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Conservation Programs
Overview
The United States Department of Agriculture, through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA), currently administers approximately two dozen federal conservation programs. Conservation programs are voluntary federal programs designed to encourage agricultural producers and landowners to undertake conservation practices on agricultural lands. While the NRCS and FSA administer the programs, other agencies such as the Forest Service may assist in the implementation of some programs.
Read the full overview
Note: Recently added resources are posted at the top of the applicable sections.
Major Statutes
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (a/k/a 2002 Farm Bill),
Pub. L. No. 107-171, tit. II, 116 Stat. 134,223-80, §§ 2001-2702
(codified at scattered sections of 7, 16, & 43 U.S.C.)(Conservation Title)
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (a/k/a 1996 Farm Bill),
Pub. L. No. 104-127, tit. III, 110 Stat. 888, 980-1026, §§ 301-391
(codified as amended at scattered sections of 7, 15, & 16 U.S.C.) (Conservation Title)
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (a/k/a 1990 Farm Bill),
Pub. L. No. 101-624, tit. XIV, 104 Stat. 3359, 3568-3632
(codified as amended at scattered sections of 7 & 16 U.S.C.) (Conservation Title)
Food Security Act of 1985 (a/k/a 1985 Farm Bill),
Pub. L. No. 99-198, tit. XII, 99 Stat. 1354, 1504-18, tit. XII
(codified at scattered sections of 7 & 16 U.S.C.) (Conservation Title)
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321-4370f
Healthy Forests Restoration Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 6501-6591, 6571-78
(authorizing Healthy Forests Reserve Program)
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954, Pub. L. 83-566, 68 Stat. 666
Farmland Protection Policy Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 4201-4209
National Natural Resources Conservation Foundation, 16 U.S.C. §§ 5801-5809
Highly Erodible Land Conservation (a/k/a Sodbuster)
Wetlands Conservation (a/k/a Swampbuster)
Regulations
Excludes regulations for specific conservation programs.
Conservation Stewardship Program, 7 CFR Part 1470
State Technical Committees, 7 C.F.R. Part 610
National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Appeal Procedures, 7 C.F.R. Part 614
Farm Service Agency Appeal Procedures, 7 C.F.R. Part 780
Certified State Mediation Program, 7 C.F.R. Part 785
National Appeals Division (NAD) Regulations, 7 C.F.R. Part 11
NRCS Procedures for Granting Equitable Relief, 7 C.F.R. Part 635
NRCS Compliance With National Environmental Policy Act, 7 C.F.R. Part 650
Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation Regulations, 7 C.F.R. Part 12
Federal Register Rules Open for Comment
Federal Register Digest
Major Conservation Programs
Editor's Note: Many conservation programs are governed by regulations that govern only a specific program, such as the Conservation Reserve Program. Other conservation programs, such as the Healthy Forests Reserve Program, are not governed by regulations applicable only to those programs. The conservation programs listed below are linked to their respective governing regulations, if such regulations exist. A link to the appropriate information is provided for those programs listed below for which there are not specific regulations.
Agricultural Management Assistance, 7 C.F.R. Part 1465
Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative
Conservation of Private Grazing Lands, 7 C.F.R. Part 610
Conservation Reserve Program, 7 C.F.R. Part 1410
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
Farmable Wetlands Program
Conservation Security Program (CSP), 7 C.F.R. Part 1469
Conservation Technical Assistance Program
Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP), 7 C.F.R. Part 624
Emergency Wetlands Reserve Program, 7 C.F.R. Part 623
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), 7 C.F.R. Part 1466
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, 7 C.F.R. Part 1491
Farmland Protection Policy Act Regulations, 7 C.F.R. Part 658
Forest Land Enhancement Program, 36 C.F.R. §§ 230.30-230.46
Forestry Incentives Program
Grassland Reserve Program, 7 C.F.R. Part 1415
Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
Great Plains Conservation Program, 7 C.F.R. Part 631
Healthy Forests Reserve Program
Rural Abandoned Mine Program, 7 C.F.R. Part 632
Rural Clean Water Program, 7 C.F.R. Part 634
Source Water Protection Program
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program, 7 C.F.R. Part 622
Wetlands Reserve Program, 7 C.F.R. Part 1467
Wildlife Habitats Incentive Program, 7 C.F.R. Part 636
Case Law
Case Law Index for Conservation Programs
Administrative Law Decisions
USDA Judicial Officer's Decisions
USDA Office of the Administrative Law Judges
USDA National Appeals Division
Center Research Publications
Environmental Law: Federal Laws That Affect Agriculture - PowerPoint Presentation (Springsteen, 2009)
Summary and Evolution of U.S. Farm Bill Conservation Titles (O'Brien)
Dealing With the USDA: Administrative Law Basics (Kelley)
Biodiversity and Law: The Culture of Agriculture and the Nature of Nature Conservation (Harbison)
Biodiversity and the Law of Nature Conservation in Great Britain (Harbison)
Conservation Security Program and Grassland Reserve Program (Pittman)
Congressional Research Service Reports
CRS Subject(s):
Environmental Issues
Farm Bills
Finance and Credit
Agricultural Law Bibliography
Introduction | Keyword Search | Browse Categories
Legal publications on Conservation Programs:
Environmental Issues
Land Use Regulation
Leases, Landlord-Tenant
Reference Resources
Economic Research Service (ERS)
Subject: Natural Resources and Environment
Policy Topics: Conservation and Environmental Policy
Briefing Rooms: Conservation Policy
Briefing Rooms: Farm and Commodity Policy
Briefing Rooms: Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS)
Recommended Readings:
Programs, Payments, and People: 7 Economic Briefs on Conservation Programs, Farm
Structure, and Economic Well-Being
Conservation-Compatible Practices and Programs: Who Participates? (Lambert, 2006)
Rewarding Farm Practices Versus Environmental Performance (Weinberg and Claassen, 2006)
Greening Income Support and Supporting Green (Claassen and Morehart, 2006)
Land Retirement and Working Land Conservation Structures: A Look at Farmers' Choices
(Lambert and Sullivan, 2006)
Contrasting Working-Land and Land Retirement Programs (Aillery, 2006)
Balancing the Multiple Objectives of Conservation Programs (Cattaneo, et al., 2006)
The Conservation Reserve Program: Economic Implications for Rural America
(Sullivan et al., 2004)
Farmland Protection: The Role of Public Preferences for Rural Amenities (Hellerstein et al., 2002)
Agri-Environmental Policy at the Crossroads: Guideposts on a Changing Landscape
(Claassen et al., 2001)
Economic Valuation of Environmental Benefits and the Targeting of Conservation Programs:
The Case of the CRP (Feather et al., 1999)
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
NRCS Conservation Programs
Directives and Manuals
Field Office Technical Guides (eFOTG)
Regional Boundaries, State Offices, Centers
Conservation Resource Briefs
Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Conservation Programs
Forest Service
State and Private Forestry
FSA Handbook for Conservation and Environmental Protection
Conservation Cost-Share Automation System Operations
CCC Conservation Automation System Operations
Conservation Reserve Program
Agricultural Resource Conservation Program
Emergency Conservation Program
Environmental Quality Programs
Stewardship Incentive Program
Congressional Resources
U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
U.S. House Committee on Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture: Improved Management Controls Can Enhance Effectiveness of
Key Conservation Programs (GAO-09-528T, 2009)
Agricultural Conservation: Farm Program Payments Are an Important Factor in Landowners' Decisions
to Convert Grassland to Cropland (GAO 07-1054)
Reports on Conservation Programs (Government Accountability Office)
Other Federal Resources
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Publications
Is Your Farm "EQIPed" for Conservation? A Farmers' Guide to
Understanding the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (FLAG, 2007)
Building Better Rural Places: Federal Programs for Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry, and Community
Development (USDA, ATTRA, NCAT, et al., 2005)
U.S. Agri-Environmental Programs and Their Potential Implications for Agricultural Trade
(Cooper, U. CA-Berkley, 2005)
Private Lands, Public Benefits (National Governor's Association Center for Best Practices, 2001)
Additional Resources
Conservation Programs Posts (United States Agricultural & Food Law and Policy Blog)
Agricultural and Food Policy: Conservation Program Government Resources (U. AR)
American Farmland Trust
History and Outlook for Farm Bill Conservation Programs
AgManager.Info, Ag Policy: Conservation Programs (KS State Res. & Ext.)
Ducks Unlimited
National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)
National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA)
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