Location: Soil and Water Management Research
Project Number: 5062-12130-008-035-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Aug 12, 2021
End Date: Jul 31, 2025
Objective:
1) Improve the interpretations and applications of Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) outside the Upper Midwest.
2) Develop tools for innovative water quality practices not currently represented in ACPF.
3) Foster new ACPF connections between ARS and NRCS to encourage broader application and testing of the tool.
Approach:
In recent years there has been some expansion of Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) use to the northeastern U.S., the southeastern U.S. and the lower Mississippi basin. Results have been promising, encouraging broader application, but NRCS and ARS staff have also identified new challenges in these regions due to fundamental differences in landforms and agricultural practices that need to be better represented. These include small, irregular field sizes in some eastern states, and levelled floodplain lands in the lower Mississippi basin that are frequently regraded. There is a clear need to further develop dialogue with both NRCS and ARS scientists within these regions to ensure that effective conservation practices are accurately represented within ACPF.
