NRCS

1810 Princeton Road, Hamilton, Ohio, 45011
(513) 887-3720

John Williams, District Conservationist

Jeff Barnes, Soil Conservationist

The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 is landmark legislation for conservation funding and for focusing on environmental issues. The conservation provisions will assist farmers and ranchers in meeting environmental challenges on their land. This legislation simplifies existing programs and creates new programs to address high priority environmental and production goals. The 2002 Farm Bill enhances the long-term quality of our environmental and conservation of our natural resources.

New Eligibility Requirement: The landowner’s three-year average of the adjusted gross income cannot exceed $2.5 million. This applies to ALL Farm Bill programs.

Continuous Conservation Reserve Program – Sign-up 25: This program is for landowners with cropland planted to commodity crops. Eligibility requires the land to have been cropped four of the past six years. Cost share pays approximately 50% of establishment costs for such practices as: grassed waterways; vegetative filter strips; water control structures; shallow water wetlands; and riparian forest buffers. Rental payments (based on soil types) for land taken out of production are provided for 10 to 15 years. Additional cost share of 40% could be obtained through Practice Incentive Payments (PIP) and Signing Incentive Payments (SIP).

EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program): Provides total resource management system planning on the whole farm. A wide variety of conservation practices are available for cost share, including: rotational grazing systems; waste management systems; alternative watering; heavy use areas; waterways; livestock exclusionary fencing; and pasture planting. Cost share rates are 75% for installation of practices, and some incentive payments are also available. 90% cost share rates are also available for Limited Resource Farmers and New Farmers. Contract periods are from one to 10 years. There is a continuous sign-up period for EQIP; applications are ranked and funded once per year on a funds availability basis.

CRP (Conservation Reserve Program): Provides rental payments to producers who plant sensitive lands (such as Highly Erodible Land) to long-term cover. Cover options include trees; cool season grasses; and warm season grasses. Cost share for establishing conservation cover is 50%. The Farm Service Agency will announce the general CRP sign-up in early spring 2003. More information will be available at that time.

WRP (Wetland Reserve Program): This program provides for wetland/wildlife habitat enhancement. Financial assistance is available for restoration practices, such as: grade stabilization structures; riparian forest buffers; tree establishment; warm season grass establishment; and sediment filtering basins. WRP works through 10-year, 30-year and permanent easements with landowners. Contact NRCS for land eligibility requirements. There is a continuous sign-up period for WRP; applications are ranked and funded once per year, statewide, on a funds availability basis.

WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program): Uses five to15 year cost share agreements to protect and restore wetland and wildlife habitats. Emphasis is placed on warm-season grassland habitat and wetland habitat creation. Landowners may choose to bid-down their cost share rate to improve chances of funding. There is a continuous sign-up period for WHIP; applications are ranked and funded once per year, statewide, n a funds availability basis.

CSP (Conservation Security Program): This new program provides payments to producers who have practiced good stewardship on their agricultural lands and additionally provides incentives for those who want to do more. CSP has three levels of funding, based on current levels of conservation treatment. Tier I contracts are limited to five years, with the lowest funding levels. While Tiers II and III contracts range from five to 10 years, as determined by the producer. The Tier III finding level is the highest, with the expectation of an implemented total Resource Management System. Cost share rates of 75% are available for installing conservation practices that would advance the property to the next Tier. The sign-up period for this program is anticipated to be October 2003.

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) have moved quickly to provide up-to-date information on the Farm Bill on their websites:

For more information, contact John Williams, District Conservationist, at 513-887-3720.