NEWS
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of Communications News Room 460-A
Washington, DC 20250-1300
Internet: News@usda.gov Phone: 202-720-9035
World Wide Web Home Page: http://www.usda.gov
Release No. 0324.04
Alisa Harrison (202) 720-4623
Julie Quick (202) 720-4623
BUSH ADMINISTRATION EXPANDS CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM
Launches Innovative Conservation Measures
for Wildlife and Wetlands
CRP Sign-Up to Begin August 30
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2004 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann
M. Veneman today announced that USDA would fully implement
President Bush’s directive to sustain the environmental
benefits of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) by
offering early re-enrollments and contract extensions for
acres that begin expiring in 2007.
President Bush directed USDA to ensure that vital
conservation under the program continues and launched two new important conservation initiatives to protect and increase wildlife and wetlands at an event today in Mankato, Minn.
“The President is dedicated to full enrollment of the
Conservation Reserve Program by offering early re-enrollments
and contract extensions,” said Veneman. “This program builds
on the conservation ethic of farmers and ranchers to protect
and improve natural resources and enhance wildlife habitat.”
In addition, Veneman announced dates for a CRP general
sign-up and invited public comments on other issues essential
to the future of the program. One new initiative will create
250,000 acres of habitat for the northern bobwhite quail, a
native quail species that has historically ranged in 35
states. The other new initiative will create 250,000 acres
of wetlands and playa lakes in non-floodplain areas, which is
vital habitat for species such as upland ducks, pheasants and
sandhill cranes.
“These initiatives will help achieve the President’s
national goal to restore, enhance and protect at least three
million wetland acres over the next five years in order to
increase overall wetland acres and quality,” Veneman said.
Early Re-Enrollments and Contract Extensions
In three years, 16 million acres under CRP contract
will expire. Another 6 million acres will follow in 2008, 4
million in 2009 and 2 million in 2010. President Bush’s
directive to offer early re-enrollment and extensions of
existing contracts to current CRP participants underscores a
commitment to full enrollment of CRP up to 39.2 million
acres.
A request for public comment on various aspects of CRP
will be published in the Federal Register in early August
2004. Among other issues, USDA is seeking public comment on
the following:
* How to manage the large acreage set to expire from CRP;
* How to manage future CRP sign-ups and acreage;
* How to evaluate the program’s environmental effectiveness;
* How to better utilize information technology such as
Geographic Information Systems that evaluate acreage for
enrollment; and
* How to improve CRP, including the Conservation Reserve
Enhancement Program, through partnerships that better address
local environmental issues.
Bobwhite Quail Initiative
Northern bobwhite quail are a native quail species with
an historic range in the Midwest and Southeast areas of the
country. The birds are a valued inhabitant of farm
landscapes, an important aspect of rural culture and are key
to the heritage of hunting. However, the northern bobwhite
quail population has declined dramatically over the last
quarter-century. Their habitats are disappearing due to
urbanization, increased grassland cultivation and a
transitioning of once grassy fields into woods and forests --
a process called succession.
The CRP Northern Bobwhite Quail Habitat Initiative
introduces a conservation practice intended to create 250,000
acres of early successional grass buffers along agricultural
field borders. USDA estimates this nesting and brood-rearing
cover will increase bobwhite quail numbers by 750,000 birds
annually. Planted buffers will also benefit reptiles,
amphibians, aquatic species and upland birds, many of which
are being considered for listing as endangered species. In
addition, the initiative will reduce soil erosion and protect
water quality by trapping field sediments and nutrients.
USDA estimates the program will provide $125 million in
payments to participants through 2007 when the overall
statutory enrollment limit is expected to be reached. The
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 32 state fish and wildlife
agencies are expected to offer technical, monitoring and
evaluation assistance. Quail Unlimited, the Southeast Quail
Study Group, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, the National
Wild Turkey Federation and other conservation groups, as well
as local conservation districts, may provide outreach,
technical expertise and other assistance.
Because the initiative is limited to 250,000 acres,
enrollment is targeted to the Midwest and Southeast that have
the greatest potential to restore bobwhite quail habitat.
Wetlands Restoration Initiative
The President also announced another new program that
will allow landowners to enroll large wetland complexes and
playa lakes located outside the 100-year floodplain.
Restoring these systems will provide vital habitat for many
wildlife species, such as upland ducks and sandhill cranes.
Wetlands also filter runoff, recharge groundwater supplies,
protect drinking water and reduce downstream flooding.
Today’s announcements will further the large-scale
accomplishments of CRP, which has already restored 1.8
million wetland and wetland buffer acres nationwide. In
fact, this past year for the first time in recent history
agriculture had a net gain in wetland acres compared with the
previous year. From 1997-2002, farmers and ranchers produced
a net increase of 131,400 acres of wetlands.
CRP currently offers wetlands restoration incentives
that target for enrollment 500,000 acres located in the 100-
year floodplain; and the Farmable Wetlands Program, which
protects up to 1 million acres of farmed and previously
converted wetlands of less than 40 acres per tract. USDA
also offers the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), which targets
enrollment of 2.3 million acres of larger wetland complexes
and those with the most critical environmental needs under
permanent easements, 30-year easements and restoration cost-
share agreements. In June, USDA announced the new Wetlands
Reserve Enhancement Program that works with partners to
leverage resources in order to further wetlands protections
within the requirements of the WRP.
USDA estimates the total cost of the wetlands
restoration initiative to be $200 million. FSA will offer
participants an incentive payment equal to 25 percent of the
cost of restoring the hydrology of the site, an annual rental
payment and cost-share assistance of up to 50 percent of
eligible practice installation costs.
Program sign-up for both these new initiatives will
begin Oct. 1, 2004 at local FSA offices and will run on a
continuous basis until the total acreage has been enrolled or
Dec. 31, 2007, whichever comes first. To determine
individual eligibility for the initiative, landowners should
check with their local FSA office. More information on these
initiatives, including acreage allocation by state, is
available at local FSA offices and on FSA’s Web site at:
www.fsa.usda.gov
CRP Sign-Up
General sign-up for CRP will begin Aug. 30 and run
through Sept. 24, 2004. CRP is the country’s largest
conservation program on private lands with a current
enrollment of 34.8 million acres.
CRP protects fragile cropland from erosion and improves
the nation’s natural resources. By reducing water runoff and
sedimentation, the program safeguards surface water and helps
improve the condition of lakes, rivers, ponds and streams,
many of which are used for drinking water supplies. Acreage
enrolled in CRP is devoted to resource-conserving vegetative
covers, making the program a major contributor to more
abundant wildlife populations in many parts of the country.
CRP participants voluntarily remove environmentally
sensitive land from agricultural production by entering into
long-term contracts for 10 to 15 years. In exchange,
participants receive annual rental payments and a payment of
up to 50 percent of the cost of establishing conservation
practices.
The 2002 Farm Bill authorized CRP enrollment up to 39.2
million acres. Since there is limited acreage available for
enrollment, landowners are encouraged to work with their
local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices to maximize the
environmental benefits of their CRP offers. During the last
CRP general sign-up, held from May 5 to June 13, 2003,
enrollment offers were highly competitive. Of the 4 million
acres offered, USDA selected 2 million acres that offered the
greatest environmental benefits.
USDA will use the Environmental Benefits Index (EBI) to
rank the acreage offered. The EBI is based on costs and five
other factors: soil erosion, water quality, enduring
benefits, air quality and wildlife enhancement.
Offers accepted under this sign-up will become
effective Oct. 1, 2005, or Oct. 1, 2006, at the producer’s
discretion. More detailed information on CRP and the general
sign-up is available at local FSA offices and on FSA’s Web
site at: www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/crpinfo.htm.
The Federal Register notice seeking public comment on
CRP is available on FSA’s Web site at www.fsa.usda.gov and
also will be available soon at
www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html Comments on the issues must
be received in writing by 120 days after the date published
in the Federal Register. Comments may be submitted in
writing or electronically via the means provided in the
notice.
Further information on the Federal Register notice is
available from Beverly Preston, CRP Program Manager, at
USDA/FSA/CEPD/STOP 0513, 1400 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, D.C. 20250-0513; telephone 202-720-9563; email:
beverly_preston@wdc.usda.gov Persons with disabilities who
require alternative means for communication (braille, large
print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA Target Center
at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
#
|