In this article, we will focus on Farm Bill programs that involve rental, maintenance and incentive payments.
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is the most effective and well-known provision of the Farm Bill. The CRP has been the single largest contributor in securing upland bird and waterfowl habitat, as well as agricultural and native grass food sources and cover for white-tailed deer, mule deer, and elk.
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is conducted with producers, tribal and state governments, and sometimes private groups to help retire farmland to protect environmentally sensitive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife habitat and safeguard ground and surface water. Once eligible partners identify an issue of regional or national significance, they develop a project proposal. Projects have to originate from approved geographic priority areas established by the Farm Service Agency.
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) promotes a comprehensive approach of improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities and undertaking new ones to deal with resource issues. CSP payments reward producers for additional conservation practices, such as improving, continuing, and managing conservation practices in place at the time the contract offer was accepted by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
One method the NRCS uses to help producers implement conservation practices that promote agricultural production, forest management, and environmental quality as compatible goals is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. The program also helps producers optimize conservation benefits and meet federal, state and local environmental requirements.
The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) provides emergency funding and technical assistance to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters to carry out emergency water conservation measures in periods of drought. Conservation problems existing prior to the applicable disaster are ineligible for ECP assistance.
The Emergency Forest Restoration Program provides payments to owners of non-industrial private forest lands to conduct emergency restoration after a natural disaster. Emergency measures are defined as those necessary to restore forest health and forest-related resources damaged by a natural disaster.
It’s important to keep in mind that, although these Farm Bill programs produce a myriad of environmental benefits, they also ensure reliable, safe and abundant food systems, help protect agricultural lands from development and empower farmers and ranchers as stewards of the land. By streamlining programs, the Farm Bill provides added flexibility and ensures conservation programs work for producers in the most effective and efficient way.
While these are not exhaustive summaries of each of these programs, they each significantly contribute to the overall conservation of our most precious and valuable resources.
James L. Cummins is executive director of Wildlife Mississippi, a nonprofit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. The website is www.wildlifemiss.org.
