The OnePlan is a web based user-friendly suite of conservation
planning tools for use by farmers, ranchers, and professional planners.
This tool was developed in Idaho over the past six years and is
set to expand into Oregon next year. The goal is to provide producers
with a “one stop shopping” place for information, guidelines, and
regulations from all local, state, and federal agencies, to assist
in the protection of natural resources. Concerns about the role
of agricultural operations as a source of non-point pollution have
prompted federal and state government agencies to offer financial
incentives to producers to put in place more sustainable agricultural
practices. In order for producers to be eligible for financial incentives,
a Conservation Plan needs to be in place.
The OnePlan began as an effort by state and federal agencies, working
in collaboration, to encourage producers to adopt a conservation
planning approach in order to voluntarily comply with regulations
and protection of natural resources. Agencies including the EPA,
NRCS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Forest Service, Bureau of
Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Idaho State Departments
of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Commission, Environmental Quality,
Water Resources, Lands, Fish and Game, University of Idaho, and
the Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts have participated
in the development and continuation of the OnePlan. The concept
has now expanded to include specific planning tools for topics including
nutrient management, integrated pest management, and rangeland management
which are all interactive with the basic planning tool, the Conservation
Planner.
 The
nutrient management planning tool has been utilized by the state
of Idaho to fulfill a state mandated requirement that all dairies
must have a nutrient management plan in order to sell milk. The
OnePlan Project worked diligently with the dairy industry, university
specialists, NRCS personnel, and regulatory agencies to complete
the nutrient management planning module for use with this new requirement.
This planner consists of customized software employing downloadable
spatial data to develop detailed plans for the field application
of animal waste according the Idaho Nutrient Management Standard.
The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) planner is currently being
developed by a multi-state design team. This planning tool will
allow for site-specific IPM decision making. The “expert system”
concept of the IPM planner will utilize university experts and publications
on IPM, beneficial organisms, biological and cultural control, and
pesticide applications. Pesticide information will be provided and
the planner will utilize the NRCS Windows Pesticide Screening Tool
(Win-PST) to select an effective pesticide with the least impact
on water quality.
Wayne Newbill, OnePlan Coordinator in Idaho.
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