Transcript Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 The path to the 2008 Farm Bill 1985 Food Security Act  Highly Erodible Land protection.

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 Services
Service 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
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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 Funding
Fiscal 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
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