Conservation Programs and Agricultural Policy The New Landscape

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Conservation Programs and Agricultural PolicyThe
New Landscape

• Bradley D. Lubben
• Extension Agricultural Economist
• Kansas State University

Policy and ag econ information from K-State
www.agmanager.info USDA program information
www.usda.gov
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Evolution of Conservation Programs

• From public support for agriculture
• Focus on farm income support
• Conservation benefits as a side-effect

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Evolution of Conservation Programs

• To public support for the environment
• Focus on specific environmental/social goals
• Debate over incentives versus regulations

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Conservation Programs

• Conservation Reserve Program
• Wetlands Reserve Program
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program
• Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
• Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program
• Forest Land Enhancement Program
• Grassland Reserve Program
• Conservation Security Program
• Other Programs

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Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

• Enrollment cap increased from 36.4 to 39.2
  million acres
• Regular and continuous enrollment

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Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)

• Enrollment cap increased from 1.075 to 2.275
  million acres

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Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

• Funding increased from 200 million per year to
  1.3 billion per year by 2007

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Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP)

• Funding increased from 50 million for 1996-2002
  to 597 million for 2002 through 2007

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Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

• Funding increased from 50 million for 1996-2002
  to 85 million per year by 2005

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Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP)

• Replaces FIP and SIP with funding of 100 million
  through 2007

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Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP)

• Enrollment of up to 2 million acres of working
  grasslands

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Conservation Security Program (CSP)

• Payments to producers for wide range of
  conservation practices
• Spending and enrollment not limited by legislation

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Conservation Security ProgramPractices

• nutrient management
• integrated pest management
• water conservation
• grazing, pasture, range management
• soil conservation, residue management
• invasive species management
• fish wildlife habitat management
• air quality management
• energy conservation measures
• biological resource conservation
  regeneration

• contour farming
• strip and cover cropping
• controlled rotational grazing
• resource conserving crop rotation
• conversion of portion of cropland from soil
  depleting to soil conserving use
• partial field conservation practices
• native grass prairie protection
• any other practices the Secretary determines
  appropriate and comparable to the other practices

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Conservation Security ProgramFunding Projections

• 2002 Farm Bill
• Spending estimated at 2 billion through 2011
• 2003 Budget Resolution
• Spending re-estimated at 6.9 billion through
  2012
• 2003 Ag Appropriations and Ag Aid
• Spending limited to 3.8 billion through 2012
• 2004 Ag Appropriations (if passed)
• Spending limit removed, returning to 6.9 billion
  estimate through 2013
• Spending in FY2004 limited to 41 million

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Conservation Programs Summary

• Substantial expansion of most existing programs
• CRP and WRP enrollment caps increased
• EQIP, FRPP, and WHIP funding increased
• FIP and SIP consolidated into FLEP
• Promise of significant new programs
• GRP implemented in FY 2003
• CSP still on the way