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Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008

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The path to the 2008 Farm Bill

1985 Food Security Act Highly Erodible Land protection (HEL) Reduction of wetland conversion (Swampbuster) Conservation Reserve Program

1990 Food Agricultural Conservation & Trade Act Continues HEL & Swampbuster provisions Continues CRP Wetland Reserve Program Authorized

1996 Federal Agriculture Improvement & Reform Act Environmental Quality Incentives Program begins Wildlife Habitat Quality Incentives Program begins WRP, CRP continued

2002 Farm Security & Rural Investment Act Conservation Security Program

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2008 Farm Bill: Food, Conservation and Energy Act

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) became law on May 22, 2008

The legislation includes fifteen diverse titles, including broad provisions for conservation, energy and tax policy

Enactment of the bill followed a multiple year process of deliberation and debate yielding a final product with some but not all of the policy recommendations offered by the United States Department of Agriculture

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2008 Farm Bill Highlights

Increases funding for Conservation programs

Focuses on Agricultural and Forestry Working Lands

Environmental Quality Incentives Program expanded

Continues Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

Agricultural Management Assistance expanded to include Hawaii

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Conservation Technical Assistance

Technical ServicesService provided directly to farmers, ranchers, and other

eligible entities, such as conservation planning, technical consultation, and assistance with design and implementation of conservation practices

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Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

EQIP offers financial and technical assistance to agriculture and forestry producers to promote agricultural production, forest

management, and environmental quality as compatible goals

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Conservation Opportunities

INCREASES SUPPORT OF WORKING LAND CONSERVATION

Environmental Quality Incentives Program is a critical element of USDA conservation programs

Increases funding above the current law by $3.4 billion in budget authority over the next ten years

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EQIP Key Points

Reauthorized until 2012

Validates NRCS forestry activities by specifically referencing forest management

Expanded to include energy conservation benefits associated with conservation practices

Places a priority on reduction of water use or no new lands irrigated

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EQIP Key Points (4)

For limited resource, socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers or ranchers:

Up to 90 percent cost share or at least 25 percent above the otherwise applicable rate

Advance payments to cover up to 30% of the cost of materials to install conservation improvements

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EQIP Funding

Fiscal Year Dollar Amount

2008 $1,200,000,000

2009 $1,337,000,000

2010 $1,450,000,000

2011 $1,588,000,000

2012 $1,750,000,000

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Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

Assists landowners to develop and improve wildlife habitat on private or Tribal land

3030

Conservation Opportunities

PROTECTS WILDLIFE HABITAT

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

Will continue to assist in conservation of habitat on agricultural, forest and tribal land

Provides cost-share assistance to participants seeking to improve and protect wildlife habitat

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WHIP Key Points

Reauthorizes WHIP through 2012

Limits contracts to private agricultural land, non-industrial private forestland, and tribal lands

Increases the percentage of long-term agreements from 15 to 25 percent

Allows a priority for projects that further national, state, or regional habitat goals

Establishes annual payment limits to a person or legal entity of not more than $50,000

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WHIP Funding

Fiscal Year Dollar Amount

2008 $85,000,000

2009 $85,000,000

2010 $85,000,000

2011 $85,000,000

2012 $85,000,000

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Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

CSP pays farmers who are improving conservation treatment on their working lands to encourage the continuation of farming and

ranching practices that benefit soil, water, and air resources

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Conservation Opportunities

PROMOTES NEW CONSERVATION AND REWARDS STEWARDSHIP

The renamed Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will focus on:

Incentivizing new conservation Rewarding producers for high levels of additional

stewardship Addressing local priority resource concerns

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CSP Key Points

Authorized 2009 through 2017

12,769,000 acres may be enrolled each year

Average $18/acre nationally (FA and TA)

Acres will be allocated based on eligible acres in a state

Applicants must account for stewardship activities covering their entire agricultural operation

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CSP Key Points (2)

Applications will be competitively ranked based on:

Present and proposed conservation activities Number and extent of resource concerns addressed Cost effectiveness of the expected environmental benefits

The program shall be managed to achieve a national average rate of $18 per acre, which shall include the costs of all financial assistance and technical assistance

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CSP Key Points (4)

Eligible producers must initially meet the stewardship threshold for one resource concern and be willing to achieve the threshold for at least one additional priority resource concern by the end of their five-year contract

CSP payments will change to be paid retrospectively in the fiscal year after the improvements and activities are completed

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CSP FundingFiscal Year ACRES

2008 0

2009 12,769,000

2010 12,769,000

2011 12,769,000

2012 12,769,000

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Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative

Directs 6 percent of funds and acres from Farm Bill Conservation Title programs, except CRP, WRP, FRPP, and GRP, be used for targeted conservation activities and areas

Projects will be selected through a competitive process of applications submitted by partners

Projects will be implemented through existing program authorities and procedures

Funds and acres are directed at the State level (90 percent) and nationally (10 percent)

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Rule Making for FY2009

Most rules to be completed in 90 days

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United States Department of Agriculture

Natural Resources Conservation Service

For More Information, visit:

Your local USDA Service Center

Your local conservation district

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov