The conservation provisions in the 1996 Farm Bill will affect
farmers well into the next century. The new provisions build on the conservation
gains made by landowners over the past decade. They simplify existing programs
and create new programs to address high priority environmental protection
goals. Here is a quick summary of some of the key provisions:
The new Environmental Quality Incentives Program consolidates
the functions of four existing conservation programs into one and focuses
assistance to locally-identified conservation priority areas or areas where
agricultural improvements will help meet water quality goals. In fiscal
year 1996, $130 million will be available. After that, the program will
be funded at $200 million annually. Funds will pay for technical assistance
and cost-sharing on conservation practices. Fifty percent of the funds are
dedicated to conservation associated with livestock operations.
The popular Wetlands Reserve Program and Conservation Reserve
Program are extended through 2002. Changes provide landowners more options
for protecting wetlands and highly erodible lands. In the Wetlands Reserve
Program, landowners will now be able to choose either permanent or 30-year
easements, or restoration only cost-share agreements.
A new Farmland Protection Program will provide up to $35 million
to help farmers preserve their land in agriculture. The program provides
assistance to states with existing farmland protection programs to purchase
conservation easements.
Current Swampbuster and wetlands provisions from the 1985 and
1990 Farm Bills were modified to provide farmers with more flexibility to
meet wetland conservation compliance requirements. Changes include expanding
areas where mitigation can be used, allowing mitigation by restoration,
enhancement or creation, and changing the abandonment clause.
The new Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program provides $50 million
over the next seven years to help landowners improve wildlife habitat on
private lands.
Conservation Compliance was changed to direct USDA employees
who are providing on-site technical assistance to notify landowners if they
observe potential compliance problems. Landowners will have up to one year
to take corrective action. County Committees are authorized to provide relief
in cases of economic hardship.
A Flood Risk Reduction Program was established that allows
farmers who voluntarily enter into contracts to receive payments on lands
with high flood potential. In return, participants agree to forego certain
USDA program benefits. These contract payments provide incentives to move
farming operations from frequently flooded land.
The Emergency Watershed Protection Program was amended to allow
the purchase of Floodplain Easements.
The new Conservation of Private Grazing Land initiative offers
landowners technical, educational and related assistance on the Nation's
642 million acres of private grazing lands.
The National Natural Resources Conservation Foundation is created
as a nonprofit corporation to fund research, education and demonstration
projects related to conservation.
Membership in the State Technical Committees, the group which
provides guidance on technical standards for conservation programs, was
broadened to include agricultural producers and others knowledgeable about
conservation.
A new Conservation Farm Option was created for producers of
wheat, feed grains, upland cotton, and rice who are eligible for Agriculture
Market Transition Contracts. Under this pilot program, landowners may consolidate
their CRP, WRP, and EQIP payments into one annual payment. The participants
enter into a 10-year contract and agree to adopt a conservation farm plan.
Under the interagency Wetlands Memorandum of Agreement, the
definition of agricultural land was expanded to include not only cropland
and pastureland, but also rangeland, native pastureland, other land used
to support livestock production, and tree farms.
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