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The EBI formula considers several environmental factors. Those factors
are: Wildlife, Water Quality, Erosion, Enduring Benefits, Air Quality,
and Cost. In order to make your general CRP sign-up bid as competitive
as possible you need to understand which of these factors can maximize
your bid when selecting the tree planting CRP options.
Wildlife Factor
Evaluates the expected wildlife benefits of the offer and contains
the following subfactors that you need to consider:
- Wildlife Habitat Cover (0 to 50 points) - The better your mix for
wildlife the more points you generate for your bid. If you are planting
trees, your best bet is to plant either a mix of 3 or more hardwood
species suited to the wildlife on your area or a stand of mixed northern
conifers (750 to 850/acre) with 10 to 20 percent of the field planted
to hardwood trees, shrubs, grasses, forbs, and or legumes. Both these
mixes give you fifty points. Whether planting trees or grasses
it is to your advantage to plant a 50 point mix.
- Wildlife Enhancement (0, 5, or 20) - You can enhance your bid by
5 points by including a wildlife food plot into your bid. Food plots
can be between 1 and 5 acres and can occupy no more than 10% of the
offered acreage. However, because trees score so highly in other categories
you need to consider this factor carefully. By taking these points
you may hurt your overall EBI score.
-
Wildlife Priority Area (0 or 30 points) - If you are in a wildlife
priority area you get 30 points if you are out you get 0. Click
here for a map of the wildlife
priority areas.
Water Quality Factor
-
Location (0 or 30 points) - If you are in a water
quality area you are in and get 30 points. If you are out you
get 0 points.
- Groundwater Quality - This factor evaluates the predominant soil
types in the field offered and considers the potential of pesticides
and nitrogen to leach into groundwater. There is not much you can
do to affect this factor.
- Surface Water Quality - Evaluates the amount of sediment that may
be delivered into streams or other water courses and the human population
impacted. You cannot affect this factor.
Erosion Factor (0 to 100 points) - Evaluates the lands potential
to erode as the result of precipitation. The soils water erodibilty
index (EI) is based upon the predominant 3 soils in the field. The
only way to affect this factor is to change the field boundaries in
your offer. If you have a predominant soil type in the
field offered with a very low EI score you may want to consider dividing
the field and removing you low EI soil from your bid offer. This
will improve the score for the remaining area offered.
Enduring Benefits Factor (0 to 50 points) - Evaluates the likelihood
of certain practices remaining in place beyond the CRP contract period.
Planting hardwood trees is the best way to maximize enduring benefits
points.
Air Quality Factor (0 to 45 points) - In Iowa the only points
available under this factor are through the carbon sequestration subfactor.
Ten points are available for tree planting. Planting trees is the
best way to maximize air quality points in Iowa.
Cost Factor - Evaluates the cost of the environmental benefit
per dollars expended. Offers with lower per acre rental rates may
increase probability of acceptance. Offers that do not include cost-share
receive ten points. It is probably not wise to refuse cost-share on
tree planting projects. Offers below the maximum payment rate will
receive one additional point, not to exceed 15 points, for every dollar
below the payment rate for the offer. To increase your points in this
factor, simply lower your bid offer.
Keep in mind that this information is subject to change. However,
it is the best information currently avaialble for the upcoming CRP
sign-up. Tree planting is the best way to maximize your EBI points
and get into the CRP. If you are planning a tree planting project
contact your District Forester for assistance.
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