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Agricultural and Food Policy
 Agri Outlook Radio
Number 215
USDA Seeks Comments on 6 Natural Resources and Conservation Service Farm Bill Programs (7:14 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
USDA
Seeks Comments on 6 Natural Resources and Conservation Service Farm Bill
Programs
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is
seeking comments on 6 Natural Resources and Conservation Service Programs. I’m
Robert Coats Extension Economist University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
Producers and individuals have the opportunity to provide
input into shaping the 2008 Farm Bill’s conservation programs. USDA is asking
for comments on the following Natural Resources and Conservation Farm Bill
Programs:
-
Environmental Quality Incentives Program,
HTML ,
PDF
-
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program,
HTML ,
PDF
-
Wetlands Reserve Program,
HTML ,
PDF
-
Healthy Forests Reserve Program,
HTML ,
PDF
-
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program,
HTML ,
PDF
-
Technical Service Provider Process
HTML ,
PDF
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
The first program is the Environmental Quality Incentives
Program, commonly referred to as EQIP. EQIP is USDA’s largest conservation
program for working lands. EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that
provides technical assistance and payments to help crop and livestock producers
address environmental concerns through conservation improvements. Some of the
programs benefits include improved soil, water and air quality and enhanced
wildlife habitat. USDA is seeking public comment on EQIP through March 16, 2009.
The Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP)
The second program is the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection
Program (FRPP). The Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) is a
voluntary conservation program that protects productive agricultural land.
The program provides matching funds to help purchase
development rights to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses.
Working through existing programs, USDA partners with State, tribal, or local
governments and non-governmental organizations to acquire conservation easements
or other interests in land from landowners. USDA will provide up to 50
percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation easement. Since
1996 the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) has enrolled 600,000
acres on 300 farms and ranches in 49 states. USDA is seeking public comments
through March 17, 2009.
The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
Third on our list of conservation program that USDA is
currently seeking comments is the Wetlands Reserve Program or WRP. The 2008 Farm
Bill reauthorized and amended the Wetlands Reserve Program. The Wetlands Reserve
Program assists landowners in restoring their land to a natural wetland
condition. The program gives emphasis on priority wildlife habitat and
environmental benefits. Through USDA the Wetlands Reserve Program provides
technical and financial assistance to eligible landowners to address wetland,
wildlife habitat, soil, water, and related natural resource concerns on private
agricultural land. To date more than 2 million acres have been enrolled in the
program.
The Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP)
Next or the fourth program on
our list is the
Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP). The
Healthy Forests Reserve Program was signed into law as part of the
Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (105kb PDF) and was
reauthorized by the new farm bill. The Healthy Forests Reserve Program allows
landowners to restore and enhance forest ecosystems to promote the recovery of
threatened and endangered species, improve biodiversity, reduce the risk of
catastrophic fire, and enhance carbon sequestration. The period for public
comments will close on or before February 13, 2009.
The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
Next, the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP). A
voluntary conservation program the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program provides
financial and technical assistance to private landowners to develop and improve
high quality habitat for fish and wildlife on private agricultural lands,
non-industrial private forest lands, and Indian lands. Producers receive
assistance to develop upland, wetland, riparian and aquatic habitat areas on
their property. USDA can pay up to 75 percent of the cost to apply or install
conservation practices for permanent fish and wildlife habitat. Public comments
on the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program must be submitted by March 17.
The Technical Service
Provider Process
Finally, USDA is seeking public
comment on changes to the Technical Service Provider Process. The 2008 Farm Bill
increased the availability and range of technical expertise available to
producers to plan and implement conservation practices. Public comments must be
submitted by March 17.
Technical Service Providers are individuals, private
businesses, non-profit organizations or public agencies outside of USDA, who
have the expertise to develop conservation plans and perform selected compliance
studies. They can plan, design and layout conservation practices, as well as
check out completed practices.
In closing, producers and individuals have the opportunity to provide input into
shaping the 2008 Farm Bill conservation programs by providing USDA with comments
on interim final rules for the following Natural Resources and Conservation Farm
Bill Programs discussed here:
-
Environmental Quality Incentives Program,
HTML ,
PDF
-
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program,
HTML ,
PDF
-
Wetlands Reserve Program,
HTML ,
PDF
-
Healthy Forests Reserve Program,
HTML ,
PDF
-
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program,
HTML ,
PDF
-
Technical Service Provider Process
HTML ,
PDF
The public comments will be used to finalize the interim
final rule. USDA will then publish a final rule, which will incorporate
statutory changes and establish each program's policy for the life of the 2008
Farm Bill.
This has been Robert Coats Extension Economist University
of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
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