performance–based incentives for conservation in agriculture (pica) in partnership with:...
TRANSCRIPT
Performance–based Incentives for Conservation in Agriculture (PICA)
In partnership with:Sustainable ConservationPreservation Inc.UC Cooperative ExtensionRCD Monterey CountyNRCSParticipating growers and shippers
Lisa Lurie, RCDSCC
Presentation to the CARCD Conference November 14, 2014
The PICA 2013-2015 project is funded through the CDFA Specialty Crop Block Grant program with partner match and in-kind contributions.
PICA in a nutshell
Water QuantityReduce water pumped from
aquifer
Objective Indicator(s) Target(s) Measurement Incentives
Water QualityReduce nitrate leaching & nitrate in storm runoff
PICA is a voluntary program assisting growers in tracking water use and nitrogen movement on their farms to demonstrate and incentivize environmental performance
PICA metrics
• Water Use Efficiency RatioTotal water applied (irrig+rainfall) / crop specific evapotranspiration (ETc)
• Nitrogen Use Efficiency Ratio (as indirect measure of nitrate leaching)[N fertilizer applied + change in soil mineral N+ N water*ETc]/[N in plant biomass (fruit and vegetation)]
• Nitrogen and sediment loss in storm runoff Nitrate Concentration and Total Suspended Solids in
runoff leaving the farm
Benefits of performance-based metrics
• Provide measures to optimize water and fertilizer application and reduce costs, manage risk
• Provide documentation to meet buyer sustainability reporting requirements
• Provide documentation to meet regulatory requirements.
• Useful in combination with practice-based incentives to document conservation benefits of investment
•Preliminary framework for metrics and incentives developed and partially piloted in 2012-2013 •Metrics and monitoring methodology revised
and piloted on 10 strawberry farms for growing season 2013-2014 in the Pajaro Valley and Elkhorn Slough watersheds•Work with private industry and public agencies
to explore potential incentives for the program•Starting 2014-2015 pilot with 13 new ranches
PICA Accomplishments to date
2013-2014 Pilot Growers
• 10 Strawberry Ranches• 6 Companies• 200 + acres• How do these growers make irrigation decisions?• Feel method• Flow meter• DU evaluations• Soil moisture monitoring
• How do these growers make fertilizer decisions?• Soil lab analysis• leaf petiole analysis• PCA recommendations
• Spectrum of sophistication of methods for record keeping
Annual Sampling Schedule (Pilot)
Pre-Plant (late summer / fall)• Confirm water meter function, take initial reading • Determine monitoring locations for surface runoff• Determine monitoring locations for soil NO₃-N (lbs/acre), collect first sample• Document fertilizer pre-plant application (lbs/acre) Throughout growing season• Record readings from water meter (either main or block level) (AF)• Measure and report NO₃-N during 2-3 runoff events (ppm) • Measure and report soil NO₃-N (lbs/acre) (once or twice)• Document fertilizer applications (lbs/acre) • Measure irrigation water N concentrationPost-Harvest • Measure and report soil NO₃-N (lbs/acre) • Take final water meter reading• Measure N in plant biomass (fruit and vegetation)
Incentive Structure Options
Type of Incentive:
On Farm Practice Incentives
Private Performance Incentives
PublicPerformance Incentives
Purpose:Public and private support to accelerate adoption of
new management practices
Reward achievement of outcomes that provide short-term financial advantage or long-term business viability
Reward achievement of farm level outcomes that collectively will provide
public good
Examples:Cost-share on practices
Education and Training
Technical support
Grower: cost savings from reducing inputs
Buyer: sustainability reporting• Contract preference• pricing for crop quality
LenderLand-owner
Water District: • Pricing/rebates
Regulatory Agencies: • Alternative reporting
Practice incentives
Practice implementation Farm-level Objectives Ambient-level Objectives
Performance incentives
What incentives do participating growers most value?
• Data to inform management• Knowing where you stand
relative to peers• Regulatory relief• Cost offsets• Crop Pricing (linked to yield,
quality, shelf life)
Next Phases1. Develop a fully functional self-assessment program for berries in
the Pajaro Valley
• Adjust monitoring methodology, implement on more ranches
• Pilot incentives with private industry and public agencies
2. Adapt the PICA model to pilot with other crops and transfer to other geographic locations
3. Develop business framework to sustainably manage PICA (including technical assistance, data management, performance reporting)
4. Integrate the PICA model of farm-level performance assessment with industry sustainability tracking and other regional initiatives looking at ambient level metrics, performance and incentives.
5. Explore performance metrics for soil health and climate change resiliency
Questions?
Lisa Lurie – [email protected] 831-464-2950 x 27
The PICA 2013-2015 project is made possible through funding provided by the CDFA Specialty Crop Block Grant program and partner match and in-kind contributions from Sustainable Conservation, Preservation Inc., RCD of Monterey County, NRCS, Driscoll’s Berries, and participating growers. Thank you to all our supporters and partners!