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1 1 (January 21, 2025)

handle is hein.crs/govesdw0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Updated January 21, 2025 Farm Bill Primer: Conservation Title The conservation title of a farm bill generally contains reauthorizations, amendments, and new programs that encourage farmers and ranchers to voluntarily implement resource-conserving practices on private land. Starting in 1985, farm bills broadened the conservation agenda to include addressing multiple natural resource concerns. Although the number of conservation programs has increased and techniques to address resource problems continue to emerge, the basic approach has remained unchanged: provide financial and technical assistance to implement conservation systems supported by education and research programs. As Congress considers authorizing the next farm bill, areas of possible interest in the conservation title may include funding for programs and climate strategies for the agricultural sector. Conservation Program Portfolio Conservation programs are administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and can be grouped into the following categories: working lands programs, land retirement programs, easement programs, partnership and grant programs, and conservation compliance (see text box and CRS Report R40763, Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs). Other types of conservation programs-such as watershed programs, emergency land rehabilitation programs, and technical assistance-have been authorized outside the farm bill. Most of these programs have permanent authorities and receive appropriations annually through the discretionary appropriations process. These programs generally are not addressed in farm bill legislation unless amendments to the program are proposed. Title II (Conservation) of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 farm bill; P.L. 115-334) reauthorized and amended portions of most conservation programs, although there was focus on the large-cost programs, namely the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Most farm bill conservation programs are authorized to receive mandatory funding (i.e., they do not require an annual appropriation). In 2022, Congress passed the bill commonly referred to as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA; P.L. 117-169). As part of this bill, Congress provided additional funding to selected farm bill conservation programs and extended the authority for those programs through FY2031. Conservation programs not included in the IRA had authorities that expired with other farm bill programs at the end of FY2023. Congress enacted two one-year extensions through FY2025 and crop year 2025 (P.L. 118-22, Division B, §102; and P.L. 118-158, Division D, §4101). For additional information, see CRS Report R47659, Expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill and Extensionfor 2025. Funding for Conservation The conservation title is one of the larger non-nutrition titles of the farm bill, accounting for $58 billion in projected 10-year mandatory funding (FY2025-FY2034). Spending for agricultural conservation programs generally has increased from $2.3 billion in FY2002 ($3.7 billion when adjusted for inflation) to an estimated $5.3 billion in total outlays in FY2024 (Figure 1). Selected Farm Bill Conservation Programs Working lands programs allow private land to remain in production while agriculture producers implement various conservation practices to address natural resource concerns specific to the area. Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Land retirement programs provide payments to private agricultural landowners for temporary changes in land use and management to achieve environmental benefits. * Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)-includes Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP); Farmable Wetland Program; Clean Lakes, Estuaries, and Rivers (CLEAR30) Pilot; Soil Health and Income Protection Program (SHIPP); and Transition Incentives Program (TIP) Easement programs voluntarily impose a permanent or long- term restriction on land use in exchange for a payment. * Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) Partnership and grant programs use partnership agreements and grants to leverage program funding with nonfederal funding. * Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG), On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials, Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program (Feral Swine), Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPAHIP) Conservation compliance prohibits or limits a producer from receiving selected federal farm program benefits (including crop insurance premium subsidies) when conservation program requirements for highly erodible lands, wetlands, and production on native sod are not met. * Highly erodible lands conservation (Sodbuster), wetland conservation (Swampbuster), and Sodsaver ~ongres on I Re ear h Servic mmci h k~cw b ~ ~~de it 1~. 14

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