March 13, 2015 - Due to changes and consolidations of Field Technical Services (FTS) staff areas of responsibilities, and in an effort to aid the field in meeting reporting requirements, the following guidance is being set forth:
Certified Conservation Planner Reporting Requirements
For information and guidance on taking and completing the Missouri Conservation Planning Course contact Dee Vanderburg, State Grazing Lands Specialist (dee.vanderburg@mo.usda.gov).
Course completion certifications are to be scanned and emailed to Dee with a cc to Ronna Chrisman (ronna.chrisman@mo.usda.gov). Retain copies for employee and supervisor.
MO-CONS-01 form (Initial Certified Conservation Planner): Scan and email form to Dee and Ronna. Retain copies for employee and supervisor.
MO-CONS-02 form (Recertification of Certified Conservation Planner): Scan and email form to Dee and Ronna. Retain copies for employee and supervisor.
Refer also to guidance issued by your respective NRCS area office on sending forms, etc. to the area office through the Area Resource Conservationist (ARC) or other designated person.
Dee Vanderburg will maintain a record of those who achieve and maintain certification. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources Soil and Water Conservation Program Director will be notified by the NRCS State Conservationist as Soil and Water Conservation District employees achieve initial certification.
Guidance for meeting pest and nutrient management planner certification reporting requirements will be provided at a later date.
If you have any questions, please contact Dee Vanderburg or R. Dwaine Gelnar;
R. Dwaine Gelnar
State Resource Conservationist
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Columbia, MO
dwaine.gelnar@mo.usda.gov
573-876-9392
Training Module 1
A. Introduction Video
B. NRCS Policy
C. State Cost Share Policy Video
D. PII and FOIA
PII and FOIA Video
FOIA Handout
E. FOTG
F. Conservation Planning
Conservation Planning Video
Conservation Planning Handout
Training Module 2
A. Basic Soils and Soil Interpretations
Introduction and history Video
Making a soil survey Video
Web soil survey Video
Using soil survey information - eFOTG Video
Soils Handout
B. Ecological Site Descriptions
Ecological Site Descriptions Video
Ecological Site Descriptions (slides)
Ecological Fact Sheet 5-13
Ecological Site Description Example
C. Environmental Considerations: NEPA, Section 404, CPA-52
Environmental Considerations: NEPA, Section 404, CPA-52 Video
Environmental Considerations: NEPA, Section 404, CPA-52 (slides)
D. Cultural Resources
Cultural Resources Video
Cultural Resources (slides) PDF
Training Module 3
A. Grazing Land Management, Practice, and Tools
Grazing management 101 Video
The art of communication Video
B. Forestry Basics, Practices, and Tools
Forest Management - Part 1 Video
Forest Management - Part 2 Video
Forest Management - Part 3 Video
Training Module 4
A. Cropland Basics, Practices, and Tools
Agronomy Video
Agronomy (slides)
Cropland basics - Part 1 Video
Cropland basics - Part 2 Video
Cropland basics (slides)
Cropland Checklist of Resource Concerns
Filter Strip Worksheet
Filter Strip Job Sheet
RUSLE2 (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation)
Soil Conditioning Index (SCI)
Soil Tillage Intensity Rating (STIR)
B. Soil health
Basic soil health - Part 1 Video
Basic soil health - Part 2 Video
C. Cover crops
Cover crops - Part 1 Video
Cover crops - Part 2 Video
Cover crops (slides)
Cover Crop Termination Guidelines
Healthy, productive soils checklist for growers
Training Module 5
A.Nutrient and Pest management
Nutrient and Pest management Video
Nutrient and Pest management (slides)
B. Nutrient and Pest Tools Video
C. Engineering Basics and Practices
Engineering - Part 1 Video
Engineering - Part 2 Video
Engineering - Part 3 Video
Training Module 6
A. Water Quality Principles and Monitoring
Water Quality Video
B. Wildlife Habitat, Practices, and Tools
Policies and Programs Video
Policies and Programs (slides)
Habitats and Processes Video
Habitats and Processes (slides)
Upland Wildlife Video
Upland Wildlife (slides)
Wetlands and Partners Video
Wetlands and Partners (slides)
Quail WHAG Video
Quail WHAG (slides)
C. Plant Materials
Plant Materials Video
Plant Materials (slides)
Training Module 7
A. Economics
Economics of Conservation Planning Video
Economics of Conservation Plannning (slides)
B. Payment Schedules
Payment Schedules Video
Payment Schedules (slides)
C. NRCS Financial Assistance Programs
Conservation Stewardship Progam and Conservation Security Program Video
Conservation Stewardship Progam and Conservation Security Program (handout)
Brief Overview of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for Missouri Video
Brief Overview of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for Missouri (handout)
EQIP Overview Video
D. FSA Programs
Module 7D – FSA Programs (available later, will notify)
E. Easement Programs
Stewardship Lands Easement Monitoring Video
Stewardship Lands Easement Monitoring (handout)
NRCS Easement Programs Video
Training Module 8
A. Toolkit
Toolkit Video
Toolkit (slides)
B. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Video
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (slides)
C. Tools (LiDAR)
Lidar for Conservation Planning Video
D. State Cost Share Program (Availability To Be Determined)
E. Review and Closing
Review and Closing Video
Review and Closing (slides)
General Manual - Title 180 ConservationPlanning and Application
Part 409 - Conservation Planning Policy
Part 409 - Conservation Planning Policy Amend-MO-10
Final NRCS Conservation Planner Course Training Instructions
Part 409 of the NRCS General Manual establishes NRCS policy for providing conservation planning assistance to clients and states in 409.3 that all NRCS conservation planners must be certified. The policy covers NRCS and partner employees. The policy states the State Conservationist will establish and implement a process to ensure training is provided to NRCS and partner employees delivering conservation planning services.
Course Participants: You will need to carefully read and follow the guidance presented under MO409.9(c)
District Conservationists: You also need to read and follow the instructions of Missouri’s amendment. You are the key person in carrying out this policy. You are the direct supervisor of the NRCS staff in your offices and will also serve as the designee for non-NRCS candidates (SWCD partners). Please work closely with the candidates in your offices. The quality of the conservation plans developed in your offices is your responsibility
GM 180 Part 409 - Conservation Planning Policy
GM 180 Part 409 Amend MO-10 - This sets forth Missouri’s process for the training and associated approval requirements to become a certified conservation planner.
MO-CONS-1 - The MO-CONS-1 is the form for the initial certification of a candidate.
MO-CONS-2 - The MO-CONS-2 is the form for the re-certification that will occur once every three years.
Note: Guidance is provided on the bottom of the second page of each form about what to do with the form when finished. The original MO-CONS-1 should be retained by the certification candidate; one copy should be forwarded to the NRCS state office – attention State Resource Conservationist,