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1 (September 11, 2008)

handle is hein.crs/crsuntaakjh0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS21613 Updated September 11, 2008 CRS Report for Congress Conservation Reserve Program: Status and Current Issues Tadlock Cowan Analyst in Natural Resources and Rural Development Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), enacted in 1985, provides payments to farmers to take highly erodible or environmentally sensitive cropland out of production for ten years or more. It is the federal government's largest private land retirement program. The program is administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), with technical assistance provided by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service. The CRP also has several subprograms, the best-known of which is the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-246) reauthorizes CRP through FY2012 but lowers the maximum acreage level to 32 million acres, down from the previous cap of 39.2 million acres. Haying and grazing conditions on CRP land are amended, and incentives are authorized to assist socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers in leasing or purchasing land under a CRP contract. August 2008 national enrollment stands at 34.7 million acres, down approximately 2 million acres from September 2007. Most of this decrease was in North Dakota and South Dakota. USDA plans no general CRP sign-up in FY2008. A sign-up for critical feed use (CFU) haying and grazing was announced by USDA in May. A U.S. District Court issued a permanent injunction on July 24 against the CFU except for those who applied before a temporary restraining order issued on July 8. Between 2007 and 2010, 27.8 million acres under CRP contracts will expire. Contracts for approximately 23 million (83%) of these acres have been renewed or extended. This report will be updated periodically. CRP General Background The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is the federal government's largest land retirement program for private land. It was first enacted by Congress in 1985 to help control soil erosion, stabilize land prices and control excessive agricultural production. Since then, program purposes have been expanded to include environmental goals. The program is administered by USDA's Farm Services Agency (FSA), with technical assistance from USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and funding Congressional Research Service - The Library of Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress

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