency
he auditor foer 8 hours toa form will form and thice.
ere were stillmany rankinms need to bhe electronic
rifier for for rangelanecause their illing particivel Verifier being a senicurriculum.
29
e did
nd
es nnual utes. th
ut and
or o
he
l ng be c
nd
pant
or
Table D‐1
1. Proposed raangeland moonitoring scheedule
30