Transcript Conservation Programs and Agricultural Policy: The New

Conservation Programs and
Agricultural Policy
The New Landscape
Bradley D. Lubben
Extension Agricultural Economist
Kansas State University
Policy and ag econ information from K-State – www.agmanager.info
USDA program information – www.usda.gov
Evolution of Conservation
Programs
• From public support for agriculture…
– Focus on farm income support
– Conservation benefits as a side-effect
Evolution of Conservation
Programs
• To public support for the
environment
– Focus on specific environmental/social
goals
– Debate over incentives versus
regulations
Conservation Programs
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Conservation Reserve Program
Wetlands Reserve Program
Environmental Quality Incentives
Program
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection
Program
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program
Forest Land Enhancement Program
Grassland Reserve Program
Conservation Security Program
Other Programs
Conservation Reserve
Program (CRP)
• Enrollment cap increased from 36.4
to 39.2 million acres
– Regular and continuous enrollment
Wetlands Reserve Program
(WRP)
• Enrollment cap increased from 1.075
to 2.275 million acres
Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP)
• Funding increased from $200 million
per year to $1.3 billion per year by
2007
Farm and Ranch Lands
Protection Program (FRPP)
• Funding increased from $50 million
for 1996-2002 to $597 million for 2002
through 2007
Wildlife Habitat Incentives
Program (WHIP)
• Funding increased from $50 million
for 1996-2002 to $85 million per year
by 2005
Forest Land Enhancement
Program (FLEP)
• Replaces FIP and SIP with funding of
$100 million through 2007
Grasslands Reserve
Program (GRP)
• Enrollment of up to 2 million acres of
working grasslands
Conservation Security
Program (CSP)
• Payments to producers for wide
range of conservation practices
– Spending and enrollment not limited by
legislation
Conservation Security Program
Practices
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nutrient management
integrated pest management
water conservation
grazing, pasture, range
management
soil conservation, residue
management
invasive species management
fish & wildlife habitat &
management
air quality management
energy conservation
measures
biological resource
conservation &
regeneration
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contour farming
strip and cover cropping
controlled rotational grazing
resource conserving crop
rotation
conversion of portion of
cropland from soil depleting
to soil conserving use
partial field conservation
practices
native grass & prairie
protection
any other practices the
Secretary determines
appropriate and comparable
to the other practices
Conservation Security Program
Funding Projections
• 2002 Farm Bill
– Spending estimated at $2 billion through 2011
• 2003 Budget Resolution
– Spending re-estimated at $6.9 billion through
2012
• 2003 Ag Appropriations and Ag Aid
– Spending limited to $3.8 billion through 2012
• 2004 Ag Appropriations (if passed)
– Spending limit removed, returning to $6.9
billion estimate through 2013
– Spending in FY2004 limited to $41 million
Conservation Programs
Summary
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Substantial expansion of most existing
programs
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CRP and WRP enrollment caps increased
EQIP, FRPP, and WHIP funding increased
FIP and SIP consolidated into FLEP
Promise of significant new programs
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GRP implemented in FY 2003
CSP still on the way