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1 (August 16, 2007)

handle is hein.crs/crsuntaakke0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS21613 Updated August 16, 2007 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 to conserve soil and water resources. It is the federal government' s largest private land retirement program. The program is administered by the Farm Service Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), with technical assistance provided by USDA' s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The CRP has several subprograms, the best-known of which is the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). In 2004, USDA announced two CRP initiatives: one to enroll 250,000 acres of bobwhite quail habitat and a second to enroll 250,000 acres of non-floodplain wetlands. Landowners may apply to enroll in these initiatives any time through December 31, 2007, or until the enrollment caps are reached. The July27 House-passed farm bill (H.R. 2419) reauthorizes the CRP at the current acreage cap of 39.2 million acres and makes provisions to facilitate the transition of land under CRP contracts from retired farmers to new and beginning farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers. The bill also directs the National Agricultural Statistical Service to conduct annual surveys of cash rental rates and to make these rates publicly available. Secretary Johanns has announced that there will be no general CRP sign-up in FY2007 and perhaps none in FY2008. Between 2007 and 2010, 27.8 million acres under CRP contracts will expire. Contracts for approximately 23 million (86%) of these acres have been renewed or extended. This report will be updated periodically. Current Issues House-Passed Farm Bill. On July 27, the House passed its version of the 2007 farm bill (H.R. 2419). The bill reauthorizes the CRP at its current acreage cap of 39.2 million acres established in the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171). Other provisions include steps to facilitate the transition/sale of land subject to a CRP contract from a retired or retiring owner or operator to a beginning farmer or rancher, socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher, or limited resource farmer or rancher. This provision would permit the Congressional Research Service ,' The Library of Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress

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