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Conservation Boot Camp Content

Overall Objective

At the end of the CBC training program, you will be able to guide decision makers through a comprehensive conservation planning process that complies with national policy.

Phase 1 - Collection & Analysis (Understanding the Problems and Opportunities)

Conservation Boot Camp Tasks

Before Site Visit
  • Gather and interpret existing resources for the property using the following:
      (a) Web Soil Survey
      (b) Soil Data Mart/Soil Data Viewer
      (c) Published Soil Survey
      (d) Ecological Site Information System (ESIS)
  • Prepare for the site visit.
  • Investigate cultural issues.
  • Establish a relationship with the decision maker (professionalism).
  • Build Customer file, soils map, ecosite map and non-technical soil description
  • in Toolkit.
  • Interpret archived imagery of the property.
  • Use topomap to measure drainage.
  • Gather NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) Information for field site.
During Site Visit
  • Listen for decision maker objectives.
  • Guide decision maker through general conservation management and profit potential concepts including:
      a) Basic soil erosion concepts
      b) Plant physiology
      c) Basic plant/animal relationships
      d) Soil quality and health
      e) Economics of all of the above
  • Identify other resource issues
  • Utilize GPS to document resource concerns, existing practices, field boundaries, fences, watering facilities, springs, etc, and download into Toolkit/ArcMap utilizing MNDNR Garmin software.
  • Use soil quality test kit to conduct 3 - 4 tests applicable to the working farm.
  • Take notes to document decision maker objectives using NRCS CPA-6/6A
  • Inventory resources for the following sites:
    • Cropland
    • Pasture
    • Rangeland
    • Forest
    • Producer's resources
    • Water resources
    • Wildlife resources
After Site Visit
  • Enter Data into Toolkit for sites listed in previous task.
  • Analyze resources.
  • Analyze soil interpretations.
  • Analyze cropland site using RUSLE2.
  • Analyze cropland site using WIN-PST.
  • Calculate wind erosion (WEQ) for the property.
  • Evaluate forage balance.
  • Analyze forest/agroforest conditions and potential
  • Analyze producer's resources.
  • Analyze water resources.
  • Identify need for stream and wetland assessments
  • Analyze water resource problems for quantity and quality.
  • Identify need for wildlife habitat assessment.
  • Conduct nutrient management analysis.
  • Identify Threatened and Endangered and candidate species.
  • Identify cultural resources.

Phase II - Decision Support (Understanding the Solutions)

  • Formulate alternatives.
  • Using Section III of the eFOTG, identify the quality criteria and formulate alternatives.
  • Locate the online sources of Conservation Planning Policy and Procedures:
    • National Planning Procedures Handbook (NPPH)
    • General Manual Policy
  • Use the Conservation Practice Physical Effects (CPPE) to complete a Site
  • Specific Practice Effects Worksheet (SPEW).
  • Evaluate alternatives.
  • With the decision maker, identify the benefits and liabilities of each alternative.
  • With the decision maker, identify other considerations such as labor requirements, management, social or economics, etc.
  • With decision maker, utilize livestock nutrient balance to analyze livestock nutrition opportunities.
  • Explain to the producers the ramifications of each of these system alternatives on:
    • Soil quality
    • Forage production
    • Crop production
    • Forest production
    • Wildlife habitat
  • Document the decision maker's decision. Enter into Toolkit by practice.
  • Produce and assemble a plan document in a six part folder.
  • Complete CPA 52 - Environmental Assessment form.
  • Ensure regulations and permits are in place and documented, and the customers understand their roles/responsibilities.

    • Phase III - Application and Evaluation (Understanding the Results)

    • Review conservation planning document with decision maker.
    • Identify Farm Bill and other programs that support the conservation plan. Ensure
    • conservation plan meets program objectives.
    • Implement an Engineering practice.
    • Complete a closed circuit survey.
    • Complete a cross section.
    • Verify soil survey data for one practice.
    • Construction check and checkout of practice.
    • Implement an agronomic practice such as range seeding or pasture planting.
    • Implement a wildlife or forestry practice such as wind breaks, buffer strips, etc.
    • Evaluate each practice and the impact on the conservation system (follow up and status reviews of the recipe.

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