Soil and Water Conservation Assistance

Fact Sheet

Note: Soil and Water Conservation Assistance (SWCA) is authorized under the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000, Title II, Section 211(b) (Public Law 106-224).

Introduction

Soil and Water Conservation Assistance (SWCA) provides cost share and incentive payments to farmers and ranchers to voluntarily address threats to soil, water, and related natural resources, including grazing land, wetlands, and wildlife habitat. SWCA will help landowners comply with Federal and state environmental laws and make beneficial, cost-effective changes to cropping systems, grazing management, nutrient management, and irrigation.

How SWCA Works

SWCA is available nationwide, but only in areas that are not part of:

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) priority areas,
• Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) priority areas, or
• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) national priority areas.

Applicants may request SWCA assistance at any time by submitting an application to the local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or conservation district office. The application (form CCC-1200) is available at the local USDA Service Center or on the Web at www.sc.egov.usda.gov.

A conservation plan is required for the area covered in the application and becomes the basis for developing the SWCA contract. NRCS will work with the landowner to develop a conservation plan. Landowners must agree to maintain cost-shared practices for the life of the practice. Contracts are for five to ten years.

The NRCS state conservationist, in consultation with the State Technical Committee, will determine eligible practices using a locally led process. The Federal cost share is 75 percent of the cost of an eligible practice. Participants will be paid based upon certification of completion of the approved practice.

Eligibility

Applicants must own or control the land and agree to implement specific eligible conservation practices. Eligible land:

• Cropland
• Hayland
• Pasture and rangeland
• Land used for subsistence purposes
• Other land (such as forestland) that produces crops or livestock where there is a serious threat to soil, water, or related natural resources.

Funding

SWCA is budgeted at $20 million for fiscal year 2001. The maximum total payment per participant for SWCA shall not exceed $50,000.

For More Information

NRCS or your local conservation district can provide more information. Your USDA Service Center is listed in the telephone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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