CSP Renewals FY 2025 Ranking Criteria for Rhode Island Non-Industrial Private Forest Land (NIPF)

Applicability

Is this application a candidate for CSP Non-Industrial Private Forestland (NIPF) signup CSP-2018-2025-1 Renewal? (Applicant must have an active FY2020 Contract and must have applied for renewal prior to the application deadline. See RI Bulletin 300-24-03)

1. YES — Points: 0
2. NO — Points: 0

Category Question

Planners must review the CPA-1200 (Application) and select at least ONE category as applicable. Select ALL that apply for candidates that claimed BFR and/or SDFR status:

1. Applicant self-certifies as a beginning farmer or rancher (BFR) on the NRCS-CPA-1200 — Points: 0
2. Applicant self-certifies as a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher (SDFR) on the NRCS-CPA-1200 — Points: 0
3. Applicant Does Not Qualify or Self Identify - General Category for ALL FARMERS/APPLICANTS — Points: 0

Program Questions

1. Does the applicant meet the NRCS definition of a veteran farmer or rancher (VFR)?
   1. YES — Points: 20
   2. NO — Points: 0
2. Did the applicant participate in the CRP Transition Incentives Program (TIP), and land included in the CSP application has come out of CRP within the last two years?
   1. YES — Points: 5
   2. NO — Points: 0
3. Status at 'Time of Application': Using the CART CSP Renewal Report completed for this application, identify the land use (FOREST) with the fewest number of STATE PRIORITY Resource Concerns met at the time of application. [Note: Associated Ag Land and Farmstead land uses are excluded from consideration.] Choose one response.
   1. All eight (8) state priority resource concerns are met — Points: 95
   2. Seven (7) state priority resource concerns are met — Points: 85
   3. Six (6) state priority resource concerns are met — Points: 75
   4. Five (5) state priority resource concerns are met — Points: 65
   5. Four (4) state priority resource concerns are met — Points: 55
   6. Three (3) state priority resource concerns are met — Points: 45
   7. Two (2) state priority resource concerns are met — Points: 35
   8. One (1) state priority resource concern is met — Points: 25
   9. No state priority resource concerns are met — Points: 0
4. Status at 'Time of Application': Using the CART CSP Renewal Report completed for this application, identify the land use (FOREST) with the fewest number of OVERALL Resource Concerns (national & state) met at the time of application. How many resource concerns are met at time of application? Consider all resource concerns when answering this question. [Note: Associated Ag Land and Farmstead land uses are excluded from consideration.] Choose ONE response.
   1. Seven or more (7+) resource concerns are met — Points: 80
   2. Five or Six (5-6) resource concerns are met — Points: 70
   3. Three or Four (3-4) resource concerns are met — Points: 50
   4. One or Two (1-2) resource concerns are met — Points: 20
   5. No (zero) state priority resource concerns are met — Points: 0

Resource Questions 

1. Status at 'End of contract': Using the CART CSP Renewal Report completed for this application, identify the land use (Forest) with the fewest number of STATE PRIORITY Resource Concerns. How many State PRC will increase in threshold from 'Met' to 'Exceeded' by the end of the contract, due to planned CSP activities? [Met --> Exceeded]. (Note: Associated Ag Land and Farmstead land uses are excluded from consideration.) Choose one response.
   1. All eight (8) state priority resource concerns will be exceeded — Points: 90
   2. Seven (7) state priority resource concerns will be exceeded — Points: 80
   3. Six (6) state priority resource concerns will be exceeded — Points: 70
   4. Five (5) state priority resource concerns will be exceeded — Points: 60
   5. Four (4) state priority resource concerns will be exceeded — Points: 40
   6. Three (3) state priority resource concerns will be exceeded — Points: 30
   7. Two (2) state priority resource concerns will be exceeded — Points: 20
   8. One (1) state priority resource concern will be exceeded — Points: 10
   9. No state priority resource concerns are exceeded — Points: 0
2. Status at 'End of contract': Using the CART CSP Renewal Report completed for this application, identify the land use (Forest) with the fewest number of OVERALL resource concerns that were met at time of application. How many RC will increase in threshold from 'Met' to 'Exceeded' by the end of the contract, due to planned CSP activities? [Met --> Exceeded].  (Note: Associated Ag Land and Farmstead land uses are excluded from consideration.) Choose one response.
   1. Seven or more (7+) resource concerns are met — Points: 50
   2. Five or Six (5-6) resource concerns are met — Points: 40
   3. Three or Four (3-4) resource concerns are met — Points: 30
   4. One or Two (1-2) resource concerns are met — Points: 20
   5. No (zero) state priority resource concerns are met — Points: 0
3. Does the Conservation Plan include one or more conservation activities from the Climate-Smart Ag & Forestry Mitigation Activities List from the CORE practice list? 
   1. 5+ CORE Climate practices are planned — Points: 10
   2. 3 to 4 CORE Climate practices are planned — Points: 8
   3. 1 or 2 CORE Climate practices are planned — Points: 5
   4. Not applicable — Points: 0
4. What is the distance from the Planned Land Unit (PLU) to water bodies, including streams, ponds, lakes, estuaries or all surface waters?
   1. PLU is 100 feet or less from waterbody — Points: 25
   2. PLU is 100-500 feet from waterbody — Points: 15
   3. PLU is 500-1000 feet from a waterbody — Points: 10
   4. otherwise — Points: 0
5. Is the Planned Land Unit (PLU) 100 feet or less from the edge of a wetland?
   1. PLU is 100 feet or less from the edge of a wetland — Points: 5
   2. Otherwise — Points: 0
6. Does the Planned Land Unit (PLU) include Prime and State Important Soils?
   1. Yes, PLU contains prime or state important soils — Points: 12
   2. Otherwise — Points: 0
7. Is the Planned Land Unit (PLU) located in a targeted source water watershed?
   1. Yes — Points: 3
   2. No — Points: 0
8. Is the project in one of the source water priority watersheds?
   1. Yes — Points: 5
   2. No — Points: 0