The document outlines several USDA conservation programs including the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) that pay farmers to conserve environmentally sensitive lands. It discusses the goals and benefits of these programs, such as restoring wetlands and grasslands, improving wildlife habitat and water quality. The summary also notes the funding levels for these programs and challenges with expiring land contracts in the CRP program.

1. ABCs of USDA Conservation Programs Duane Hovorka National Wildlife Federation

2. Acronyms R Us AMA CRP CREP CCRP CSP EQIP FPP/FRPP FSA GRP HFRP NRCS TSP USDA WHIP WRP

4. A is for Agriculture 50% of the USA is cropland, private forestland, pasture, or rangeland

5. Habitat Conservation Programs Farm Bill Conservation Programs Conservation Reserve Program 34 million acres Wetlands Reserve Program 2 million acres Grasslands Reserve Program 1 million acres Total 37 million acres

6. Habitat Conservation Programs Farm Bill Conservation Programs Conservation Reserve Program 34 million acres Wetlands Reserve Program 2 million acres Grasslands Reserve Program 1 million acres Total 37 million acres Other Habitat Conservation Programs Nat. Wild. Refuge lands (minus AK) 26 million acres Pittman-Robertson (acquired lands) 4 million acres Duck Unlimited (conserved to date) 11 million acres Private Land Trusts (under easement) 5 million acres

7. USDA On-Farm Conservation Fiscal Year 2007 CRP $2,021 million EQIP $1,005 million CSP $ 237 million WRP $ 228 million FPP $ 73 million WHIP $ 40 million GRP $ 2 million

8. Conservation Reserve Program Marginal Cropland Planted to Native Grass Mixes 10-15 Year Contracts, Rental Payments 50% Cost-Share for Planting Grass, Trees $1.9 Billion per Year in Payments USDA ARS C R P

9. Conservation Reserve Program “ Whole Field” CRP Landowners Submit Bids During General Signup Selection Based on Environmental Benefits Managed Haying, Grazing 29.5 million acres C R P

10. Conservation Reserve Program “ Continuous Signup” CRP High Priority Practices Buffer strips along streams Windbreaks Wildlife buffers Shallow water for wildlife Grass waterways 2.2 million acres enrolled USDA C R P

11. Conservation Reserve Program “ Continuous Signup” CRP Special Initiatives Wetlands (several) Upland Bird Buffers Bottomland Hardwood Trees Longleaf Pine Plantings State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement 0.8 million acres enrolled Ron Nichols, NRCS C R P

12. Conservation Reserve Program “ Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program” State/Local Partners Provide Additional Funding Target State/Local Natural Resource Problem 1.1 million acres enrolled USDA C R P

13. CRP Benefits Upland habitat (pheasants, quail, prairie chickens) Buffer strips improve water quality Ron Nichols, USDA USDA Research: 4% Increase in CRP Acres = 22% Increase in Pheasants C R P

14. CRP Challenges Expiring CRP Contracts Sept. 2008 1.2 million acres Sept. 2009 3.9 million acres Sept. 2010 4.5 million acres Sept. 2011 4.4 million acres Sept. 2012 5.6 million acres 19.6 million acres Ron Nichols, USDA C R P

15. Wetlands Reserve Program Restore and protect cropped wetlands 2 million acres enrolled 1 million acres to be enrolled US Fish & Wildlife Service W R P

16. Wetlands Reserve Program Protection through easements, contracts 30-year and permanent easements Restoration agreements US Fish & Wildlife Service W R P

17. Wetlands Reserve Program Restoration through cost-share agreements 75-100% for permanent 50-75% for others Restore hydrology, plant community US Fish & Wildlife Service W R P

18. Wetlands Reserve Program Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program Leverage state/local funding Target regional/state/ local resource concern US Fish & Wildlife Service W R P

19. Grassland Reserve Program Protect and restore grasslands 1 million acres enrolled since 2002 1.2 million acres to be enrolled G R P

20. Grassland Reserve Program Protection through easements, contracts Permanent easements (60% of $$) 10-20 year rental agreements (40%) Land trusts can hold and enforce easements G R P

21. Grassland Reserve Program Restoration through cost-share agreements 50% cost-share Grazing management plans G R P

22. Other Easement Programs Farmland Protection Program Protect ag land and related conservation values Helps entities buy conservation easements $121 million in 2009 Healthy Forests Reserve Program Protection and restoration of non-industrial forests $10 million in 2009

23. Environmental Quality Incentives Program Payments to implement conservation practices on working lands Usually based on share of cost (50-75%) $1.1 billion in 2009 E Q I P

24. Environmental Quality Incentives Program Fish & wildlife benefits are generally indirect Grazing management Water quality Irrigation management Pest management Contracts typically focus on single practice Jeff Vanuga, NRCS E Q I P

25. Conservation Stewardship Program Whole-farm approach on working lands Multiple resources Pays to install and maintain practices that benefit resources Awaiting new rules C S P

26. Conservation Stewardship Program 16 million acres enrolled 2002-2007 12.8 million acres per year enrollment target Mixed bag for wildlife New focus on 3-5 resources per area C S P

27. Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program Cost-share to Restore or Install Fish & Wildlife Habitat Up to 75% of cost $85 million per year W H I P

28. Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program Only major program focused primarily on wildlife Priority for projects addressing national/ regional/state conservation initiatives Ponds, food plots, rare habitat, restore prairie, remove dams W H I P

29. Open Fields Funds to pay farmers to allow access to private land $50 million over four years 2009-2012

30. Regional Programs Agricultural Management Assistance Chesapeake Bay Program Colorado River Salinity Control Dessert Terminal Lakes Great Lakes Basin

31. Technical Assistance Funds to pay NRCS employees Deliver programs Provide program advice Conservation planning Technical Service Providers Certified to provide advice in their expertise Jeff Vanuga, NRCS

32. Duane Hovorka [email_address]