Conservation

The 2002 farm bill greatly expands and improves our soil and water conservation programs with $17.1 billion in new funding over the next 10 years.

 

NEW!  $12 Million State Priority Minimum:  This provision stipulates that states should be given priority in eligible conservation assistance applications until they have reached a minimum of $12 million in funding by April 1 of each fiscal year.  The priority includes funding for all conservation programs in the Farm Bill with the exception of the new Conservation Security Act, Agriculture Management Assistance funds, CRP, and WRP.

 

NEW!  $150 Million Targeted to VT and 14 Other States :  Senator Leahy created the Agriculture Management Assistance program in crop insurance legislation of 2001.  An extremely flexible conservation and agriculture management program, AMA is targeted to 15 states, including Vermont.  The new Farm Bill adds $50 million to the program, doubling existing funding levels for years 2003-2007.  Last year, Vermont received $500,000 from AMA.

 

T  Farmland Protection Program (FPP): is reauthorized through 2007. This program, created by Senator Leahy as a Vermont pilot program in 1990 and expanded nationally in 1996, has grown in popularity as a tool to protect valuable agricultural lands and green space from the threat of urban sprawl. Since 1996, this program has provided $53.4 million to protect 108,000 acres.  The new program expands eligibility and increases funding to $985 million B almost a 20- fold increase over the amount committed to this program since the last farm bill.  A new provision creates a national Amarket viability@ program to help farmers create business plans and assess conservation easements and other options to best manage their farms for future generations.

 

T  Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): Provides $9 billion in new funding to help producers comply with soil, water, air and wildlife habitat regulations and assist growers in implementing environmentally beneficial changes to their operations.  60 percent of funds go to livestock producers; 40 percent go to crop growers. Producers are limited to no more than $450,000 over the six-year life of the bill.  EQIP priority areas are removed to give states more flexibility.  EQIP also includes a new AConservation Innovation Grants@ authorization allowing the Secretary to provide grants that Astimulate innovative approaches@ in conservation.

 

NEW!  Conservation Security Program: is a new, $2 billion national program that rewards producers for maintaining and increasing farm and ranch stewardship practices. The program establishes three "tiers" of increasingly stringent conservation practices for which farmers can receive escalating payments.

 

NEW!  Increased Flexibility:  A new provision in the Farm Bill (APartnerships and Cooperation@)

allows States more flexibility in combining conservation programs to address resource issues of concern.  States develop Astewardship plans@ that, once approved by the Secretary of Agriculture, become a template for the state to use multiple federal conservation  programs to target specific conservation issues or specific regions of a state for much-needed assistance.

 

T  Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP): is reauthorized through 2007. WHIP is the primary mechanism to provide technical assistance and cost-share payments to establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat primarily found on private lands. Since 1996, approximately $62.5 million has been spent through this program to provide cost-share payments on 1.6 million acres.  The new funding total of $700 million is greater than a 10- fold increase over the amount committed to the program since the last farm bill.

 

T  Conservation Reserve Program: Provides rental payments to farmers to set aside sensitive lands. Funded at $1.52 billion over the next 10 years, with $806 million available during the life of the bill.  Increases acreage cap to 39.2 million acres, from the current limit of 36.4 million acres.  Expands wetlands pilot to 1 million acres with all states eligible.

           

     T  Wetlands Reserve Program: is reauthorized through 2007 and provides producers with payments for wetland easements as well as with cost-share payments to implement plans to restore an area to the original wetland condition.  The new bill increases the enrollment cap to 2.275 million acres.

 

     T Small Watershed Rehabilitation: Reauthorizes the Watershed and Flood Prevention Act

          and allocates $275 million to the program. 

 

NEW!  Grassland Reserve Program: A new initiative aimed at protecting prairie and other grasslands by providing money for the purchase of development rights from ranchers. The program is funded at $254 million through 2007, with a cap of 2 million acres. $83 million will be made available during the life of the bill.  The program allows 10-year, 15-year, 20-year, 30-year and permanent easements.

 

NEW!  Ground and Surface Water Program: Within the EQIP program, an additional $550 million was added for a new Ground and Surface Water Program allowing financial assistance for water conservation activities that result in net savings of ground or surface water resources on the agriculture operations of the producer.