Applicability

Is this application located in the SOUTHERN Rhode Island District (Kent & Washington counties)? [This applicability is geospatial and the ranking will be available if the application is located in the Southern district. If the application does not have an approved I&E (as applicable) the planner must reject the ranking.]

1. YES – Points:  N/A
2. NO – Points:  N/A

Category 

1. Is this application for a CPA, DIA and/or CEMA?
   1. YES – Points:  0
   2. NO – Points:  0
2. Did the applicant self-certify as a beginning farmer or rancher (BFR) on the NRCS-CPA-1200?
   1. YES – Points:  0
   2. NO – Points:  0
3. Did the applicant self-certify as a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher (SDFR) on the NRCS-CPA-1200?
   1. YES – Points:  0
   2. NO – Points:  0
4. Applicant Does Not Qualify or Self Identify, General Category for all other Farmers/ Applicants:
   1. YES – Points:  0
   2. NO – Points:  0

Program Questions

1. Is the land permanently protected through a CONSERVATION EASEMENT, purchase of development rights or other mechanism?
   1. YES – Points: 10
   2. NO – Points: 0
2. If the participant self-certified as a Beginning Farmer Rancher (BFR), how many years have they been farming? Choose only ONE response.   
   1. 0-3 YEARS – Points: 6
   2. 4-6 YEARS – Points: 8
   3. 7-10 YEARS – Points: 10
   4. N/A – Points: 0
3. Did the participant self certify as a veteran farmer or rancher (VFR)?
   1. YES – Points: 10
   2. NO – Points: 0
4. Did the participant self certify as a Limited Resource Farmer Rancher (LFR)?   
   1. YES – Points: 10
   2. NO – Points: 0   
5. Did the participant self certify as a Socially Disadvantaged Farmer Rancher (SDFR)?   
   1. YES – Points: 10
   2. NO – Points: 0
6. Is the applicant implementing a plan developed for Farm Forest & Open Space (FFOS) Program?
   1. YES – Points: 30
   2. NO – Points: 0
7. Has the participant been in contract VIOLATION with any prior USDA NRCS Contract within the past 3 years?
   1. YES — Points: -25
   2. NO — Points: 0
8. Has the participant been in contract TERMINATION with any prior USDA NRCS Contract within the past 3 years?
   1. YES — Points: -100
   2. NO — Points: 0
9. Will the participant be addressing Degraded Plant Condition and/or Weather Resiliency through installation of a High Tunnel (325)?   
   1. YES — Points: 13
   2. NO — Points: 0   
10. Will the participant be addressing Fire Management?
    1. YES — Points: 22
    2. NO — Points: 0   
11. Is the applicant implementing an approved Forest Management Plan (NRCS 106 CAP, Forest Stewardship Plan, other)? Plan must not be expired (written 10 years ago or under).   
    1. YES — Points: 10
    2. NO — Points: 0  
12. Will the participant be addressing one or more of the following: Storage and handling of Pollutants; Field Sediment, Nutrient and Pathogen Loss; Soil Quality Limitations and/or Livestock Production Limitation?   
    1. YES — Points: 28
    2. NO — Points: 0   
13. Will the participant be addressing one or more of the following: Concentrated Erosion; Field Sediment, Nutrient, and Pathogen Loss; Source Water Depletion; Wind and Water Erosion; and/or Storage and Handling of Pollutants?   
    1. YES — Points: 19
    2. NO — Points: 0
14. Will this application include wildlife practices?    
    1. YES — Points: 12
    2. NO — Points: 0
15. Will this application address Air Quality and/or Inefficient Energy Use?   
    1. YES — Points: 5
    2. NO — Points: 0   
16. Is the applicant applying for CPA, DIA and/or CEMA?
    1. YES — Points: 3
    2. NO — Points: 0
17. Will the participant be addressing Soil Health?
    1. YES — Points: 14
    2. NO — Points: 0
18. Will the participant be addressing Aquatic Habitat?
    1. YES — Points: 4
    2. NO — Points: 0 

Resource Questions

1. Using the CART Assessments FIRST Results, Graph View, considering all land uses and Tracts in this assessment at the time of application: How many "RHODE ISLAND Required Resource Concern Categories" exist and are NOT MEETING THE THRESHOLD (Count Existing Condition and Existing Practices as ONE)? IF your existing condition exceeds the threshold DO NOT count it.    
   1. 5 or more Required Resource Concern Categories Not Met – Points: 65
   2. 4 Required Resource Concern Categories Not Met – Points: 55
   3. 3 Required Resource Concern Categories Not Met – Points: 45
   4. 2 Required Resource Concern Categories Not Met – Points: 35
   5. 1 Required Resource Concern Categories Not Met – Points: 25
   6. None of the other choices are applicable – Points: 0
2. Using the CART Assessments FIRST Results, Graph View, considering all land uses and Tracts in this assessment at the time of application: How many "RHODE ISLAND Required Resource Concern Categories" exist and IMPROVED BUT DID NOT MEET THE THRESHOLD? [Look at the planned practices (light blue) bar - means improvement.] IF your existing condition exceeds the threshold DO NOT count it.
   1. 5 or more Required Resource Concern Categories Improved – Points: 30
   2. 4 Required Resource Concern Categories Improved – Points: 20
   3. 3 Required Resource Concern Categories Improved – Points: 15
   4. 2 Required Resource Concern Categories Improved – Points: 10
   5. 1 Required Resource Concern Categories Improved – Points: 5
   6. None of the other choices are applicable – Points: 0
3. Using the CART Assessments FIRST Results, Graph View, considering all land uses and Tracts in this assessment at the time of application: How many "RHODE ISLAND Required Resource Concern Categories" exist and MEET OR EXCEED THE THRESHOLD? [Look at the planned practices (light blue) bar - hitting or exceeding the threshold.] IF your existing condition exceeds the threshold DO NOT count it.
   1. 5 or more Required Resource Concern Categories Improved – Points: 40
   2. 4 Required Resource Concern Categories Improved – Points: 30
   3. 3 Required Resource Concern Categories Improved – Points: 20
   4. 2 Required Resource Concern Categories Improved – Points: 10
   5. 1 Required Resource Concern Categories Improved – Points: 5
   6. None of the other choices are applicable – Points: 0
4. Does the Conservation Plan include one or more conservation practices from the Climate-Smart Ag & Forestry Mitigation Activities List for FY2025?
   1. 5+ Climate-smart practices and/or enhancements are planned – Points: 15
   2. 3 to 4 Climate-smart practices and/or enhancements are planned – Points: 10
   3. 1 to 2 Climate-smart practices and/or enhancements are planned – Points: 5
   4. Zero (0) Climate-smart practices and/or enhancements are planned — Points: 0
5. Is the Planned Land Unit (PLU) 100 feet or less from the edge of the wetland?
   1. YES, the PLU is 100 feet or less from the edge of the wetland – Points: 10
   2. Otherwise / No – Points: 0
6. Does the Planned Land Unit (PLU) include Prime and State Importance Soils?
   1. YES, the PLU contains prime or state important soils – Points: 10
   2. Otherwise/NO – Points: 0
7. Based on the source water dashboard, is the Planned Land Unit (PLU) located in a "high" / targeted source water watershed?
   1. Yes – Points: 10
   2. No – Points: 0
8. Is the project in one of the source water protection priority watershed areas?
   1. Yes – Points: 5
   2. No – Points: 0