Land Use and Other Definitions

Updated 02/28/2008

Landuse | CNMP | CROPS | Pest Management |  Technical Assistance

Land types as defined for TACCP, WLA, and TSP Technical Service Payment Rates

• Crop – Land used primarily for the production of field crops or orchard crops alone or in association with sod crops.
• Pasture – Lands composed of introduced or domesticated native forage species that are used primarily for the production of domestic livestock. They receive periodic renovation and/or cultural treatments, such as tillage, fertilization, mowing, and weed control. They are not in rotation with crops.
• Wet Waste - Practices that deal with the management or handling of liquid wastes of confined animals and the delivery of liquid animal waste products to any land use.  In this revised TACCP Database, Wet Waste practices are moved under CNMP.
• Dry Waste - Practices that deal with the management or handling of solid or semi-solid wastes of confined animals and the delivery of solid or semi-solid animal waste products to any land use.  In this revised TACCP Database, Dry Waste practices are moved under CNMP.
• Forest – Land on which the primary vegetation is forest (climax, natural or introduced plant community) and its use is primarily for production of wood products.
• Wildlife – Land or water used, protected, and managed primarily as habitat for wildlife.
• Urban – Land occupied by buildings and related facilities used for residences, industrial sites, institutional sites, public highways, airports, and similar uses associated with towns and cities.
• Irrigation – Practices dealing with supplemental water distribution and/or the rate, timing, or amounts of supplemental water applied to any land use.
• Wetland – A land inclusion that has a predominance of hydric soils; is inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support a prevalence of hydrophytic vegetation; and supports a prevalence of such vegetation under normal circumstances.
• Rangeland - Land on which the historic climax plant community is predominantly grasses, grass like plants, forbs, or shrubs. Includes lands revegetated naturally or artificially when routine management of that vegetation is accomplished mainly through manipulation of grazing. Rangelands include natural grasslands, savannas, shrub lands, most deserts, tundra, alpine communities, coastal marshes, and wet meadows

CNMP

• CNMP - A comprehensive nutrient management plan (CNMP) describes and documents a conservation system within a conservation plan that is unique to animal feeding operations.
  • At a minimum, a CNMP must address quality criteria to the sustainable level for soil erosion and water quality for the planning unit associated with the animal feeding operation. Conservation planning activities associated with the development of a CNMP, however, should attempt to achieve a CNMP that addresses quality criteria to the RMS level for all five natural resources (soil, water, air, plants, and animals).
  • Any CNMP that is developed by a NRCS or partner employee will have the plan approved by a NRCS certified conservation planner, as defined by GM-180, Part 409.3 or GM-180, Part 409.9.
• Animal Type - The animal type with the largest number of Animal Units should be selected from this list.
• BUILDINGS/LOTS use on CNMPau - Buildings and/or lots from which manure must be collected
• CROPS use on CNMPac
• use 1 for 1 single crop or grass only
• use 2 for 2 for crops rotation or two crops + grass
• use 3 for 3 for crops rotation or three crops + grass
• use 4 for 4 for four or more crops  
• FIELDS use only on CNMPac - the number of fields and subfields included in the acres given
• HEAD - Number of animals
• TONS use on CNMPau - tons of manure per day for the animal units given
• TONS use on CNMPac - tons of manure  per acre applied annually to the given acreage

Pest Management Minimum Standards

• 409.11 Minimum Standards for Providers of Conservation Technical Assistance Associated with Conservation Planning that includes Pest Management.

Technical Assistance Categories

• Checkout - Surveys, measurements, observations to document completed practice complies with approved plans. Includes job sheets, photos and job diaries. Material certifications, weigh tickets, etc. that document installation. AS BUILT plans, where appropriate. Certificates of completion, acceptance letters or other necessary approvals from regulatory authorities.
• Design - Surveys, geologic investigations, inventories, interviews, etc., necessary to perform the design. Design computations, preparation of plans, drawings and specifications or job sheets. Sealing plans, (if required by state Code). Certifying that plans, drawings and specifications or job sheets are completed in compliance with all provisions of state and NRCS standards and specifications.
• Installation - Surveys and measurements for construction layout. Pre-construction conferences. Tests and measurements during construction, including surveys, compaction tests, concrete tests, gathering load tickets and certifications. Obtaining photographs to document steel placement, mulch cover, pre-construction conditions, etc.
• Other - Includes activities that do not clearly fit the application steps for conservation practices. In some cases state or local municipalities have requirements that must be fulfilled before work can proceed. One example is the need to contact a utility company before digging can start.
• Planning - Any activities associated with assisting a landowner in applying for permits and other land rights issues. Includes I&E and surveys not also necessary for design. Working with a landowner to ascertain (if not already planned) what variation of a practice is best for their site. For example, what type of grade stabilization structure or type of stacking area? Planning is done first, on a land-use basis. Then individual practices are selected. Activities include the following:
  • Identify problem
  • Determining objectives
  • Conduct resource management
  • Identifying alternatives
  • Evaluate and compare alternatives
  • Discuss options with landowner
  • Select alternative
• Travel - Time going to and from the site to implement the selected practice. This category is a necessary part of getting the job done. The time estimated by field office specialists is multiplied by the average staff year cost. Does NOT reflect mileage, vehicle, or transportation related costs, meals, or lodging. Travel Costs will be allocated into the above three categories.