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EQIP Organic-Certified Ranking Tool

Ranking Tool Summary for Organic Certified (Released 05/08/2009)

Description:

1. This ranking criteria will be used for all eligible EQIP applications in the "Organic-Certified" category. Ranking points can only be given for practices which are included in the EQIP contract.
2. Documentation must be present in client case file to support ranking decisions. This should include completed specification, demonstrating how resource concerns are being met, as well as completed CST based plan approved by a Certified Conservation Planner.

Description:

Land Uses:

Crop, Forest, Grazed Forest, Grazed Range, Hay, Headquarters, Native/Naturalized Pasture, Natural Area, Pasture, Watershed Protection, Wildlife

Efficiency Score:

  Scoring Multiplier: 500.00
  Scoring Ranges and Results Text:
High: 353 - 230 Medium: 229 - 110 Low: 109 - 0

Scoring range represents projects which have a high level of average resource benefit in comparison to average cost of installation.

Scoring range represents projects which have a medium level of average resource benefit in comparison to average cost of installation.

Scoring range represents projects which have a relatively lower level of average resource benefit in comparison to average cost of installation.

National Priorities:

  Scoring Multiplier: 1.00
  Scoring Ranges and Results Text:

High: 93 - 50

 Medium: 49 - 20 Low: 19 - 0

Scoring range represents applications which make significant progress toward addressing resource concerns.

Scoring range represents applications which make moderate progress toward addressing resource concerns.

Scoring range represents applications which make a lower amount of progress toward addressing resource concerns.

Questions:

Question Number Question Points
1 Will the treatment you intend to implement using EQIP result in a considerable reduction of non-point source pollution, such as nutrients, sediment, pesticides, excess salinity in impaired watersheds with total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) where available, groundwater contamination or point sources such as contamination from confined animal feeding operations? 20
2 Will the treatment you intend to implement for water conservation or irrigation efficiency using EQIP result in a considerable reduction in water use? 1
3 Will the treatment you intend to implement using EQIP result in a considerable reduction of emissions, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds, and ozone precursors and depleters that contribute to air quality impairment violations of National Ambient Air Quality Standards? 1
4 Will the treatment you intend to implement using EQIP result in a considerable reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptable levels on agricultural land? 30
5 Will the treatment you intend to implement using EQIP result in a considerable increase in the promotion of at-risk species habitat conservation? 10
6 Will the treatment that you intend to implement using EQIP result in considerable benefits to residue management, nutrient management, air quality management, invasive species management, pollinator habitat, and animal carcass management technology or pest management? 30
7 Will the treatment that you intend to implement using EQIP result in energy conservation benefits? 1
 

Total Points

 93

State Issues:

  Scoring Multiplier: 2.00
  Scoring Ranges and Results Text:

High: 260 - 180 Medium: 175 - 90 Low: 85 - 0

Scoring range represents applications which make significant progress toward addressing resource concerns.

 Scoring range represents applications which make moderate progress toward addressing resource concerns.

Scoring range represents applications which make a lower amount of progress toward addressing resource concerns.

Questions:

Question Number Sub-Number Question Points
1   Practice Implementation to Support Organic --
  1 EQIP plan schedule of operations provides for implementation of all funded practices within two years or less 20
  2 EQIP plan schedule of operations provides for implementation of all funded practices within three years or less 10
  3 EQIP plan includes implementation of five or more of the NRCS Core 6 organic conservation practices OR completes an installed system of Core 6 organic conservation practices 20
  4 EQIP plan includes implementation of three to four of the NRCS Core 6 organic conservation practices 15
  5 EQIP plan includes implementation of three to four of the NRCS Core 6 organic conservation practices 5
  6 EQIP plan does not include any of the six NRCS Core organic conservation practices 0
2   Soil Resource Issues --
  1 EQIP plan includes implementation of two or more soil building/enhancing practices that address soil tilth, crusting, water infiltration, organic matter, compaction, etc., to FOTG quality criteria standards 15
  2 EQIP plan includes implementation of one soil building/enhancing practices that address soil tilth, crusting, water infiltration, organic matter, compaction, etc., to FOTG quality criteria standards 5
  3 Soil Condition: EQIP plan includes implementation of practice 590 Nutrient Management to FOTG quality criteria for management of soil fertility, plant nutrients and soil amendments 15
3   Soil Erosion Resource Issues --
  1 EQIP plan includes practices which will result in measurable reduction of erosion from all sources OR participant has already addressed all erosion problems to FOTG quality criteria standards 10
4   Water Quality Resource Issues --
  1 EQIP plan includes practices which will result in reduction of sediment leaving the treatment unit and meets FOTG quality criteria standards 10
  2 EQIP plan includes practices which will manage excess surface water discharge from the treatment unit to an impaired water body (e.g. EPA 303d list, etc.) to FOTG quality criteria standards 10
  3 EQIP plan includes implementation of practice 595 Pest Management and an IPM plan to FOTG quality criteria for management of pests and noxious and invasive species to FOTG quality criteria standards 20
5   Plant Condition Resource Issues --
  1 Plant Condition: EQIP plan includes practices which will result in management of surface residues to FOTG quality criteria standards 10
6   Domestic Animal Resource Issues --
  1 EQIP plan includes implementation of practice 511 Forage Harvest Management to address NOP requirements for management of feed supplements and forage supplies 10
  2 EQIP plan includes implementation of practice 528 Prescribed Grazing to FOTG quality criteria standards for management of plant species, livestock, residues, feed and other identified resource needs 20
  3 EQIP plan includes implementation of practices which limit and manage domestic livestock access to streams, creeks and other natural water bodies to FOTG quality criteria standards 15
  4 EQIP plan includes implementation of practice 633 Waste Utilization to manage domestic livestock manure to FOTG quality criteria standards to protect surface and groundwater resources 10
  5 EQIP plan includes implementation of practices to assure adequate clean off-stream domestic livestock drinking water sources are available in the treatment unit and meets FOTG quality criteria standards 10
7   Fish and Wildlife Resource Issues --
  1 EQIP plan includes implementation of practices which include pollinator friendly plant species in the crop rotation system 20
  2 EQIP plan includes implementation of conservation practices which include pollinator plant species for organic production systems (e.g. filter & buffer strips, hedge rows, windbreaks, etc.) 10
   

Maximum Points: Total Points

 260

Local Issues:

Scoring Multiplier: 1.00
Scoring Ranges and Results Text:

High: 200 - 90

 Medium: 85 - 45 Low: 40 - 0

Does not apply.

 Does not apply.

Does not apply.

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