Agricultural Conservation:
A Guide to Programs
Megan Stubbs
Specialist in Agricultural Conservation and Natural Resources Policy
February 5, 2013
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R40763
CRS Report for Congress
Pr
epared for Members and Committees of Congress

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Summary
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) currently administer over 20 programs and subprograms
that are directly or indirectly available to assist producers and landowners who wish to practice
conservation on agricultural lands. The number, scope, and overall funding of these programs has
grown in recent years. This growth can cause some confusion over which problems and
conditions each program addresses, and specific program characteristics and performance. The
programs are as follows:
• Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program
• Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program
• Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI)
• Conservation Operations (CO); Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA)
• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
• CRP—Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
• CRP—Farmable Wetlands Program
• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
• Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)
• Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
• EQIP—Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP)
• EQIP—Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)
• Farmland Protection Program (FPP)
• Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)
• Healthy Forest Reserve Program (HFRP)
• Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program
• Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program
• Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations
• Watershed Rehabilitation Program
• Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)
• Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP)
This tabular presentation provides basic information introducing each of the programs. In each
case, a brief program description is followed by information on major amendments in the 2008
farm bill (P.L. 110-246); national scope and availability; states with the greatest participation; the
backlog of applications or other measures of continuing interest; program funding authority;
FY2012 funding; FY2013 Administration budget request; FY2013 funding where available;
statutory authority; the authorization expiration date; and a link to the program’s website.

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1
Overview .......................................................................................................................................... 2
2008 Farm Bill Expiration & Extension .......................................................................................... 3
Conservation Programs .................................................................................................................... 4
Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program ............................................................ 6
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program ........................................................................................ 7
Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) .......................................................... 8
Conservation Operations (CO)—Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) ........................... 9
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) .................................................................................... 10
CRP—Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) ............................................... 11
CRP—Farmable Wetlands Program ........................................................................................ 12
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) .............................................................................. 13
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) ............................................................................... 14
Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program ................................................................. 15
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) ................................................................ 16
EQIP—Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) .................................................. 17
EQIP—Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)....................................................................... 18
Farmland Protection Program (FPP) ....................................................................................... 19
Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) ......................................................................................... 20
Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) .............................................................................. 21
Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program ................................................. 22
Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program ........................................................ 23
Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations .......................................................................... 24
Watershed Rehabilitation Program .......................................................................................... 25
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) ......................................................................................... 26
Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) ........................................................................... 27

Figures
Figure 1. FY2012 Funding for Conservation Programs .................................................................. 2

Contacts
Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 27

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Introduction
Currently, more than 20 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agricultural conservation
programs exist to assist private landowners with natural resource concerns. Though some
similarities among these programs exist, each is administered with slight differences. These
differences and the number of programs create some general confusion about the purpose,
participation, and policies of the programs.
The number of agricultural conservation programs has steadily increased over the past 60 years.
Early conservation efforts were focused on reducing high levels of soil erosion and providing
water to agriculture in quantities and quality that enhanced farm production. Congress responded
to these issues by creating and revising programs designed to reduce resource problems on the
farm. By the early 1980s, however, concern was growing that these programs were not adequately
dealing with environmental problems resulting from agricultural activities (especially off the
farm). In 1985, conservation policy took a new direction when Congress passed the Food Security
Act of 1985 (1985 farm bill, P.L. 99-198), which established the first conservation programs
designed to deal with environmental issues resulting from agricultural activities.
Provisions enacted in subsequent farm bills, including in 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008,1 reflect a
rapid evolution of the conservation agenda, including the growing influence of environmentalists
and other non-agricultural interests in the formulation of conservation policy, and a recognition
that agriculture was not treated like other business sectors in many environmental laws.2 Congress
also began funding many of these new programs through mandatory spending for the first time,
using the borrowing authority of USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC)3 as the funding
mechanism instead of annual appropriations. In addition to the original soil erosion and water
quality and quantity issues, the conservation agenda has continued to expand to address other
natural resource concerns, such as wildlife habitat, air quality, wetlands restoration and
protection, energy efficiency, and sustainable agriculture.
Lead agricultural conservation agencies within USDA are the Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS), which provides technical assistance and administers most conservation
programs, and the Farm Service Agency (FSA), which administers the largest program, the
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). These agencies are supported by others in USDA that
supply research and educational assistance, including the Agricultural Research Service (ARS),
the Economic Research Service (ERS), and the Forest Service (FS).4 In addition, the conservation
effort involves a large array of partners, including other federal agencies, state and local
governments, and private organizations, among others, who provide funds, expertise, and other
forms of assistance to the conservation effort.

1 Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-624), Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (P.L.
104-127), Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-171), and Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 (P.L. 110-246).
2 For additional discussion on conservation in the next farm bill, see CRS Report R42093, Agricultural Conservation
and the Next Farm Bill.
3 The CCC is the funding mechanism for the mandatory payments that are administered by various agencies of USDA,
including all of the farm commodity price and income support programs.
4 For more information on: ARS projects, see http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/Research.htm; ERS projects, see
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Browse/view.aspx?subject=NaturalResourcesEnvironment; and FS projects, see
http://www.fs.fed.us/projects/.
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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Overview
USDA provides technical and financial assistance to attract interest and encourage participation in
conservation programs. Participation in all USDA conservation programs is voluntary. These
programs protect soil, water, wildlife, and other natural resources on privately owned agricultural
lands to limit environmental impacts of production activities both on and off the farm, while
maintaining or improving production of food and fiber. Some of these programs center on
improving or restoring resources that have been degraded, while others create conditions to limit
degradation in the future.
Though programs in this report are listed alphabetically, they can be grouped into the following
categories based on similarities: working land programs, land retirement and easement programs,
watershed programs, emergency programs, compliance and technical assistance programs, and
other. Figure 1 illustrates the relative size of each group based on the amount of funding
available in FY2012.
Figure 1. FY2012 Funding for Conservation Programs
Compliance and
Emergency
Technical
Programs
Assistance
6%
Watershed
Programs
Programs
13%
Less than 1%
Land Retirement
and Easement
Programs
42%
Working Lands
Programs
39%

Source: CRS, Funding estimates compiled from the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act,
2012 (P.L. 112-55) and Congressional Budget Office, CBO March 2012 Baseline for CCC & FCIC, March 2012.
Notes: Technical assistance includes funding for compliance programs. Funding for extension and research is not
included. Total funding for conservation programs is approximately $6.5 billion.
The majority of conservation programs are funded through USDA’s Commodity Credit
Corporation (CCC) as mandatory spending. Congress authorizes mandatory programs at specified
funding levels each year (or acreage enrollment levels for the Conservation Reserve,
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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Conservation Stewardship, Wetlands Reserve, and Grasslands Reserve Programs). They are
funded at these levels unless Congress limits funding to a lower amount through the
appropriations or legislative process (or puts a ceiling on acreage that can be enrolled).5
Discretionary programs are funded each year through the annual appropriations process.
Despite a steady increase in mandatory funding authority, many conservation programs have been
reduced or capped through annual appropriations acts since FY2003. Many of these spending
reductions were at the request of the Bush Administration, though the Obama Administration has
continued the requested reductions, including in the FY2013 proposal. The mix of programs and
amounts of reduction has varied from year to year. Some programs, such as the CRP, have not
been reduced by appropriators in recent years, while others, such as the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP), have been repeatedly reduced below authorized levels. Overall
authorized mandatory funding for conservation programs was reduced by close to $4.6 billion
between FY2005 and FY2012. Even with the reductions, total mandatory funding for conservation
programs has grown from a total of $3.6 billion in FY2005 to over $6 billion in FY2012.
2008 Farm Bill Expiration & Extension
The 2008 farm bill generally expired on September 30, 2012, or with the 2012 crop year. The
American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-240) extended all 2008 farm bill provisions that
were in effect on September 30, 2012, for one additional year until September 30, 2013.6 There is
no net cost to the extension because mandatory funding to continue most of the major farm bill
programs was already in the budget baseline. A subset of the 2008 farm bill programs did not
have a continuing mandatory baseline and did not receive any additional mandatory funding
under the extension.7 Several conservation programs with permanent authority to receive
discretionary funding were funded until March 27, 2013, in the 2013 Continuing Appropriations
Resolution (P.L. 112-175).8 Some conservation programs with authority to receive mandatory
funding were previously extended to September 30, 2014, in the FY2012 Agriculture
Appropriations Act (P.L. 112-55).9 The authority of each program, including the date of
expiration, is included in this report.

5 For additional information, see CRS Report R41245, Reductions in Mandatory Agriculture Program Spending. For
reductions in FY2012, see CRS Report R41964, Agriculture and Related Agencies: FY2012 Appropriations.
6 For additional information on regarding the extension, see CRS Report R42442, Expiration and Extension of the 2008
Farm Bill.
7 For additional information on which programs do not have baseline funding, see CRS Report R41433, Expiring Farm
Bill Programs Without a Budget Baseline.
8 Examples of these programs include Conservation Operations and Watershed Rehabilitation. For additional
information on the FY2013 agricultural appropriations, see CRS Report R42596, Agriculture and Related Agencies:
FY2013 Appropriations.
9 These programs include the Conservation Stewardship Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program,
Farmland Protection Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, and portions of the Agricultural Management
Assistance program. For additional information on these extensions, see CRS Report R41964, Agriculture and Related
Agencies: FY2012 Appropriations.
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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Conservation Programs
The tabular presentation that follows provides basic information introducing each of the USDA
agricultural conservation programs, including:
• administering agency or agencies within USDA;
• a brief program description;
• major amendments to the program in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 (P.L. 110-246), commonly referred to as the 2008 farm bill;
• national scope and availability, including participation levels and acres enrolled
where available;
• states with the highest level of funds obligated or acres enrolled (where
applicable);
• the volume of application backlog or public interest in each program;
• the authorized funding levels, whether it is mandatory spending or discretionary
appropriations, and any funding restrictions where applicable;
• the FY2012 funding level provided by the Consolidated and Further Continuing
Appropriations Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-55) or, if applicable, the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246), as amended, authorized
level;
• the FY2013 funding level requested by the Administration;
• the FY2013 funding level provided by the Continuing Appropriations Resolution,
2013 (P.L. 112-175) until March 27, 2013, or, if applicable, the authorized level
in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, as amended;
• statutory authority, recent amendments, and U.S. Code reference;
• the expiration date of program authority unless permanently authorized; and
• a link to the program’s website.
Information for the following tables is drawn from agency budget presentations, explanatory
notes, and websites; written responses to questions published each year in hearing records of the
Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees;
and spending estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. Further information about these
programs may be found on the NRCS website at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov and on the
“conservation programs” page of the FSA website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov.

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

USDA Agricultural Conservation Programs
Working Lands Programs—typically classified as programs that allow private land to remain in production, while
implementing various conservation practices to address natural resource concerns specific to the area.
•
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)/Conservation
Security Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), Agricultural Water Enhancement Program
(AWEP), and Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program.
Land Retirement and Easement Programs—land retirement programs provide federal payments to private
agricultural landowners for temporary changes in land use or management to achieve environmental benefits.
Conversely, conservation easements impose a permanent land-use restriction that is voluntarily placed on the land in
exchange for a government payment.
•
Conservation Reserve Program (includes the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and
Farmable Wetlands), Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), Farmland Protection Program (FPP), Grassland
Reserve Program (GRP), and Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP).
Watershed Programs—NRCS partners with local sponsors to carry out activities for soil conservation; flood
prevention; conservation, development, utilization, and disposal of water; watershed surveys; and dam and flood
structure rehabilitation.
•
Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (also referred to as the Small Watershed Programs, P.L. 566
and P.L. 534), Watershed Rehabilitation, and Watershed Surveys and Planning.
Emergency Programs—provide disaster assistance for farmland rehabilitation and impairments to watersheds.
Programs are usual y funded through supplemental appropriation acts.
•
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program (includes
floodplain easements).
Compliance—prohibits a producer from receiving many federal farm program benefits (including conservation
assistance) when conservation program requirements for highly erodible lands and wetlands are not met.
•
Highly erodible land conservation (Sodbuster), wetland conservation (Swampbuster), and Sodsaver.
Technical Assistance Programs—provides landowners with science-based conservation information and technical
expertise (e.g., engineering and biological) unique to the region and land use type. Usual y does not include financial
assistance.
•
Conservation Operations (includes Conservation Technical Assistance, Survey, Soil Survey, Grazing Lands
Conservation Initiative, and Plant Materials Centers), Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D)
program.
Other Conservation Programs and Provisions—Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program, Cooperative
Conservation Partnership Initiative, Conservation Innovation Grants, Great Lakes Basin Program, Regional Equity,
State Technical Committees, Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, and Grassroots Source Water
Protection Program.

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program
Administering
NRCS (conservation assistance), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS, organic certification),
agency(s)
and Risk Management Agency (RMA, production, price, or revenue risk reduction).
Program
AMA provides cost-sharing assistance under contracts of 1 to 10 years to producers in 16
description
specified states where participation in the federal crop insurance program has been
historical y low. Producers use this assistance to construct or improve water management
and irrigation structures, plant trees, control soil erosion, practice integrated pest
management, practice organic farming, develop value-added processing, and enter into
futures, hedging, or options contracts to reduce production, price, or revenue risk.
Major 2008 farm
Adds Hawaii as an eligible state; authorizes funding of $15 million annual y from FY2008
bill amendments
through FY2012, and $10 million in subsequent years; and designates program funding for
USDA agencies: 50% - NRCS, 10% - AMS, and 40% - RMA.
National scope
Not available nationwide. Eligible states include: CT, DE, HI, MD, MA, ME, NV, NH, NJ, NY,
PA, RI, UT, VT, WV, and WY. As of the end of FY2011, 673 contracts are being
implemented within these states.
Leading states
States with the most funds obligated (for conservation only) in FY2011 include ME ($2.3
million), PA ($0.9 million), and NY ($0.8 million).
Backlog/Interest
A backlog of 648 applications was pending at the end of FY2011, up from a backlog of 767
applications in FY2010. These applications would enroll more than 10,825 acres at a cost of
$9.4 million.
Funding authority
Mandatory. Permanently authorized at $10 million for each fiscal year except FY2008-
FY2014, which is authorized at $15 million for each fiscal year. Funding is split by law
between the three USDA agencies: 50% - NRCS, 10% - AMS, and 40% - RMA.
FY2012 funding
$10 million ($2.5 million for conservation, authorization reduced by $5 million).
FY2013
$10 million ($2.5 million for conservation, authorization reduced by $5 million).
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
Continuation of the FY2012 levels, including the reduction in authority, until March 27, 2013.
Statutory
Authorized in Title I, §133 of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-224) as
authority
§524(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, as amended. Amended in §2801 of the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246). 7 U.S.C. 1524(b).
Authorization
Permanent authorization.
expires
Program website
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/ama

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program
Administering
NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program provides additional financial assistance through
description
existing conservation programs for areas within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Law requires
special consideration for producers in the Susquehanna, Shenandoah, Potomac, and Patuxent
river basins. Program rules, contracts, and sign-up depend on the program through which
NRCS is providing the funds. Eligible programs under the program include the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI),
Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP). EQIP, CCPI, and WHIP are discussed further
below.
Major 2008 farm
Program created in the 2008 farm bill.
bill amendments
National scope
Not available nationwide. The program applies to all tributaries, backwaters, and side
channels, including watersheds draining into the Chesapeake Bay. This includes areas within
DE, MD, NY, PA, VA, and WV. In FY2011, more than 1,700 applications were approved to
treat an estimated 243,500 acres.
Leading states
In FY2011, states with the most funding obligated were PA ($22.8 mil ion), VA ($19.2
million), and MD ($14.5 million).
Backlog/Interest
Nearly 3,500 applications were received in FY2011, of which 1,700, or 48.5%, were
approved.
Funding authority
Mandatory. FY2009 - $23 million; FY2010 - $43 million; FY2011 - $72 million; and
FY2012 - $50 million.
FY2012 funding
$50 million.
FY2013
$50 million (subject to reauthorization).
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
$50 million; funding authority extended to September 30, 2013, in the American Taxpayers
Relief Act (P.L. 112-240).
Statutory
Authorized in Title II, §2605 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-
authority
246) as §1240Q of the Food Security Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-198). 16 U.S.C. 3839bb-4.
Authorization
September 30, 2013.
expires
Program website
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailful /national/home/?&cid=stelprdb1047323

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI)
Administering
NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
The Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) enables the use of certain
description
conservation programs along with the resources of eligible partners to provide financial and
technical assistance to owners and operators of agricultural and nonindustrial private forest
land. CCPI applies to all conservation programs under Subtitle D of the Food Security Act of
1985, as amended, excluding CRP, WRP, FPP, and GRP. Eligible programs include EQIP, CSP,
WHIP, Great Lakes Basin Program, Conservation of Private Grazing Land, Chesapeake Bay
Watershed Program, and Grassroots Source Water Protection Program. NRCS enters into
multi-year agreements with partners in an approved project area to help enhance
conservation outcomes. Six percent of the funds and acres available from eligible
conservation programs are reserved for CCPI until April 1 each fiscal year, when unused
funds may be real ocated. Locally led projects are encouraged, with 90% of funds available for
within-state competitions and 10% of funds available for a national competition.
Major 2008 farm
Program created in the 2008 farm bill.
bill amendments
National scope
Available nationwide. State participation varies depending on within-state competition and the
selection of projects at the national level. In FY2011, NRCS offered a separate Chesapeake
Bay CCPI competition through the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program.
Leading states
In FY2011, states receiving the most CCPI funding through the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
program are MD ($2.2 million), DE ($715,000), and PA ($464,000). Information on the
national CCPI competition and within-state competitions is not available.
Backlog/Interest
None identified.
Funding authority
Mandatory. Six percent of the funds and acres available from eligible conservation programs.
FY2012 funding
Not applicable.
FY2013
Not applicable.
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
Not applicable; authority extended to September 30, 2013, in the American Taxpayers Relief
Act (P.L. 112-240).
Statutory
Authorized in Title II, §2707 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-
authority
246), as §1243 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-198). 16 U.S.C. 3843.
Authorization
September 30, 2013.
expires
Program website
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ccpi/index.html

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Conservation Operations (CO)—
Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA)
Administering
NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
Conservation Operations (CO) is the primary account funding technical assistance within
description
NRCS. More than 80% of CO funding is for Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA), which
provides conservation planning and implementation assistance through field staff placed in
almost all counties within the United States and territories. This assistance is provided to
producers and land owners who voluntarily apply natural resource conservation systems,
consisting of one or more practices, on private and other non-federal lands. Other
components of CO include the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, soil surveys, snow
surveys, and plant material centers.
Major 2008 farm
Amends the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act to include a definition of
bill amendments
technical assistance and agriculture commodity. Other provisions indirectly affect this
program, including allowing NRCS to approve qualified individuals and entities, referred to as
third parties, to provide some types of technical assistance and retaining a cap on total
funding for technical assistance provided through mandatory programs.
National scope
Available nationwide. CTA was funded at $745 million and 5,341 staff years for FY2011,
according to the FY2013 budget notes. Total CO spending for FY2011 was $870.5 million
and 6,201 staff years.
Leading states
No data are available for the CTA subset in FY2011, but the three leading states for total CO
funding (estimate) are TX ($40.5 million), MO ($20.4 million), and IA ($20.2 million).
Backlog/Interest
Not available.
Funding authority
Discretionary. No amount specified.
FY2012 funding
$729.5 million for CTA out of $828.2 million for all CO.
FY2013
$728.8 million for CTA out of $827.5 million for all CO.
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
Continuation of FY2012 funding levels until March 27, 2013.
Statutory
Authorized in the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (P.L. 74-46), as amended.
authority
Amended in §2802 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246). 16
U.S.C. 590a-g, 16 U.S.C. 590q.
Authorization
Permanent authorization.
expires
Program website
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cta/ (CTA); http://www.glti.nrcs.usda.gov/ (grazing);
http://soils.usda.gov/ (soil survey); http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ (snow survey); and
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/ (plant materials).

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
Administering
FSA, technical assistance by NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
CRP provides annual rental payments, usual y over 10 years, to producers to replace crops
description
on highly erodible and environmentally sensitive land with long-term resource conserving
plantings. Bids to enroll land are solicited during a limited time period, then compared using
an Environmental Benefits Index (EBI). Those with the highest EBI scores are accepted.
Imbedded in the CRP are several small and more focused programs that bypass the general
bidding process, some established in law and others established administratively, to address
specific resource topics, including more concentrated resource problems in a portion of a
state, protection of small isolated agricultural wetlands, and improvement of habitat for
upland game birds. All lands that qualify for these subprograms are automatically accepted.
Major 2008 farm
Reduces enrollment ceiling from 39.2 million acres to 32 million acres; amends haying and
bill amendments
grazing conditions; and authorizes incentives to assist socially disadvantaged and beginning
farmers.
National scope
Available nationwide. In FY2012, USDA announced the 43rd general sign-up, in which nearly
48,000 offers on more than 4.5 million acres were received. Of these offers, 3.3 million acres
were reenrol ed and 559,850 new acres were enrol ed. Nationally, there are 738,544 active
contracts on 409,598 farms with 29.5 million acres enrolled, according to FSA’s September
2012 monthly program summary.
Leading states
Leading states in terms of acres are TX (3.4 million), KS (2.5 million), and MT (2.5 million).
Leading states in terms of number of contracts are IA (106,470), IL (83,363), and MN
(62,290).
Backlog/Interest
In FY2011, enrollment ended at 31.1 million acres. Expiration of contracts (4.4 million acres)
and new contracts dropped enrollment to 29.6 million acres in October 2011. Approximately
2.2 million acres came out of contract on September 30, 2011, and were not reenrolled.
Under the 43rd general sign-up, 4.54 million acres were offered, 3.88 million acres were
determined acceptable, and 3.4 million acres were enrolled.
Funding authority
Mandatory. No more than 32 million acres enrolled at any one time. No funding amount
specified.
FY2012 est.
$2.1 billion (based on the estimated number of acres that will be enrolled, including technical
funding
assistance).
FY2013
Mandatorily funded, therefore no funding level specified. Subject to reauthorization.
Administration
request
FY2013 est.
$2.2 billion (based on the estimated number of acres that will be enrolled, including technical
funding
assistance); program and funding authority extended to September 30, 2013, in the American
Taxpayers Relief Act (P.L. 112-240).
Statutory
Authorized in §1231-§1235 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-198), as amended.
authority
Amended in §2101 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246). 16
U.S.C. 3831(a)-3835a.
Authorization
September 30, 2013.
expires
Program website
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=crp

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CRP—Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
Administering
FSA, technical assistance by NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
This subprogram of CRP partners with states at their request. States propose sub-state areas,
description
such as a watershed, where environmental or resource concerns are more concentrated and
can be addressed by enrolling up to 100,000 acres per project. States contribute 20% of the
funding so that larger payments can be made, in order to encourage greater participation.
Major 2008 farm
None.
bill amendments
National scope
32 states have active CREP contracts (73,116) on 48,165 farms, enrolling a total of 1.3 million
acres, according to FSA’s September 2012 monthly program summary.
Leading states
Leading states in terms of acres enrol ed are PA (192,281), IL (140,605), and OH (112,342).
States leading in number of contracts are OH (12,880), PA (10,878), and IL (7,502).
Backlog/Interest
Not applicable since any eligible land can be enrolled at any time; participation has been much
higher in some states than in others, but that is due, reportedly, to how the program is
promoted. Average rental payments are higher than for acreage under the general CRP sign-
up process.
Funding authority
Unspecified acreage subset of CRP.
FY2012 funding
Unspecified acreage subset of CRP.
FY2013
Unspecified acreage subset of CRP.
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
Unspecified acreage subset of CRP; program and funding authority extended to September
30, 2013, in the American Taxpayers Relief Act (P.L. 112-240).
Statutory
Authority derived from CRP statutory authority (see “Conservation Reserve Program
authority
(CRP)”).
Authorization
September 30, 2013.
expires
Program website
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=cep

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

CRP—Farmable Wetlands Program
Administering
FSA, technical assistance by NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
This 1 million acre subprogram of the CRP enrolls small isolated agricultural wetlands. On a
description
single tract of land, enrol ment is now set at a maximum of 40 contiguous wetland acres.
“Flooded farmland" has a 20-acre limit. Eligible lands include wetlands that were cropped 3 of
the preceding 10 years, and buffers sufficient to protect them, on which the hydrology will be
restored and a vegetative cover established.
Major 2008 farm
Caps enrollment at 100,000 acres in any state and 1 million acres total. Expands enrol ment
bill amendments
of wetland and buffer acreage to include land that had been cropped during 3 of 10 crop
years prior to 2002 and after 1990 and is subject to a natural overflow of a prairie wetland.
Increases the maximum wetland size to 40 contiguous acres and makes all acres eligible for
payment.
National scope
Active contracts in 22 participating states, including AL, AR, CO, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD,
MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NC, ND, OH, OK, SD, and WI. According to FSA’s September
2012 monthly program summary, 15,276 contracts on 11,890 farms have enrol ed a total of
316,459 acres.
Leading states
In terms of acres, the leading states are ND (83,837 acres), SD (83,029 acres), and IA (79,635
acres). The largest number of contracts are in IA (5,087), followed by SD (3,909) and MN
(3,218).
Backlog/Interest
Not applicable since any eligible land can be enrolled at any time; participation has been much
higher in some states than in others, but that is due, reportedly, to how the program is
promoted.
Funding authority
Mandatory. No more than 1 million acres enrolled at any one time and no more than
100,000 acres in any state (may be increased to 150,000 acres after three years).
FY2012 funding
Unspecified acreage subset of CRP.
FY2013
Unspecified acreage subset of CRP.
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
Unspecified acreage subset of CRP; program and funding authority extended to September
30, 2013, in the American Taxpayers Relief Act (P.L. 112-240).
Statutory
Authorized in Title XI of Agriculture and Related Agency appropriations, 2001 (P.L. 106-387)
authority
as §1231B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-198), as amended. Amended by §2106 of
the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246). 16 U.S.C. 3831b.
Authorization
September 30, 2013.
expires
Program website
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=fwp

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Administering
NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
The new CSP replaces the Conservation Security Program and provides financial and
description
technical assistance to promote the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy,
plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes on tribal and private working lands.
Contracts (five years in length with the option of extension) are based on meeting or
exceeding a “stewardship threshold." Payments are based on the actual costs of installing
conservation measures, any foregone income, and the value of the expected environmental
outcomes.
Major 2008 farm
The new CSP will continue to encourage conservation practices on working lands, but will be
bill amendments
different from the former Conservation Security Program. It eliminates the three-tier
approach, establishes 5-year rather than 10-year contracts, and requires direct attribution of
payments, among other changes, thus requiring that USDA promulgate new rules for the
program.
National scope
The first CSP sign-up was held August 10, 2009. Two ranking periods occurred in 2010,
which resulted in more than 20,000 contracts on over 25 million acres. The FY2011 sign-up
process resulted in an additional 9,630 CSP contracts on over 12.75 million acres. The first
ranking period for FY2012 closed on January 27, 2012.
Leading states
In FY2011, MN had the most contracts funded (764), fol owed by IA (713) and MO (711). NE
had the most total acres funded (1.3 million), followed by MT (964,233) and NM (905,792).
The most funding obligated in FY2011 was in MN ($16.5 million), NE ($13.1 million), and ND
($12.7 million).
Backlog/Interest
In FY2011, 9,630 applications were funded and 4,784 applications went unfunded; 67% of
valid applications were funded.
Funding authority
Mandatory. 12.769 million acres each fiscal year. No funding amount specified.
FY2012 funding
$768.5 million (authorization reduced by approximately $76.5 million).
FY2013
$972.1 million (authorization reduced permanently by 759,632 acres).
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
Continuation of the FY2012 levels, including the reduction in authority, until March 27, 2013.
Statutory
Authorized in §2301 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246) as
authority
§1238D-§1238G of the Food Security Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-198). 16 U.S.C. 3838h-3838n.
Authorization
September 30, 2014.
expires
Program website
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/csp

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)
Administering
FSA, technical assistance by NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
Provides emergency funding and technical assistance to producers to rehabilitate farmland
description
damaged by natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, floods, wind, and erosion) through activities
such as removing debris, and implementing emergency water conservation measures in
response to severe droughts.
Major 2008 farm
None.
bill amendments
National scope
Available nationwide. Participation varies widely and unpredictably from year to year. The
Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 (P.L. 113-2) provided $15 million to be used for
necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricane Sandy and major disasters
declared pursuant to the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) only.
Leading states
Not applicable.
Backlog/Interest
Not applicable.
Funding authority
Discretionary. No funding amount specified.
FY2012 funding
$122.7 million.
FY2013
The Administration requested $15 million on December 7, 2012, for damages resulting from
Administration
Hurricane Sandy.
request
FY2013 funding to $15 million.
date
Statutory
Authorized in §401 of the Agriculture Credit Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-334), as amended.
authority
16 U.S.C. 2201-2205.
Authorization
Permanent authorization.
expires
Program website
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=ecp

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program
Administering
NRCS on private lands, U.S. Forest Service on National Forest Systems lands.
agency(s)
Program
EWP provides technical and financial assistance to reduce hazards to life and property in
description
watersheds that have been damaged by natural disasters. Assistance includes disaster cleanup
and recovery activities, and purchasing easements in flood plains that will benefit natural
resources such as wetlands, while reducing the risk of exposure to future natural disasters.
Major 2008 farm
None.
bill amendments
National scope
Available nationwide. Participation varies widely and unpredictably from year to year. The
Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 (P.L. 113-2) provided $180 million to be used for
necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricane Sandy and major disasters
declared pursuant to the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) only.
Leading states
Not applicable.
Backlog/Interest
Not applicable.
Funding authority
Discretionary. No funding amount specified.
FY2012 funding
$215.9 million.
FY2013
The Administration requested $180 million ($30 million for response and recovery and $150
Administration
mil ion for mitigation efforts) on December 7, 2012, for damages resulting from Hurricane
request
Sandy.
FY2013 funding to $180 million.
date
Statutory
Authorized in §216 of P.L. 81-516 and §403 of the Agriculture Credit Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-
authority
334), as amended. 16 U.S.C. 2203; and 33 U.S.C. 701b-1.
Authorization
Permanent authorization.
expires
Program website
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/landscape/ewpp

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Administering
NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to producers and land owners to plan and
description
install structural, vegetative, and land management practices on eligible lands to alleviate
natural resource problems. Eligible producers enter into contracts to receive payment for
implementing conservation practices. Approved activities are carried out according to an
EQIP plan developed in conjunction with the producer that identifies the appropriate
conservation practice(s) to address resource concerns on the land. Sixty percent of the funds
are targeted to livestock producers. EQIP is the largest working lands program.
Major 2008 farm
Lowers the limitation on payments to a total of $300,000, down from $450,000; limits
bill amendments
projects with organic production benefits to $20,000 annual y or $80,000 in any six-year
period; authorizes a new water enhancement program (see “EQIP—Agricultural Water
Enhancement Program (AWEP)”); reauthorizes the innovative grants program (see “EQIP—
Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)”); retains the allocation of 60% of funding each year to
practices related to livestock production.
National scope
Available nationwide. In FY2011, EQIP al ocated $871 million for 38,352 contracts covering
13 million acres, according to information in the FY2013 budget notes.
Leading states
In FY2011, the top three states by contracts signed were TX (4,163), MS (2,453), and
CA (1,691). The most funding obligated was in TX ($106.2 million), CA ($90.1 million), and
MO ($37 million).
Backlog/Interest
In FY2011, 38,352 applications were funded and 25,467 applications went unfunded.
According to information in the FY2013 budget notes, 60% of valid applications were funded
in FY2011. The total estimated cost of this backlog is $534 million. The most unfunded
applications were submitted in TX (2,935), AR (2,363), and NE (1,865).
Funding authority
Mandatory. FY2009 - $1.377 billion, FY2010 - $1.45 billion, FY2011 - $1.588 billion, FY2012 -
$1.75 billion, FY2013 - $1.75 billion, and FY2014 - $1.75 billion.
FY2012 funding
$1.4 billion (authorization reduced by $350 million).
FY2013
$1.4 billion (authorization reduced by $350 million).
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
Continuation of the FY2012 levels, including the reduction in authority, until March 27, 2013.
Statutory
Authorized in subtitle D of Title III (§331-336) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and
authority
Reform Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-127) as §1240-§1240I of the Food Security Act of 1985 (P.L.
99-198), as amended. Amended by §2501 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
(P.L. 110-246). 16 U.S.C. 3839aa-3839aa90.
Authorization
September 30, 2014.
expires
Program website
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/eqip

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

EQIP—Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP)
Administering
NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
AWEP is a subprogram of EQIP. The program provides financial and technical assistance to
description
producers and land owners to address water quality and quantity concerns on agricultural
land. The program replaces the Ground and Surface Water Conservation program and the
Klamath Basin program. AWEP addresses water quality and quantity concerns through
eligible partners and established priority areas.
Major 2008 farm
Program created in the 2008 farm bill.
bill amendments
National scope
Available nationwide, although not every state includes an eligible project area. In FY2011,
AWEP obligated $59 million to 1,300 new contracts covering 250,000 acres, according to
information in the FY2013 budget notes. A total of 8 new project area proposals were
approved in the national competition. The 91 project areas approved in FY2009 and FY2010
continued to receive support.
Leading states
In FY2011, the top three states by applications funded were CA (1,050), NE (548), and TX
(258). The most funding obligated was in CA ($21.3 million), TX ($6 million), and NE ($5.4
mil ion). States with the most total applications received were CA (1,050), NE (548), and TX
(258).
Backlog/Interest
In FY2011, approximately 50% of valid applications went unfunded. The total estimated cost
of this backlog is $121.5 million. The highest numbers of unfunded applications were in CA
(818), NE (354), and TX (203).
Funding authority
Mandatory. FY2009 - $73 million, FY2010 - $73 million, FY2011 - $74 million, FY2012 and
each year thereafter - $60 million.
FY2012 funding
$60 million.
FY2013
$60 million.
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
$60 million.
Statutory
Authorized in subtitle F of Title II (§2510) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
authority
(P.L. 110-246) as §1240I of the 1985 Food Security Act (P.L. 99-198). 16 U.S.C. 3839aa-9.
Authorization
Permanent authorization.
expires
Program website
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/awep

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

EQIP—Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)
Administering
NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
CIG is a subprogram of EQIP that awards competitive grants to state and local agencies, non-
description
governmental organizations, tribes, and individuals to implement innovative conservation
techniques and practices. The program was first implemented in FY2004. Annual requests for
proposals are published in the Federal Register and include separate funding categories for
national, state, Chesapeake Bay, and Mississippi River Basin competitions. Examples of eligible
projects include market systems for pollution reduction, demonstrating precision agriculture,
capturing nutrients through a community anaerobic digester, and establishing a tribal
partnership for regional habitat conservation.
Major 2008 farm
Amends the grants to cover air quality concerns associated with agriculture (including
bill amendments
greenhouse gas emissions); and expands the CIG objectives to include forest resource
management and projects that provide conservation benefits through increased participation
by producers of specialty crops.
National scope
Available nationwide with select states offering state competitions. CIG awarded a total of
$30 million (61 projects in 40 states) in FY2011. In FY2012, NRCS offered two national CIG
competitions. The first competition ($20 million) focused on nutrient management, energy
conservation, soil health, wildlife, and CIG projects assessment. The second competition ($10
million) focused on market analysis of supply and demand for water quality credits, market
rules, and infrastructure.
Leading states
Not applicable.
Backlog/Interest
None identified.
Funding authority
Unspecified subset of EQIP.
FY2012 funding
Unspecified subset of EQIP.
FY2013
Unspecified subset of EQIP.
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
Unspecified subset of EQIP.
Statutory
Authorized in §2301 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-171) as
authority
§1240H of the Food Security Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-198), as amended. Amended by §2509 of
the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246). 16 U.S.C. 3839aa-8.
Authorization
September 30, 2014.
expires
Program website
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/cig

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Farmland Protection Program (FPP)10
Administering
NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
FPP provides funds to state, tribal, and local governments, and non-governmental
description
organizations to help them purchase conservation easements from willing sellers to limit
conversion of farmland to nonagricultural uses. The length of time from when a land owner
first offers to sell an easement to when it is recorded with the deed to the land can be
considerable.
Major 2008 farm
Changes the program’s purpose from protecting topsoil to protecting the land’s agricultural
bill amendments
use by limiting nonagricultural uses. The program is also restructured to emphasize longer-
term and renewable cooperative agreements.
National scope
Available nationwide; however, some states may not have existing farmland protection
programs through which FPP is carried out. From the program’s inception in FY1996 through
FY2011, 3,805 easements on 980,078 acres were acquired, according to the FY2013 budget
notes. In FY2011, over 133,882 acres were enrol ed on 46 new parcels.
Leading states
In FY2011, the largest amount was obligated in WY ($53.4 million), followed by OH ($12.1
million) and NJ ($8.4 million).
Backlog/Interest
None identified.
Funding authority
Mandatory. FY2009 - $121 million, FY2010 - $150 million, FY2011 - $175 million, FY2012 -
$200 million, FY2013 - $200 million, and FY2014 - $200 million.
FY2012 funding
$150 million (authorization reduced by $50 million).
FY2013
$200 million.
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
Continuation of the FY2012 levels, including the reduction in authority, until March 27, 2013.
Statutory
Authorized in §388 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 as
authority
§1238H-§1238I of the 1985 Food Security Act (P.L. 99-198), as amended. Amended by §2401
of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246). 16 U.S.C. 3838h-3838i.
Authorization
September 30, 2014.
expires
Program website
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/easements/farmranch


10 USDA calls this program the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP).
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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)
Administering
Easements are administered by NRCS, agreements are administered by FSA, and NRCS
agency(s)
provides technical assistance for both.
Program
GRP uses long-term rental agreements and easements to help land owners and producers
description
restore and protect grasslands while maintaining them in a condition suitable for grazing using
common management practices.
Major 2008 farm
Directs 40% of funds to rental contracts (10-, 15-, and 20-year duration) and 60% for
bill amendments
permanent easements; authorizes the enrollment of 1.22 million acres between FY2009 and
FY2012; gives priority enrol ment to certain expiring CRP lands; tribal lands are now eligible
for the program.
National scope
Available nationwide. In FY2011, a total of $70.7 million was obligated and committed, $56.3
million to GRP easements and $14.5 million to rental contracts. In FY2011, 328 new
participants enrol ed 202,362 acres, according to information in the FY2012 budget notes.
Leading states
In FY2011, states with the most funding obligated were ID ($4.6 million), TX ($1.46 million),
and WY ($1.2 million).
Backlog/Interest
None identified.
Funding authority
Mandatory. Authorized to enroll 1.22 million acres between FY2009-FY2012.
FY2012 est.
$62 million (reduced enrollment total of 209,000 acres in FY2012, approximate $30 million
funding
reduction).
FY2013
$4.6 million (subject to reauthorization).
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
Authority was extended to September 30, 2013, in the American Taxpayers Relief Act (P.L.
112-240); however, the program has little to no mandatory baseline funding to enrol new
acres.
Statutory
Authorized in §2401 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-171) as
authority
§1238N-§1238Q of the Food Security Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-198), as amended. Amended by
§2403 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246). 16 U.S.C. 3838n-
3838q.
Authorization
September 30, 2013.
expires
Program website
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/easements/grassland

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP)
Administering
NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
Assists landowners in restoring and enhancing forest ecosystems using 10-year agreements,
description
30-year easements, and permanent easements.
Major 2008 farm
Allows permanent easements; directs 40% of funds to cost-share agreements and 60% for 30-
bill amendments
year or permanent easements; and authorizes mandatory funding through the CCC.
National scope
Not available nationwide. Limited participation in AR, CA, GA, IN, KY, ME, MI, MS, OH, OK,
OR, PA, and SC.
Leading states
The program was initially introduced as a pilot program in AR, ME, and MS. In FY2011, 43
applications were enrolled into easements encompassing 22,995 acres. In FY2011, states with
the most funding obligated were OR ($5.1 million), OK ($3.7 million), and GA ($2.5 million).
Backlog/Interest
During FY2011, a total of 215 applications were submitted and 43 applications were enrol ed
(20%).
Funding authority
Mandatory. $9.75 million annual y for FY2009-FY2012.
FY2012 funding
$9.75 million.
FY2013
$0.
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
Authority was extended to September 30, 2013, in the American Taxpayers Relief Act (P.L.
112-240); however, the program has little to no mandatory baseline funding to enrol new
acres.
Statutory
Authorized in Title V Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-148), as amended.
authority
Amended by §8205 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246). 16
U.S.C. 6572.
Authorization
September 30, 2013.
expires
Program website
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/easements/forests

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program
Administering
NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
The RC&D program provides support in the form of NRCS staff coordinators to authorized
description
county and multi-county areas. Coordinators assist state and local units of government and
non-profits to develop and carry out programs to conserve and improve natural resources
and the use of land, and improve conditions in rural America.
Major 2008 farm
Emphasizes the local y led planning process to provide assistance for implementing area plans.
bill amendments
National scope
The FY2011 long-term continuing resolution (P.L. 112-10) terminated funding for the RC&D
program. The termination of funding continued in the FY2012 appropriations (P.L. 112-55), as
requested by the Administration.
Leading states
A smal of funding was apportioned in FY2011 to close out the program. States with the most
funding obligated and most staff years were TX ($1.2 million, 10 staff years), IA ($846,000, 7
staff years), and KY ($756,000, 7 staff years).
Backlog/Interest
USDA is currently closing out the program in which many RC&D councils will likely dissolve.
Funding authority
Discretionary. No amount specified.
FY2012 funding
$0.
FY2013
$0.
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
$0.
Statutory
Authorized in §31 and §32 of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (P.L. 89-796), as
authority
amended. Amended by §2805 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-
246). 16 U.S.C. 3451-3459.
Authorization
Permanent authorization.
expires

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program
Administering
FSA.
agency(s)
Program
The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program encourages owners and
description
operators of privately held farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily make that land available
for access by the public for wildlife-dependent recreation, including hunting or fishing, under
programs implemented by state or tribal governments. Competitive grants are offered to
states and tribal governments for expanding existing access programs or creating new
programs. Grants are reduced by 25% if opening dates for migratory bird hunting in a state
are not consistent for residents and nonresidents.
Major 2008 farm
Program created in the 2008 farm bill.
bill amendments
National scope
Available nationwide. According to FSA, 26 states have public access programs for hunting,
fishing, and other related activities. An unknown number of tribal governments have similar
public access programs.
Leading states
In FY2011, CA, GA, HI, MT, NH, ND, PA, TX, VA, WA, WY, and the Confederated Tribes
and Bands of the Yakama Nation were awarded grants.
Backlog/Interest
None identified.
Funding authority
Mandatory: $50 million for FY2009-FY2012. Discretionary: $10 mil ion for FY2013.
FY2012 est.
$0 (authorization reduced by approximately $17 million).
funding
FY2013
$5 million (to remain available until expended).
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
$0.
Statutory
Authorized in Title II, §2606 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-
authority
246) as §1240R of the Food Security Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-198). 16 U.S.C. 3839bb-5.
Authorization
September 30, 2013.
expires
Program website
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=pahp

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations
Administering
NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
Also referred to as the Small Watershed Program, Watershed and Flood Prevention
description
Operations are two separate authorizations under which more than 11,000 structures have
been built in more than 1,700 active and completed projects. The P.L. 78-534 Flood
Prevention Operations Program authorizes 11 projects, while the P.L. 83-566 Small
Watershed Operations Program authorizes watershed projects general y. Projects may be
authorized for any of 8 purposes; almost all projects have flood control as an authorized
purpose. Under P.L. 566, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to plan and instal
projects on private lands, in cooperation with local sponsors, states, and other public
agencies. The small watershed project costs are shared with local partners. Projects are
limited to a maximum size, including 25,000 acre-feet of total capacity and 250,000 acres in
extent. Projects above a specified size require congressional committee authorization.
Major 2008 farm
None.
bill amendments
National scope
Available nationwide. A total of 439 work plans are complete under P.L. 534, and 1,790 are
active or completed under P.L. 566, according to the FY2013 budget notes. In FY2011, one
new P.L. 566 project was authorized in MN.
Leading states
No funding was appropriated in FY2011.
Backlog/Interest
NRCS identifies a total of $707 mil ion in active unfunded federal commitments for
approximately 300 active authorized P.L. 566 projects. The complete authorized unfunded
federal commitment totals $921 mil ion, with the greatest value of unfunded commitments is
in TX ($245 million), OK ($126 mil ion), and MO ($111 million), according to the FY2013
budget notes.
Funding authority
Discretionary. No amount specified.
FY2012 funding
$0.
FY2013
$0.
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
$0.
Statutory
Authorized in the Flood Control Act of 1944 (P.L. 78-534), as amended, and the Watershed
authority
Protection and Flood Prevention Act (P.L. 83-566), as amended. 33 U.S.C. 701b-1 and 16
U.S.C. 1000 et. seq.
Authorization
Permanent authorization.
expires
Program website
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailful /national/programs/landscape/?&cid=
nrcs143_008271

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Watershed Rehabilitation Program
Administering
NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
The Watershed Rehabilitation Program provides technical and financial assistance for
description
planning, design, and implementation to rehabilitate aging watershed dam projects (including
upgrading or removing dams) in communities to address health and safety concerns. Only
dams constructed under the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations program (see
“Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations” above) are eligible. Small watershed project
dams have a 50-year design life, and 2,317 reached or exceeded that time span by the end of
2011. By the end of 2015, this number will be 4,480, according to the FY2013 budget notes.
Major 2008 farm
Reauthorizes both mandatory and discretionary funding.
bill amendments
National scope
Only available for dams built through the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations
program and the RC&D program (see discussions above). In FY2011, the rehabilitation of 234
dams was authorized in 28 states, and the rehabilitation of 110 dams was complete, according
to the FY2013 budget notes.
Leading states
The largest number of funded dam projects (2000-2011) are in OK (49), MS (24), and TX
(20); states with the highest allocation in FY2011 were OK ($2.4 million), NE ($1.6 million),
and TX ($1.4 million).
Backlog/Interest
In FY2011, over $34.9 million in requests were received from public sponsors of 110 high-
priority dams to have the condition of their dams assessed in consideration for rehabilitation.
Funding authority
Mandatory: FY2009, $100 million. Discretionary: $85 million annually, FY2008-FY2012.
FY2012 funding
$15 million in discretionary funding and $0 in mandatory funding (authorization reduced by
$165 million).
FY2013
$0 in discretionary funding and $0 in mandatory funding (permanently cancel the $165 million
Administration
of annual carry-over).
request
FY2013 funding
Continuation of FY2012 funding levels, including the reduction in authority, until March 27,
2013.
Statutory
Authorized in §313 of the Grain Standards and Warehouse Improvement Act of 2000 (P.L.
authority
106-472) as §14 of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, as amended.
Amended by §2803 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246). 16
U.S.C. 1012.
Authorization
September 30, 2013.
expires
Program website
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/landscape/wr

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
Administering
NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
WRP funds the purchase of easements (30 years or permanent), restoration agreements
description
(usual y 10 years in length), and 30-year contracts to assist land owners in protecting and
restoring wetlands. It provides technical and financial assistance, and emphasizes restoration
to original natural conditions where possible.
Major 2008 farm
Increases the WRP maximum enrollment cap to over 3.014 million acres (up from a previous
bill amendments
cap of 2.275 million acres); expands eligible lands to include certain types of private and tribal
wetlands, croplands, and grasslands, as well as lands that meet the habitat needs of specific
wildlife species; changes the payment schedule for easements; limits wetland restoration
payments; specifies criteria for ranking program applications; requires USDA conduct an
annual survey of the Prairie Pothole Region starting with FY2008; and requires USDA to
submit a report to Congress on long-term conservation easements under the program.
National scope
Available nationwide. Through FY2011, 2.5 million acres have been enrolled, with easements
closed and restored on 2 million acres. In 2011, more than 200,186 acres were enrolled in
over 1,139 projects, according to the FY2013 budget notes.
Leading states
In FY2011, the largest number of agreements (including contracts and 30-year and permanent
easements) were signed in ND (182), fol owed by MN (131) and SD (92). The largest
numbers of enrol ed acres were in ND (31,344 acres), FL (22,879 acres), and LA (18,876
acres). The greatest obligation of funding was in FL ($101 million), LA ($43.6 million), and IA
($37.4 million).
Backlog/Interest
Not available.
Funding authority
Mandatory. Maximum enrollment of 3.014 million acres at any one time. No funding amount
specified.
FY2012 est.
$417 million (based on a reduced enrollment total of 271,158 acres in FY2012, approximate
funding
$200 million reduction).
FY2013
$224 million.
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
Authority was extended to September 30, 2013, in the American Taxpayers Relief Act (P.L.
112-240). When authorized in the 2008 farm bill, WRP did not include budgetary baseline
beyond FY2012. Temporary reductions in FY2011 and FY2012 annual appropriations acts
limited USDA’s ability to enroll the authorized level of acres. This resulted in limited baseline
being carried forward into FY2013, whereas it would have otherwise been expended by the
end of FY2012. With the current farm bill extension, WRP can presumably utilize this
additional baseline to enroll acres within its original authorized acreage cap.
Statutory
Authorized in §1438 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-
authority
624) as §1237-§1237F of the 1985 Food Security Act (P.L. 99-198), as amended. Amended by
§2201-2208 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246). 16 U.S.C.
3837-3837f.
Authorization
September 30, 2013.
expires
Program website
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/easements/wetlands

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Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs

Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP)
Administering
NRCS.
agency(s)
Program
WHIP provides technical and financial assistance to eligible participants to develop upland
description
wildlife, wetland wildlife, threatened and endangered species, fish and other types of wildlife
habitat. Participants enter into contracts, usual y 5 to 10 years in duration, which pays up to
75% of the contract implementation cost.
Major 2008 farm
Limits program eligibility to focus on “the development of wildlife habitat on private
bill amendments
agricultural land, nonindustrial private forest land, and tribal lands,” thus potentially excluding
some previously covered areas (i.e., non-agricultural lands). It also allows USDA to provide
priority to projects that address issues raised by state, regional, and national conservation
initiatives.
National scope
Available nationwide. In FY2011, over 3,800 agreements were enrol ed on almost 850,000
acres.
Leading states
In FY2011, the largest number of contracts was in GA (412), fol owed by AL (337) and TX
(283). The largest number of enrol ed acres was in TX (317,449 acres), fol owed by ME
(39,049 acres) and AK (35,022 acres). The greatest obligation of funding was in TX ($11.8
million), followed by GA ($7.5 million) and AL ($4.5 million).
Backlog/Interest
In FY2011, an additional 3,400 eligible applications valued at over $33 million remain
unfunded.
Funding authority
Mandatory. $85 million annual y FY2009-FY2014.
FY2012 funding
$50 million (authorization reduced by $35 million).
FY2013
$73 million (authorization reduced by $12 million).
Administration
request
FY2013 funding
Continuation of the FY2012 levels, including the reduction in authority, until March 27, 2013.
Statutory
Authorized in §387 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (P.L.
authority
104-127) as §1240N of the 1985 Food Security Act (P.L. 99-198), as amended. Amended by
§2602 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246). 16 U.S.C. 3839bb-1.
Authorization
September 30, 2014.
expires
Program website
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/whip


Author Contact Information

Megan Stubbs

Specialist in Agricultural Conservation and Natural
Resources Policy
mstubbs@crs.loc.gov, 7-8707


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