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Program Guidance for the 2007 New Jersey Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)Agricultural producers can apply for cost-sharing payment assistance for any practice listed below that is or will be included in the approved Conservation Plan for the farm. Each practice installed must meet the applicable FOTG Section IV Standard and Specification in order to receive the cost-share payment. Producers must meet all application requirements, including completion of the planning worksheets included in the workbook “Applying for Financial Assistance for Land Stewardship and Conservation”, or have a recent Conservation Plan for the operation already approved. Producers must also meet all Highly Erodible Land and Adjusted Gross Income provisions, and update all farm and persons records with the Farm Service Agency before NRCS will process their application. The following documents require
Adobe Acrobat. Conservation Practices Eligible for Payment AssistanceConservation practices eligible for payment assistance under the NJ-EQIP program in 2007 are listed alphabetically under the following agricultural resource areas: Cropland Practices, Irrigation Systems, Pasture or Grazing Land, Animal Waste Management, and Stormwater Management. More information about conservation practices can be found in the electronic Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG). Producers must meet all application and eligibility requirements, including completion of the workbook Applying for Financial Assistance for Land Stewardship and Conservation. Producers must also meet all Highly Erodible Land and Adjusted Gross Income provisions, and establish or update all farm and persons records before NRCS will process their application. NRCS payments for structural practices are made using an Average Cost method. Contract participants will receive the specified percent of the component average cost, regardless of actual cost. Component costs are set on an annual basis, and are found in the 2007 Schedule of EQIP Program Payments. NRCS payments for management practices are made using a Flat Rate (FR) method. Contract participants will receive the specified payment for a maximum of three years, to offset the risk of making the management change. Flat Rate payment practices are marked FR. Each practice installed must meet the applicable Conservation Practice Standard and Specification in order to receive the contracted payment. The payment will be based on the extent (amount) of the conservation practice performed, not the cost.Limited Resource Producers and Beginning Farmers will be eligible for payment rates 30% higher than what is listed. (Example: systems listed at 45% cost share will receive 75% for limited resource farmers; systems listed at 60% cost share will receive 90%). CROPLAND PRACTICESAn asterisk (*) before the listed practice denotes a management practice eligible for payments for up to a maximum of three years. Practices normally associated with production agriculture, such as reduction of sheet and rill erosion, control of gullies, management and handling of nutrients and pesticides, management of soil organic matter, protection of surface and ground water resources, transition to organic production, control of airborne particulates, and installation of conservation buffers.*Air Resources Management (FR) Install a permanent structure with an impervious surface to provide an environmentally safe area for the mixing and handling of pesticides and fertilizers used on agricultural lands. Brush Management (45%) Remove non-herbaceous plants to restore permanent herbaceous cover, control erosion, improve water quality and maintain or enhance wildlife habitat. Conservation Cover (45%) Establish new permanent vegetative cover on cropland to protect soil and water resources. *Conservation Crop Rotation (FR) Establish a new crop rotation system, including the introduction of higher residue crops in rotation with at least two other crops, in order to reduce or control sheet and rill erosion to the soil “T” level. Contour Buffer Strips (45%) Establish narrow strips of permanent, herbaceous vegetation across the slope and alternate with wider cropped strips to reduce sheet and rill erosion, reduce transport of sediment and other contaminants, or to enhance wildlife habitat. Payment is made on the buffer strip portion of the field only. *Cover Crop (FR) Annually establish grasses or legumes for seasonal cover to reduce sheet and rill erosion, sequester carbon in plant biomass and soils, increase soil organic matter, capture and recycle excess nutrients, promote biological nitrogen fixation, or reduce particulate emissions into the atmosphere. Critical Area Planting (60%) In critical areas disturbed by the installation of erosion control measures, plant perennial vegetation such as trees, shrubs, grasses, or legumes. Diversion (60%) Construct a channel across the slope with a supporting ridge on the lower side to interrupt water flow on slopes, reduce runoff damage, or divert water away from active gullies or critically eroding areas. Field Border (45%) Establish a strip of permanent vegetation at the edge or around the perimeter of a field to reduce erosion from wind and water, manage insect populations, or provide wildlife food and cover. Filter Strip (45%) Establish herbaceous vegetation in a strip between cropland and sensitive areas to reduce sediment, organics and dissolved contaminant loadings in runoff, serve as Zone 3 of a Riparian Forest Buffer, or create herbaceous habitat for beneficial insects. Grade Stabilization Structure (60%) Install a structure to control head cutting in natural or artificial channels as part of an approved erosion control system. Grassed Waterway (60%) Construct a graded channel stabilized with suitable vegetation to convey runoff from terraces, diversions, or other water concentrations or to control gully erosion. Hedgerow Planting (45%) Establish dense vegetation in a linear design to provide food, cover and corridors for terrestrial wildlife, or screens and barriers to noise and dust. Lined Waterway or Outlet (60%) Install a waterway or outlet with an erosion resistant lining of concrete, stone, synthetic fabrics or other permanent material to provide for safe conveyance of runoff from conservation structures or water concentrations or to treat existing gully erosion. Mulching (45%) Apply plant residues or other suitable materials to the land surface to conserve soil moisture, moderate soil temperature, provide erosion control, suppress weed growth, establish vegetative cover, improve soil condition and increase soil fertility, as part of an erosion control or organic farming system. *Nutrient Management (FR) Control the amount, source, placement, form and timing of nutrient applications at either a basic or advanced level (two payment rates are offered). The basic practice involves a nutrient budget and application record keeping system. The advanced practice involves more frequent monitoring of the soil system. Both practices include the proper use of manure or organic byproducts as a plant nutrient source, and improvement in the physical, chemical and biological condition of soil. Obstruction Removal (60% AC) Remove and dispose of unwanted or hazardous buildings, structures, vegetation, and other materials in order to facilitate the installation of new erosion control measures. *Pest Management (FR) Use environmentally sensitive prevention, avoidance, monitoring and suppression strategies to manage weeds, insects, and diseases at either a basic or advanced level (two payment rates are offered). The basic practice involves crop scouting, economic threshold evaluations and application record keeping. The advanced practice involves more intensive use of tools, including computer programs, to reduce impacts further. *Residue Management, Mulch-Till (FR) Establish a new tillage system that manages the amount, orientation and distribution of crop and other plant residues on the soil surface until just prior to planting to reduce particulate air emissions and to reduce sheet and rill erosion to the soil “T” level. Participants must document a minimum 30% soil surface coverage at planting. *Residue Management, No-Till /Direct Seed (FR) Establish a new tillage system that manages the amount, orientation and distribution of crop and other plant residues on the soil surface year-round, while growing crops in narrow slots or residue-free strips in untilled soil, in order to reduce particulate air emissions an reduce or control sheet and rill erosion to the soil “T” level. Restoration of Declining Species (45%) Establish a minimum of 20 contiguous acres of permanent warm-season herbaceous species to provide habitat for ground nesting birds. Prevent mowing, harvesting, or other disturbances between April 15 and July 15 each year. Riparian Herbaceous Cover (45%) Establish grasses and forbs tolerant of intermittent flooding or saturated soils in riparian areas to provide food and shelter for wildlife, to reduce the amount of sediment and other pollutants, to help stabilize stream bank and shorelines, or to increase net carbon storage in the biomass and soil. Riparian Forest Buffer (45%) Establish an area of trees and/or shrubs adjacent to water bodies to lower water temperatures, improve habitat for aquatic organisms, provide a source of detritus and large woody debris for aquatic organisms, reduce excess amounts of sediment, organic material, nutrients, and pesticides in surface runoff and reduce excess nutrients and other chemicals in shallow ground water flow. Spoil Spreading (45%) Properly dispose of surplus materials excavated to permit the installation of approved erosion control practices. Streambank and Shoreline Protection (45%) Install structural or bio-engineered treatments used to stabilize banks of streams or shorelines, reduce the offsite or downstream effects of sediment or to improve the stream corridor for fish and wildlife habitat. Strip Cropping (45%) Establish new equal width strips of forages or small grains across a field with an alternating pattern of row crops to reduce sheet and rill erosion and the transport of sediment and other water-borne contaminants. Payment is limited to the acres of narrow seeded crops on fields where soil loss is reduced to the soil “T” value. Structure for Water Control (60%) Install a structure as part of an erosion control system to control the direction or rate of water flow or maintain a desired water surface elevation. Subsurface Drain (45%) Install corrugated plastic tubing beneath the ground surface to control the water table in fields where a documented phytophthera problem is preventing implementation of a nutrient management system. Terrace (60%) Construct an earthen embankment (combination ridge and channel) across the field slope to reduce soil erosion or retain runoff for moisture conservation. Underground Outlet (60%) Install a conduit beneath the surface of the ground to collect surface water from terraces, diversions, surface drains or other approved practices and convey it to a suitable outlet as part of an approved erosion control system. Windbreak or Shelterbelt Establishment (45%) Establish linear plantings of single or multiple row trees or shrubs to provide shelter for livestock, living barriers to reduce airborne odors, particulates and chemical drift, or enhance wildlife habitat. back to beginning of Conservation Practices Eligible for Payment Assistance IRRIGATION SYSTEMSAn asterisk (*) before the listed practice denotes a management practice eligible for payments for up to a maximum of three years. Land must have been irrigated at least 2 of the past 5 years to be eligible. In addition, all irrigation systems must have an efficiency rating of at least 80%, and the contract must include Irrigation Water Management as an agreed-to practice. *Air Resources Management (60% or FR)Use alternative fuels (E85 or biodiesel) for on-farm agricultural activities; or convert or install a solar system to power a new or existing pumping plant of 5hp or less; or replace an existing 50 to 150 HP irrigation pump engine with a new EPA Tier 2 or 3 certified engine. Constructed Wetland (45%) A constructed shallow water ecosystem designed to simulate natural wetlands, installed to reduce the pollution potential of runoff from agricultural lands. Critical Area Planting (45%) In critical areas disturbed by the installation of a tailwater recovery system, plant perennial vegetation such as trees, shrubs, grasses, or legumes. Grade Stabilization Structure (45%) Install a structure to control head cutting in natural or artificial channels installed as part of a tailwater recovery system. Irrigation Water Conveyance (45%) Install permanent underground high-pressure pipeline and appurtenances as part of an approved irrigation system. Irrigation System, Microirrigation (45%) Install an irrigation system for distribution of water directly to the plant root zone by means of surface or subsurface applicators to uniformly apply irrigation water and maintain soil moisture for optimum plant growth, effectively apply agricultural chemicals, or reduce particulate matter emissions. Irrigation System, Sprinkler (45%) Install an irrigation system to efficiently apply water by means of nozzles operated under pressure, uniformly apply irrigation water and maintain adequate soil water for optimum plant growth, effectively apply agricultural chemicals, or reduce particulate matter emissions. Irrigation System, Tailwater Recovery (45%) Required for all contracts with irrigation systems installed Control the volume, frequency and application rate of irrigation water in a planned, efficient manner to match the crop need at various growth stages, the soil infiltration rate and soil water holding capacities. This practice requires the development of an IWM plan, soil moisture monitoring, and water application record keeping. It includes the installation of meters, monitors, and other appurtenances that aid in the process of implementing an approved IWM plan. Lined Waterway or Outlet (45%) Install a waterway or outlet with an erosion resistant lining of concrete, stone, synthetic turf reinforcement fabrics or other permanent material to provide for safe conveyance of runoff from tailwater recovery structures or water concentration areas. Obstruction Removal (45%) Remove and dispose of unwanted or hazardous buildings, structures, vegetation, landscape features, and other materials in order to facilitate the installation of new tailwater recovery practices. Pond Sealing or Lining (45%) As part of a tailwater recovery basin, install a manufactured hydraulic barrier consisting of a functionally continuous sheet of synthetic or partially synthetic, flexible material to control seepage. Precision Land Forming (45%) Re-grade the surface of the land to allow the implementation of other planned measures under an approved tailwater recovery system. Pumping Plant (45%) Install a pump to provide a dependable water source for irrigation. Payment is limited to pumps associated and used for systems that are 80% efficient, or pumps required to move water through a tailwater recovery system. Roof Runoff Structure (45%) Install structures to collect, control, and transport precipitation from roofs as part of a tailwater recovery system. Spoil Spreading (45%) Properly dispose surplus materials excavated to permit the installation of approved tailwater recovery practices. Structure for Water Control (45%) Install a structure as part of a tailwater recovery system that controls the direction or rate of flow or maintains a desired water surface elevation. Underground Outlet (45%) Install a conduit beneath the surface of the ground to collect surface water from lined waterways or other approved tailwater recovery practices and convey it to a suitable outlet. Water and Sediment Control Basin (45%) Install a basin as part of a tailwater recovery system, when needed, to collect and store excess runoff from an agricultural operation. back to beginning of Conservation Practices Eligible for Payment Assistance PASTURE OR GRAZING LANDAn asterisk (*) before the listed practice denotes a management practice eligible for payments for up to a maximum of three years. Practices associated with pasture based livestock operations, such as management of grass and water resources, protection of surface and ground water, reduction in soil compaction and erosion, and implementation of conservation buffers. Payment is limited to practices designed for the number of animal units on the operation at the time of program application. Consideration will be given for variations in animal numbers normal for the operation. Waivers to this provision can be requested in writing to the state Program Manager. ALL PRACTICES MUST BE PART OF AN APPROVED PRESCRIBED GRAZING SYSTEM. Animal Trails and Walkways (60% AC)Establish travel ways to provide or improve access to forage, water, and/or shelter, or to improve grazing efficiency and distribution. *Air Resources Management (60% or FR) Use alternative fuels (E85 or biodiesel) for on-farm agricultural activities; or install a solar energy-powered pump for the livestock watering system. Brush Management (45%) Remove non-herbaceous plants to restore natural plant community balance, manage noxious woody plants, or improve forage accessibility, quality and quantity for livestock. Critical Area Planting (60%) In critical areas disturbed by livestock or installation of erosion control measures, plant perennial vegetation such as trees, shrubs, grasses, or legumes. Diversion (60%) Construct a channel across the slope with a supporting ridge on the lower side to interrupt water flow on slopes, reduce runoff damage, or divert water away from active gullies or critically eroding areas. Fence (60%) Install permanent fencing to divide an area of land to improve distribution and timing of livestock grazing. Filter Strip (45%) Establish a strip or area of herbaceous vegetation between grazing land and environmentally sensitive areas to reduce sediment and particulate organics in runoff, serve as Zone 3 of a Riparian Forest Buffer, or create herbaceous habitat for wildlife and beneficial insects. Grade Stabilization Structure (60%) Install a structure to control head cutting in natural or artificial channels as part of an approved erosion control system. Grassed Waterway (60%) Construct a graded channel stabilized with suitable vegetation to convey runoff from terraces, diversions, or other water concentrations or to control gully erosion. Heavy Use Area Protection (60%) Stabilize areas around livestock watering facilities to reduce soil erosion and improve air quality. Pasture and Hayland Planting (60%) Plant adapted forage species to improve livestock nutrition and/or health or extend the length of the grazing season. Payment is for one planting per pasture area during the life of the contract. Pipeline (60%) Install permanent underground pipeline having an inside diameter of 8 inches or less to convey water from a supply source to points of use for livestock. *Prescribed Grazing (FR) Actively control the harvest of vegetation with grazing animals to improve the health and vigor of forage, maintain a desired plant community, improve animal health and productivity, improve water quality and quantity, reduce accelerated soil erosion, and improve soil condition. Pumping Plant for Water (60%) Install a pump to provide a dependable livestock water source. Riparian Herbaceous Cover (45%) Establish grasses and forbs tolerant of intermittent flooding or saturated soils in riparian areas to provide food and shelter for wildlife, reduce sediment and other pollutants, stabilize stream banks, and increase net carbon storage in the soil. Riparian Forest Buffer (45%) Establish trees and/or shrubs adjacent to water bodies to lower water temperatures, improve habitat for aquatic organisms, and reduce pollutants in surface runoff. Spring Development (60%) Utilize available springs and seeps to provide water for livestock. Stream Crossing (60%) Construct a stabilized area across a stream to provide a travel way for livestock in order to reduce sediment, nutrient, and organic loads in the stream. Streambank and Shoreline Protection (45%) Install structural or bio-engineered treatments to stabilize banks of streams, reduce the offsite or downstream effects of sediment or to improve the stream corridor for fish and wildlife habitat. Structure for Water Control (60%) Install a structure as part of an erosion control system to control the direction or rate of water flow or maintain a desired water surface elevation. Underground Outlet (60%) Install an underground conduit to collect surface water from diversions, surface drains or other approved practices and convey it to a suitable outlet. Use Exclusion (60%) Control livestock access to surface water areas through the use of fencing, including gates where necessary. Watering Facility (60%) Permanently install a watertight tank, trough, or container to provide animal access to water and facilitate proper grazing, or to protect streams, ponds and water supplies from contamination. Water Well (60%) Install a new well, less than 6” in diameter, for the purpose of providing a livestock water source in order to facilitate the implementation of an approved Prescribed Grazing System. back to beginning of Conservation Practices Eligible for Payment Assistance ANIMAL WASTE MANAGEMENTAn asterisk (*) before the listed practice denotes a management practice eligible for payments for up to a maximum of three years. Practices related to the handling, transfer, and storage of animal waste products, and practices that separate clean water sources from contaminated water in areas where livestock congregate. Payment is limited to practices designed for the number of animal units on the operation at the time of program application. Consideration will be given for variations in animal numbers normal for the operation. Waivers to this provision can be requested in writing to the state Program Manager. Note: a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) is required for any contract that includes the storage of animal wastes produced on the farm. The CNMP will be developed by Rutgers with input from the producer, and approved by NRCS within 12 months of contract signing. All portions of the operation where waste is generated or applied, whether under the EQIP contract or not, must be included in the CNMP plan. *Air Resources Management (FR)Use solar, wind or methane energy to power farm buildings and/or equipment such as refrigeration devices, pumps, fencing, lights, heating, etc.; or use alternative fuels (E85 or biodiesel) for on-farm agricultural activities. Anaerobic Digester (60%) Install a waste treatment impoundment to biologically treat waste and produce and capture biogas for energy, improve air quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Closure of Waste Impoundment (60%) Close waste lagoons and waste storage ponds no longer used for their intended purpose in an environmentally safe manner as part of an overall waste management system. Composting Facility (60%) Install a permanent facility to process raw manure into biologically stable organic material to reduce the pollution potential of organic agricultural wastes to surface and ground water. *Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) (FR) Implement the record keeping and management elements of the approved CNMP. Payments will commence after all contracted conservation practices have been successfully implemented. The payment can be based on either the number of animal units that generate the waste, or the number of acres where the waste is utilized on the farm. Constructed Wetland (60%) Construct a shallow water ecosystem designed to simulate natural wetlands and reduce the pollution potential of wastewater from agricultural lands. Critical Area Planting (60%) In critical areas disturbed by the installation of animal waste facilities, plant perennial vegetation such as trees, shrubs, grasses, or legumes. Diversion (60%) Construct a channel across the slope with a supporting ridge on the lower side to divert water away from farmsteads or agricultural waste systems, reduce runoff damages from upland runoff, or divert water away from active gullies or critically eroding areas. Heavy Use Area Protection (60%) Stabilize areas with the least costly suitable material to reduce soil erosion, improve air and water quality, or improve livestock health. Payment is limited to areas intensively used by animals during periods when pastures are not available, with the size based on the number of animal units that the available pasture normally supports during the growing season. Pavilion roofs will be allowed only when other runoff control options are not feasible due to slope or soil limitations. All Heavy Use Areas will be reviewed by the State Resource Conservationist or State Engineer for conformance with this policy. Manure Transfer (60%) Install a system of structures or conduits to transfer animal manure (including bedding, spilled feed, wash water, and other residues) through a hopper or reception pit, conduit, and/or hauling equipment to a manure storage/ treatment facility, loading area, or to agricultural land for final utilization. Obstruction Removal (45%) Remove and dispose of buildings, structures, vegetation, landscape features, and other materials necessary to install the waste management system. Pumping Plant (60%) Install a pump to transfer wastewater from source to storage areas and/or from storage areas to disposal sites. Roof Runoff Structure (60%) Install structures that collect, control, and transport precipitation from roofs to prevent runoff contamination by animal wastes, improve water quality or reduce soil erosion. Spoil Spreading (45%) Dispose surplus materials excavated to permit the installation of approved animal waste management practices. Solid/Liquid Separation Facility (60%) Install a filtration or screening device, settling tank, or settling basin to separate a portion of solids from the liquid waste stream in order to better manage the associated nutrients. Underground Outlet (60%) Install an underground conduit to collect surface water from approved practices and convey it to a suitable outlet. Waste Facility Cover (60%) Install a fabricated rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible membrane over a waste treatment or storage facility to improve water or air quality or capture of biogas for energy production. Waste Storage Facility (60%) Install a structure, embankment, or pit to temporarily store manure, wastewater, and contaminated runoff prior to its utilization on land or other proper disposal. Wastewater Treatment Strip (60%) Establish a strip or area of herbaceous vegetation to reduce the loading of nutrients, organics, pathogens, and other contaminants associated with animal manure. back to beginning of Conservation Practices Eligible for Payment Assistance STORM WATER MANAGEMENTPractices associated with meeting the requirements of NJ Stormwater regulations. Payment is authorized for treating impervious surfaces that were in existence on the effective date of the NJ Stormwater Management Rules only (February 2, 2004). Constructed Wetland (45%)Construct a shallow water ecosystem designed to simulate natural wetlands to reduce the pollution potential of runoff from agricultural lands. Critical Area Planting (45%) In critical areas disturbed by the installation of runoff management practices, plant perennial vegetation such as trees, shrubs, grasses, or legumes. Diversion (45%) Construct a channel across the slope with a supporting ridge on the lower side to interrupt water flow on slopes, reduce runoff damage, or divert water away from active gullies or critically eroding areas. Grade Stabilization Structure (45%) Install a structure to control the grade and head cutting in natural or artificial channels. Grade Stabilization Structure (45%) Install a structure to control head cutting in natural or artificial channels as part of an approved storm water management system. Lined Waterway or Outlet (45%) Install a waterway or outlet with an erosion resistant lining of concrete, stone, synthetic turf reinforcement fabrics or other permanent material to provide for safe conveyance of runoff from stormwater management structures or water concentration areas. Mulching (45%) Apply plant residues or other suitable materials to the land surface to provide erosion control, suppress weed growth, or establish vegetative cover. Obstruction Removal (45%) Remove and dispose of unwanted or hazardous buildings, structures, vegetation, landscape features, and other materials in order to facilitate the installation of new storm water management practices. Pond Sealing or Lining (45%) Install a manufactured hydraulic barrier consisting of a functionally continuous sheet of synthetic or partially synthetic, flexible material as part of a water and sediment control basin to control seepage. Precision Land Forming (45%) Re-grade the surface of the land to allow the implementation of other planned measures under an approved stormwater runoff management system. Riparian Herbaceous Cover (45%) Establish grasses and forbs tolerant of intermittent flooding or saturated soils in riparian areas to provide food and shelter for wildlife, to reduce the amount of sediment and other pollutants, to help stabilize stream bank and shorelines, or to increase net carbon storage in the biomass and soil. Riparian Forest Buffer (45%) Establish an area of trees and/or shrubs adjacent to water bodies to lower water temperatures, improve habitat for aquatic organisms, provide a source of detritus and large woody debris for aquatic organisms, reduce excess amounts of sediment, organic material, nutrients, and pesticides in surface runoff and reduce excess nutrients and other chemicals in shallow ground water flow. Roof Runoff Structure (45%) Structures that collect, control, and transport precipitation from roofs, installed to reduce soil erosion, increase infiltration, or increase water quantity. Runoff Management System (45%) Install site-specific components of a runoff management system to meet NJ storm water management regulations. Spoil Spreading (45%) Dispose of surplus materials excavated to permit the installation of approved stormwater runoff management practices. Structure for Water Control (45%) Install a structure, required as part of a tailwater recovery or storm water management system, which conveys water, controls the direction or rate of flow, or maintains a desired water surface elevation. Underground Outlet (45%) Install a conduit beneath the surface of the ground to collect surface water from surface drains, lined waterways, or other approved practices and convey it to a suitable outlet. Water and Sediment Control Basin (45%) Install a basin, as part of a Storm Water Runoff Management System, to collect and store excess runoff water from an agricultural operation. back to beginning of Conservation Practices Eligible for Payment Assistance Contact: Janice Reid, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, (732) 537-6042 < Back to Environmental Quality Incentives Program Last Modified: May 27, 2008 |
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