The NRCS CEAP Modeling Team at Blackland/Grassland continues to lead the cropland component of the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). A new CEAP website is up and running and includes numerous reports of the effects of conservation practices on croplands, grazinglands, wetlands, and wildlife. See https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ceap for more information.

Some of the recent activities of the NRCS team in Temple include:           

• Lee Norfleet, the CEAP Modeling Team leader in Temple, recently retired, has plans to return in a part-time capacity. Evelyn Steglich is the interim leader, and the team anticipates adding two new staff to assist in future cropland analyses.
• The third 10-year phase of CEAP has begun with the Temple NRCS team responsible for the cropland component. As in CEAP II, APEX is being used for simulation of edge-of-field effects of conservation practices nationwide. CEAP III surveys of conservation practices are anticipated to begin in the fall of 2024 and continue through the fall of 2026.
• A final report comparing CEAP I and CEAP II results was released in March 2022, and NRCS staff in Temple are working on release of eleven regional reports based on CEAP I and II analyses. See the pdf for more information.
• NRCS staff in Temple were involved in a recent report on reductions in fuel usage resulting from conversion to conservation tillage. See the pdf for more information.
• NRCS staff in Temple are working with NRCS and Blackland Research Center statisticians to develop a machine learning application to predict nutrient and soil losses nationwide based on CEAP survey and modeling data.

Dr. Osorio is also working with NRCS and ERS using APEX with CEAP survey data to simulate the possibly disruptive effects of climate change on U.S. agriculture.