Other Conservation Programs
The rest of Title 2 discusses smaller conservation programs.
Conservation of Private Grazing Land Program
Purpose: Provides technical, educational, and related assistance to those who own private grazing lands. Projects can include better grazing land management; protecting soil from erosive wind and water; using more energy-efficient ways to produce food and fiber; conserving water; providing habitat for wildlife; sustaining forage and grazing plants; using plants to sequester greenhouse gases and increase soil organic matter; and using grazing lands as a source of biomass energy and raw materials for industrial products. This program is administered by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Funding: $60 million to be annually appropriated through FY 2018.
History: This program was created in the 1996 Farm Bill.
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Grassroots Source Water Protection Program
Purpose: To prevent pollution of surface and ground water used as the primary source of drinking water by rural residents. This is a joint project with the USDA's Farm Service Agency and the National Rural Water Association. Technicians with the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, as well as state and local FSA offices.
Funding: $20 million to be annually appropriated through FY 2018 and a mandatory one-time appropriation of $5 million to remain available until expended.
History: The program was created in the 2002 Farm Bill.
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Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program
(VPA-HIP)
Purpose: This is a competitive grants program that helps state governments and Indian tribes increase public access to private lands for wildlife-dependent recreation, such as hunting, fishing or hiking. This is commonly known as the "Open Fields" program. The program is administerd by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Funding: Mandatory funding of $40 million to be authorized annually though FY 2018.
History: VPA-HIP was created in the 2008 Farm Bill after successful lobbying by a coalition including Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. The program was previously administered by the USDA's Farm Service Agency, moving to the NRCS with the 2014 Farm Bill.
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Agriculture Conservation Experienced Service Program (ACES)
Purpose: Creates temporary paid assignments to individuals 55 and older that can provide technical services in support of the conservation-related programs of the USDA. The program is administered by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
History: This program was created in the 2008 Farm Bill as a means to pass on knowledge from more experienced workers to those newer to the work force.
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Small Watershed Rehabilitation Program
Purpose: To assist local communities with rehabilitating watershed dams. This program is administered by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Funding: Mandatory funding of $250 million in FY 2014 to remain available until expended, plus appropriations to be authorized through FY 2018.
History: The Grains Standards and Warehouse Improvement Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-472, Sec 313) authorized rehabilitating aging water resources structurs, with the 2002 Farm Bill creating this program.
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Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA)
Purpose: Provide conservation technical and financial assistance to producers wishing to construct or improve water management or irrigation structures; plant trees for windbreaks; or, in order to improve water quality and mitigate risk, diversify their operation and conservation practices including soil erosion control; integrated pest management; or transition to organic farming. This program works in conjuction with Federal Crop Insurance. This conservation aspect is administered by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Funding: TK
History: TK
Original Sponsor: TK
2013 Sponsor: TK
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