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1 (April 24, 2008)

handle is hein.crs/crsmthabchw0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS21740 Updated April 24, 2008 SCRS Report for Congress Conservation Security Program: Implementation and Current Issues Tadlock Cowan Analyst in Natural Resources and Rural Development Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary The Conservation Security Program (CSP), authorized in the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171), is a voluntary program providing financial and technical assistance for conservation and improvement of natural resources on tribal and private working lands within selected watersheds. CSP is administered by USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation. Financial assistance is based on three tiers of participation, with each tier representing a higher degree of resource management standards. Contracts extend from 5 to 10 years. The House and Senate farm bills (H.R. 2419) would alter CSP by authorizing, respectively, a New Conservation Security Program (Section 2103) and a new Conservation Stewardship Program (Section 2341). The first enrollment for CSP was in July 2004 covering 18 watersheds in 22 states. A second enrollment in November 2005 was implemented in 220 watersheds nationwide. These two enrollments resulted in 15,000 contracts with landowners on 12.1 million acres of working agricultural lands. A third enrollment period was announced in February 2006 for 60 watersheds, including ones in Guam and the Caribbean. In that year, 4,323 contracts were accepted, adding more than 3.6 million acres. No new contracts were signed in FY2007. A fourth sign-up period is underway April 18-May 17, 2008, for eligible farms and ranches in 51 new watersheds. This report will be updated periodically. Background CSP in the 2002 Farm Bill. The Conservation Security Program (CSP) is an agricultural conservation program authorized by the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171, §2001). CSP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). It provides incentives for farmers to pursue conservation and helps pay for conservation practices. Unlike some other agricultural conservation programs, CSP provides payments for conservation on land that remains in production and makes eligible a wide range of farmland: cropland, pastureland, rangeland, grassland, prairie land, tribal lands, and forested lands incidental to an agricultural operation. By Congressional Research Service - The Library of Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress

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