Idaho Rural Partnership (IRP), Idaho Soil Conservation Commission, US Environmental Protection Agency, Idaho Cooperative Extension System, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Idaho, Department of Agriculture, and numerous other federal, state, and private partners.

Idaho farmers and ranchers face a fragmented and complex set of incentives and regulations regarding farm conservation, many of which require an on-farm conservation plan. A coalition of agricultural groups and agencies has been exploring ways to re-invent the delivery of on-farm conservation programs in Idaho since 1993. The team’s ambitious, shared vision involves integrating all agency program information on a portal web site that is organized by farm management issue, designing a user-driven, voluntary planning process that meets all agency requirements, eventually allowing third party certification by cooperating agencies and private planners, and providing a mechanism to meet TMDL water quality and Endangered Species Act goals. At the 1996 Idaho Agriculture Summit, Governor Batt signed a Memorandum of Understanding of commitment to the project. Over US$ 131,000 from ten different partners supported the project’s action plan. Thirteen interagency work teams were formed to develop the Idaho Farm and Ranch Resource Center web site at www.oneplan.state.id.us.

Agriculture, and Land Use.

A large participant committee with a smaller core group, supported by agency directors, political leaders, and farm leaders, has been working for over five years. A shared vision was developed. Focus groups of farmers and ranchers were conducted to verify the problem. 1997-98 was spent developing an innovative Internet site that leads farmers and ranchers to the information they need. About 750 pages of information on conservation planning have been assembled together with over 400 links to agriculture related web sites. A full-time programming assistant was hired, the Environmental Protection Agency has detailed a process engineer, and NRCS a water specialist. The web site was tested twice with a response panel of farmers and ranchers. The web site was launched nationally at the 1997 Agriculture Summit.

Over 75 demonstrations have been given to a wide variety of groups in Idaho and across the country. EPA, NRCS, and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture recognized one Plan as a national leader.

In 1998, a downloadable planning prototype was developed that will eventually allow operators to develop a plan in the privacy of their own home or office. The system is GIS-based with farm maps and location- specific information. A One Plan delegation travelled to Washington, DC to seek funding to take this planning component state-wide.

1999 saw this trip lead to discussions with USDA national office officials and the designation of One Plan as one of 25 USDA Business Process Re-engineering projects nationwide. Major funding to implement the planning module is expected.

Hits on the site have increased to over 400 per week as Idaho has the 6th fastest growth in farmers on the Internet. 41 percent of Idaho’s farmers and ranchers are now on-line. IRP funded an updating of the site’s appearance for increased usability and efficiency.

• Collaboration takes time.

• Program managers and field staff tend to feel most threatened and must be sold on the change. A front-end resource investment in system change is the barrier to realizing long-term efficiency gains for all parties.

• A well-articulated vision can inspire support from agencies, customers from all perspectives, and political leaders.

• Customers appreciate attempts at common sense streamlining that reduce the time costs of government compliance.

National Rural Development Partnership
Kelly Thornburg, Truman Fellow
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 4225-S
Mail Stop 3205, Washington, DC. 20250-3205
Tel. (202) 690 9833; Fax (202) 690 1262; Email: kthornbu@rdmail.rural.usda.gov