WHIP Guidance Document 04/08/18

WHIP Application and Evaluation Guidance

PROCEDURE 1. Complete the WHIP Application and Evaluation Worksheets (NRCS-LTP-15, SC Revised 6/02) in entirety, including the required signatures 2. When preparing WHIP Application and Evaluation Worksheets (NRCS-LTP-15, SC Revised 6/02), only practices listed as State WHIP Priorities receive points and are authorized for cost share 3. Completely fill out the excel spreadsheet “WHIP2tally” and send to the program specialist, Glenn Sandifer by email by April 21, 2003. 4. After you are notified of the contracts funded, forward the completed worksheet to the program specialist.

NOTE: Incomplete worksheets will be returned to the field office for completion prior to being placed on the state-ranking list for funding.

GUIDANCE

The only land clearing authorized for cost share payment is that clearing associated with the establishment of permanent firebreaks, 12 to 15 feet wide. Waterfowl impoundments are not authorized, such as duck ponds or greentree reservoirs.

Use the Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Worksheets for planning purposes and to assist in the location of practices. Landowners may create forest openings in pine stands at their own expense as a part of a selective timber harvest and receive points and cost share for management of rotational disking or prescribed burning. Openings should be separated by about 600 feet to optimize utilization based on the Wildlife Habitat Evaluation. Remember that forest openings for wildlife are 0.5 to 2.0 acres in size, and they may be planted to an annual seed crop, the year that they are disked (every 3 years), and then left fallow for two years.

Prescribed burning: The acreage to be managed with prescribed burning receives the ranking points. For example, if 100 acres are to be burned two times on a 5 year contract, the ranking sheet would reflect 100 points. On a 10 year contract there should be at least 3 burns planned. Each burn would be cost shared for prescribed burning at 75 percent or $15 per acre.

If bermudagrass is eliminated from a field, for example, points may be given for it and cost shared, as well as, the management for native early successional vegetation or native warm season grass establishment. For non-native grass elimination, use cost share rates for chemical site preparation.

If fallow fields, or openings are to be managed for early successional vegetation and are larger than 2 acres, the field may be divided with a hedgerow, 25 – 50 feet wide.

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Hedgerows: The purpose of hedgerows are to subdivide larger fields into smaller fields (open land). Bicolor lespedeza plots may be used in the hedgerow as well as other woody vegetation, trees and shrubs. Bicolor plots are typically 15 feet wide, whereas a hedgerow is 25 to 50 feet wide. Bicolor plots in the woods do not qualify as hedgerows nor do bicolor plots along the edge of field, in the field borders. Bicolor plots are cost sharable if they are a part of a legitimate hedgerow. They would not be cost sharable just as plots in the woods or in the field border. Field borders are managed for early successional vegetation, with rotational disking.

Tree and shrub planting are cost sharable for hedgerow establishment, only.

Attachment: WHIP Application Evaluation Worksheet, NRCS-LTP-15, SC Revised 6/02.

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Application Evaluation U.S. DEPARTMENT OF Worksheet NRCS-LTP-15 AGRICULTURE OMB NO. 0578-0013 NATURAL RESOURCES SC Revised 06/02 CONSERVATION SERVICE WHIP

Applicant Name:

Address:

Application No:

I. Land Use Contract Acres

Cropland Pasture / Hayland Pine Forestland TOTAL CONTRACT ACRES

II. State WHIP Priorities Point Value

Field Borders (25-50 ft. wide - native vegetation) 1 point per acre Hedgerow Establishment (25-50 ft wide) – 1 point per acre established Prescribed Burning – 1 point per acre Permanent firebreaks (12-15 ft wide) – 1 point per 1000 feet Native warm season grass establishment – 1 point per acre Fallow field or forest opening management for native successional vegetation – 1 point per acre Non-native grass elimination (fescue, bermuda grass, bahia grass) – 1 point per acre. TOTAL III. Conservation Practices

Conservation Practices Practice Extent Estimated Cost Cost-Share Amount or (Amount) (State Average Cost) Rate required by Applicant

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Application Evaluation NRCS-LTP-15

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NATURAL RESOURCES Worksheet OMB NO. 0578-0013 CONSERVATION SERVICE SC Revised 06/02

IV. Certification I acknowledge that I have reviewed the information above and the cost-share percentages reflect my contract offer.

______(Applicant’s Signature) (Date)

V. Designated NRCS Conservationist

______

(Conservationist’s Signature) (Date)

VI. Wildlife Biologist ( NRCS, FWS, SC DNR)

______

(Biologist’s Signature) (Date)

Privacy Act Statement: The following statements are made in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5U.S.C. 522a). The authorities for requesting the information to be supplied on this form are: 16 U.S.C. 590a-f (Soil and Water Conservation); 16 U.S.C. 3801 et seq. (Food Security Act of 1985, as amended), and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The information requested is necessary for the evaluation of an application, development and implementation of a conservation plan as the basis for satisfying program eligibility and compliance requirements, and for providing technical, educational, or financial assistance under the previously mentioned authorities. Furnishing this information is voluntary, however, failure to furnish correct, complete information will result in the withholding or withdrawal of such technical, educational, or financial assistance. This information maybe furnished to other USDA agencies, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Justice, or other State, or Federal law enforcement agencies, or in response to orders of a court, magistrate, or administrative tribunal.

OMB DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Public Reporting burden for this collection of information is approximately 20 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Department of Agriculture Clearance Officer OIRM, AG Box 7630, Washington, D.C. 20250-7630; and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (OMB NO. 0578- 0013), Washington, D.C. 20503.

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