NEW USDA WEB SITE FEATURES CONSERVATION INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN RURAL ECONOMIES

COLUMBIA, SC, February 28, 2000—The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched a new web site to provide farmers and ranchers with information on USDA’s proposed Conservation Security Program that was announced on February 2, 2000. Information on how farmers and ranchers could benefit from the $1.3 billion proposal is now available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov.

"The President, the Vice President, and I strongly believe that we must look at land as a valuable commodity instead of a tool that can be replaced, " said Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman. "This Conservation Initiative, which is a key part of the overall Farm Safety Net package, will build upon and strengthen stewardship by those who make their living from the land without threatening their livelihood in the process."

The proposal, totaling nearly $1.3 billion in FY 2001 mandatory funding, would:

• Fund a new Conservation Security Program at $600 million in FY 2001 and 2002

• Increase the Environmental Quality Incentives Program by $125 million per year

• Increase the Wetlands Reserve Program to enroll 250,000 acres per year

• Increase the Conservation Reserve Program to 40 million cumulative acres

• Increase bonuses for "Continuous sign-ups" under the Conservation Reserve Program by $100 to $125 million per year, FY 2000 to 2002

• Increase the Farmland Protection Program to $65 million per year

• Increase the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program to $50 million per year

• Provide the necessary USDA technical assistance to implement these programs

 

The proposal is an outgrowth of discussions at five regional forums on private land conservation held last fall, culminating in the USDA National Summit on Private Land Conservation held on December 7, 1999. At the summit, Secretary Glickman called for a renewed national commitment to preserving private land.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Amy O. Maxwell  amy.maxwell@sc.usda.gov

(803) 765-5402