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    Resource Conservation Title of the 2002 Farm Bill:A Comparison of New Law with Bills Passed by the

    House and Senate, and Prior Law

    Summary

    President Bush signed the new farm bill, titled the Farm Security and RuralInvestment Act of 2002, on May 13, 2002 (P.L. 107-171). Most of the agriculturalconservation programs are in Title II. This report compares the Title II provisions ofP.L. 107-171 with the conservation titles in the bills that passed both Chambers, andwith prior law (primarily the 1996 Federal Agricultural Improvement and ReformAct), in two tables. The first table presents the major provisions. The second tablecompares funding levels for each program, by year. The tables only include theprograms and provisions that were enacted in Title II; conservation provisions inother farm bill titles, or those that were in the conservation title of one of the bills buteither were dropped in conference or moved elsewhere in the bill are listed in theIntroduction.

    The conservation title reauthorizes many major conservation programs andauthorizes new programs, mostly through FY2007. For existing programs, theprovisions make many policy adjustments, and increase funding or raise enrollmentceilings. The new programs enacted in the Title provide additional conservationassistance for purposes or in locations that policy makers believe were not beingadequately served. The largest of the new programs is the Conservation SecurityProgram.

    The new law greatly increases total conservation budget authority above currentlevels, and funds more of the conservation effort as mandatory spending through theCommodity Credit Corporation. Funding for most programs will increase from year-to-year, and will increase several-fold for some programs, such as the EnvironmentalQuality Incentives Program and the Farmland Protection Program. TheCongressional Budget Office issued a baseline (for mandatory spending only) inApril 2001 that was used by policy makers to calculate future spending patterns inthis legislation. It determined that the baseline (that is, reauthorization of allprograms with no changes in policy, and no new programs) for conservationprograms was $11.6 billion over the next 6 years. The new law will increasemandatory spending for conservation programs by $9.2 billion over the next 6 yearsto a total of $20.8 billion, according to the CBO.

    Farm bill conferees had to resolve many differences between the conservationtitles of the two bills The House bill primarily reauthorized existing programs

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    Resource Conservation Title of the 2002 FarmBill: Comparison of New Law with Bills Passed by

    the House and Senate, and Prior Law

    IntroductionResource conservation programs were first enacted in the 1930s to reduce the

    effects of soil erosion on crop production. They then were expanded in the 1940sand 1950s to help landowners manage water resources and control floods. Theapproach to conservation that developed with these earliest programs, based onvoluntary participation, changed little until 1985. Participants were attracted by theavailability of a combination of financial, technical and educational assistance, and

    results from related research.

    Starting with the 1985 farm bill, Congress rapidly expanded conservationprograms beyond erosion control and water management, and beyond the goal ofimproving crop production. Programs enacted in the 1985, 1990, and 1996 farm billsprotect and restore wetlands and wildlife habitat, and recognize the need to improveair and water quality, for example. The 1985 provisions also increased producerinterest by requiring that crop producers who wish to receive federal farm program

    subsidies meet certain erosion control and wetland protection requirements.

    Since the 1996 law was enacted, new issues have emerged, including: the rolethat agriculture might play in producing energy from biomass and in sequesteringcarbon; protection and restoration of grasslands; reduction of non point waterpollution caused by large confined animal feeding operations; and additionalattention to other off-farm impacts. The new farm bill addresses some of theseissues as it expands the breadth and the magnitude of the resource conservation

    effort, and as new conservation tools are added, such as multi-year agreements tomaintain conservation on lands in production through the Conservation SecurityProgram.

    The expanded conservation effort is reflected in increasing funding. In 1985,all conservation activities at USDA received a total of just over $1 billion (and allf di di i d d d h l i i ) h

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    The new farm bill will increase mandatory spending by a total of $9.2 billion over 6years, to a total of $20.8 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office(CBO). This averages out to an additional $1.5 billion each year, but the increases

    will gradually grow, and the amounts spent will be largest for most programs in thelast year.

    Under the 1996 farm bill, numerous programs were scheduled to expire at theend of FY2002. During several days of hearings in 2001, both agriculturecommittees gathered ideas for a new farm bill as they considered how to extendexisting programs beyond FY2002. Farm groups generally suggested increasingfunding for existing programs and increasing compatibility between conservation

    activities and farm operations. Other interest groups, while supporting some of thefarmer proposals, recommended more substantial changes, including new programsand major shifts in policy that would increase environmental benefits. Demand toparticipate in most programs has greatly exceeded available financial and technicalresources in recent years, creating a major challenge that conservation supporters saidjustified higher authorization levels.

    The remainder of this report is two tables. Table 1 lists resource conservation

    provisions enacted in Title II of the 2002 farm bill in the first column, and includesthe section number of the legislation. The second and third columns summarize thecomparable provisions in the farm bills that passed each Chamber. The final columnpresents prior law or policy, and includes the section in law where it was placed.Table entries note where 2002 farm bill provisions move a program to a differentsection of law. Funding information in this table is scattered throughout; Table 2pulls all the funding information together in one place.

    Table 1 does not include any of the provisions that were dropped in conference,or moved to another title in the finally-enacted farm bill. (For more information onthe provisions that were dropped, see CRS Report, RL31255, titled ResourceConservation Title: Comparison of Current Law with Farm Bills Passed by the

    House and Senate, and issued February 28, 2002.) Some of the provisions passedby the Senate may have disappeared as free-standing programs, only to reappear asactivities within other programs. Dropped provisions from the House-passed billinclude:

    ! a new Farmland Stewardship Program to more precisely tailor and targetconservation programs, on a watershed basis where possible; and

    ! repeal of numerous programs (none of which are currently beingimplemented), including the Environmental Easement Program, theConservation Farm Option, and the National Natural Resources ConservationFoundation

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    ! a new Watershed Risk Reduction Program to purchase floodplain easements;! a new Water Conservation Program to permit eligible states to purchase or

    lease water rights as part of a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program,

    and to provide cost-sharing assistance in the same eligible states to increaseirrigation efficiency, convert production to less water-intensive crops, andacquire water rights;

    ! new organic agriculture provisions that would establish a new research trustfund and a National Organic Research Endowment Institute to develop andimplement a plan for research on organic products using the trust fund; and

    ! new provisions on mediation services when an adverse decision on aconservation program is made.

    Both tables identify only provisions that are in Title II of the 2002 farm bill.Some provisions in other titles, including commodities, forestry, energy, ruraldevelopment, and miscellaneous that may be considered to be conservation topics,are not included in this comparison. They include:

    ! requiring producers who receive direct or counter-cyclical payments to bemeet conservation and wetland compliance requirements (1105(a) in theCommodity Title);

    ! requiring producers who receive nonrecourse marketing loans to meetconservation and wetland compliance provisions (1201, in the commodityTitle);

    ! prohibiting making conservation and commodity payments to individuals orentitles with annual adjusted gross incomes greater than $2.5 million inFY2003 through FY2007 (1604, in the Commodity Title);

    ! providing relief in commodity and conservation programs for producers whoact in good faith (1613, in the Commodity Title; the conservation portion had

    been in the conservation title of the Senate-passed version)! replacing the Forestry Incentive Program, administered by NRCS, which

    provided cost-sharing assistance on small private nonindustrial forest lands,with a new Forest Land Enhancement Program, to be administered by the U.S.Forest Service (8001 and 8002, in the Forestry Title);

    ! establishing a Cranberry Acreage Conservation Reserve to protect wetlandsassociated with cranberry production (10608 of the Miscellaneous Title; ithad been in the conservation title of the Senate-passed farm bill);

    ! granting authority to the Secretary to provide financial and technical assistanceto the Chino Dairy Preserve Project (10803 of the Miscellaneous Title); and

    ! requiring a review of natural resource (and other) programs operating on tribaland trust lands, with a report to Congress within 1 year of enactment (10910of the Miscellaneous Title).

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    To summarize these CBO 2001 baseline estimates, total conservation fundingfor mandatory programs will amount to $20.8 billion over the next 6 years, anincrease of $9.2 billion. This increase over baseline is somewhat closer to the

    estimate of the additional cost of the House-passed bill of $6.788 billion throughFY2006 and $15.787 billion through FY2011, then for the Senate-passed bill, whichwould have raised spending by $11.776 billion through FY2006. The conservationprogram increases are a significant portion of the $73.5 billion increase in budgetauthority allowed by the FY2001 budget agreement for all spending in programsunder the jurisdiction of the agriculture committees. While using the more recentMarch, 2002 baseline would have had a major effect on estimates of overallagriculture spending, increasing the total from $73.5 billion to $82.8 billion, total

    conservation spending was forecast to be only $500 million higher, or $21.3 billion.

    For several programs, participation is limited by acres permitted to be enrolled,rather than a cap on funding levels. For these programs, CBO must estimate both theaverage cost per acre and the rate at which land would be enrolled. CBO hasdeveloped the following factors for making cost estimates for these acreage-basedprograms:

    ! For the CRP, $50 per acre annually for regular enrollment, and $100 per acre

    for the continuous enrollment option and the Conservation ReserveEnhancement Program (CREP);

    ! For the proposed Grasslands Reserve Program, $15 to $20 per acre annually;and

    ! For the WRP, $1000 per acre.

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    2002 Farm Bill Farm Bill Passed by House Farm Bill Passed by Senate Prior Law4. Duration of Contract. Allowsproducers to extend contracts forhardwood trees, shelter belts, windbreaks, or wildlife corridors for up to atotal of 15 years, allows the Sec. toextend contracts for hardwood trees ofany length for up to 5 additional years,and allows producers to extend contractsexpiring in 2002 for 1 additional year.[2101]

    No provisions. Allows the Sec. to extend contractson hardwood forests for up to 15years, and limits annual payments to50% of the original contract amount.New contracts can be from 10 to 30years in length. [212(d)]

    Allows CRP contracts for some landdevoted to hardwood trees, shelterbelts, wind breaks, or wildlifecorridors to be longer than the 10 to15 years allowed for other contracts.[1231(e)(2) of the 1985 FSA]

    5. Conservation Priority Areas.Retains prior law in 1231(f).

    Allows land enrolled under thissubchapter to be eligible to reenrollin the CRP. [212(c)]

    Gives priority to areas wheredesignation would lead to the mostrapid completion of projects.[212(b)]

    Requires the Sec. to establish, at therequest of a state, prioritywatersheds in specified and otherareas where enrollment wouldmaximize water quality and habitatbenefits. Areas must be

    redesignated at least once every 5years. [1231(f) of the 1985 FSA]

    6. Enrollment Subcategories.Expands the pilot wetland program to allstates, with some exceptions (wetlandsadjacent to larger perennial streams areineligible), and limits enrollment to 1million acres of wetlands and associated

    buffers in total and to 100,000 acres inany state. Eligible areas must have beencropped 3 of the preceding 10 years.Enrolled wetland areas must be smallerthan 10 acres, with up to 5 acres eligiblefor payments. These acres are not tocount against the 39.2 million acresceiling. [2101]

    Expands the pilot program to allstates and limits enrollment in anystate to 150,000 acres. [215]

    Deletes pilot, reauthorizes theprogram through FY2006, andincreases the maximum size ofeligible sites from 5 acres to 10acres (but only up to 5 acres areeligible for payments). [212(e)]

    Authorizes a 500,000 acre pilotprogram, with enrollment limited to150,000 acres in any state for smallwetlands(less than 5 acres) andassociated buffers in 6 specifiedupper Midwestern states. [A new

    1231(h), enacted in Title XI of theFY2001 Agriculture Appropriations

    (P.L. 106-387]

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    2002 Farm Bill Farm Bill Passed by House Farm Bill Passed by Senate Prior LawFY2007) Adds new pilot programsfor drinking water suppliers, andprovides incentives to reducenutrient loads in the ChesapeakeBay watershed using EQIP funds as1240J. ($10 million in FY2003,$15 million in FY2004, $20 millionin FY2005, $25 million in FY2006,

    and $0 in FY2007) [213(a)]

    10. Funding . Allocates 60% offunding each year to practices related tolivestock production. [2301]Reauthorizes mandatory funding fromthe CCC, including funding for technicalassistance, at: $400 million in FY2002;$700 million in FY2003; $1,000 million

    in FY2004; $1,200 million in FY2005and FY2006; and $1,300 million inFY2007. [2701]Authorizes funding for the Ground andSurface Water Conservation Program at$25 million in FY2002, $45 million inFY2003, and $60 million annually inFY2004-FY2007, with $50 million to beallocated in the Klamath River basin assoon as possible to carry out waterconservation measures. [2301]

    Reauthorizes funding from the CCCthrough FY2011. [241]Provides: $0.2 billion in FY2001;$1.025 billion in FY2002-3; $1.2billion in FY2004-6; $1.4 billion inFY2007-9; and $1.5 billion inFY2010-11. [242]

    Reauthorizes the livestock provisionthrough FY2011. [243]

    Provides: $0.5 billion in FY2002;$1.3 billion in FY2003; $1.45billion in FY2004-5; $1.5 billion inFY2006; and $0.85 billion inFY2007. Provides funding fortechnical assistance from the CCC.[241(b)]

    Reauthorizes funding from the CCCthrough FY2006, and includesfunding for technical assistance insupport of this program. [211(c)]

    Provides $200 million annuallythrough FY2002 from the CCC forEQIP, with 50% of the total going topractices related to livestockproduction. [1241 of the 1985 FSAas amended by several annual

    agricultural appropriations laws]

    E. Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

    1. Program Administration. MovesWHIP to 1240N of the 1985 FSA[2502]

    No provisions. Moves WHIP to 1240M of the1985 FSA. [217(g)],

    No provisions.

    2. Period of Authorization.

    Reauthorizes mandatory funding from

    Reauthorizes funding from the CCC

    at: $25 million in FY2002; $30

    Reauthorizes funding from the CCC

    at: $50 million in FY2002; $225

    Provides a total of $50 million from

    the CCC (from CRP funding) by the

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    2002 Farm Bill Farm Bill Passed by House Farm Bill Passed by Senate Prior Lawthe CCC, including funding for technicalassistance, at: $15 million in FY2002;$30 million in FY2003; $60 million inFY2004; and $85 million annually inFY2005 through FY2007. [2701)]

    million in FY2003-4; $35 million inFY2005-6; $40 million in FY2007;$45 million in FY2008-9; and $50million in FY2010-11. [ 252]

    million in FY2003; $275 million inFY2004; $325 million in FY2005;$355 million in FY2006; and $50million in FY2007. All funding isto remain available until spent.Provides funding for technicalassistance from the CCC. [217(g)]

    end of FY2002. [387(c) of the 1996FAIR]

    3. Distribution of Effort. RequiresSec. to address regional wildlife issuesof concern [2502]

    No provisions. No provisions. No provisions.

    4. Pilot Program. Allows the Sec. touse up to 15% of the funds to provideadditional payments to landowners whoenroll land for at least 15 years toprotect and restore plant and animalhabitat. [2502]

    No provisions. Allows the Sec. to use up to 15% of the funds to enroll land for at least15 years to protect essential plantand animal habitat. [217(d)]

    No provisions.

    F. Farmland Protection Program (FPP)

    1. Program Administration. Movesthe FPP to 1238H-J of the 1985 FSAand requires that the program beadministered by NRCS [2503]Repeals 388 of the 1996 FAIR andamends 211 of the Agricultural RiskProtection Act of 2000 [2503]

    No provisions. Moves the FPP to 1238H-J of the1985 FSA and requires that theprogram be administered by NRCS[218(a)]Repeals 388 of the 1996 FAIR.[218(c)]

    No provisions.

    2. Funding Level. Reauthorizesmandatory funding from the CCC,including funding for technicalassistance, at: $50 million in FY2002;$100 million in FY2003; $125 millionin FY2004 and in FY2005; $100 millionin FY2006; and $97 million in FY2007.[2701]

    Provides up to $50 million annuallythrough FY2011 from the CCC. [253(b)]

    Reauthorizes funding from the CCCat: $150 million in FY2002; $250million in FY2003; $400 million inFY2004; $450 million in FY2005;$500 million in FY2006; and $100million in FY2007. Providesfunding for technical assistancefrom the CCC; limits the federal

    Provides up to a total of $35 millionfrom the CCC by FY2002. [388(c)of the 1996 FAIR]

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    2002 Farm Bill Farm Bill Passed by House Farm Bill Passed by Senate Prior Law

    each change were noted in the entriesfor each program, above.

    the 1985 FSA]; exempting CRP andWRP payments from any limitsunder the 1985 FSA, the 1990FACTA, and the 1949 AA[1234(f)(3) and 1237D(c)(3),respectively]; protecting the basehistory of land enrolled in the CRP[1236 of the 1985 FSA]. [261]

    Repeals the National NaturalResources Conservation Foundation[351-360 of the 1996 FAIR].[262]

    noted in the entries for eachprogram, above.

    H. New Programs

    1. Conservation Security Program

    (CSP).A. Program Purpose. Authorizes a CSP

    in 1238 1238C of the 1985 FSA toenroll land and assist producers topromote resource conservation on landsproducing agricultural commodities,sometimes called working lands fromFY2003 through FY2007. Specifies 19acceptable conservation practices,ranging from nutrient and endangered

    species management to contour farmingand strip cropping, and allows the Sec.to approve other practices. [2001]

    No provisions. A. Program Purpose. Authorizes aCSP in 1238 1238C of the 1985FSA to enroll land and assist

    producers to promote resourceconservation on lands producingagricultural commodities,sometimes called working landsfrom FY2003 through FY2007.Specifies 11 acceptable conservationpractices and allows the Sec. toapprove other practices. [201]

    No provisions.

    B. Definitions. Defines 15 terms.Eight terms are dropped from the Senate-passed bill, and 2 are added; enhancedpayment and non-degradationstandard [2001]

    No provisions. Defines 21 terms. [201] No provisions.

    C. Eligibility. Producers must enter No provisions. C. Eligibility. Producers must enter No provisions.

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    2002 Farm Bill Farm Bill Passed by House Farm Bill Passed by Senate Prior Law

    into a conservation security contract toimplement an approved conservationsecurity plan at 1 of 3 levels, or tiers, ofconservation on private agricultural landthat has been in crop production at least4 of the preceding 6 years, except forland enrolled in the CRP, WRP. or newGrasslands Reserve. [2001]

    into a conservation security contractto implement an approvedconservation security plan at 1 of 3levels, or tiers, of conservation onprivate agricultural land that hasbeen in crop production at least 3 ofthe preceding 10 years, except forland enrolled in the CRP, WRP. or

    new Grasslands Reserve. [201]

    D. Participation. Producers must havean approved plan for eligible lands.Producers can receive an advancepayment when they enroll, basepayments, and bonus payments forcertain practices (that address state andlocal priorities). [2001]

    No provisions Producers must have an approvedplan for eligible lands. Producerscan receive an advance paymentwhen they enroll, base payments,and bonus payments for certainpractices (that address state andlocal priorities). [201]

    No provisions.

    E. Participation Options. Three tiers ofparticipation are specified withacceptable levels of practices, andminimum requirements for each will bedetermine at the state level andapproved by the Sec. Tier 1 contractswill be 5 years; Tier II and III contractswill be 5 to 10 years, and contracts can

    be renewed. Total annual payments arelimited to $20,000 for Tier I, $35,000for Tier II, and $45,000 for Tier III.[2001]

    No provisions. Three tiers of participation arespecified with acceptable levels ofpractices, and minimumrequirements for each will bedetermine at the state level andapproved by the Sec. Tier 1contracts will be 5 years; Tier II andIII contracts will be 5 to 10 years,

    and contracts can be renewed. Totalannual payments are limited to$20,000 for Tier I, $35,000 for TierII, and $50,000 for Tier III. [201]

    No provisions.

    F. Termination and Renewal.Participants can terminate contracts andretain payments if they were in fullcompliance when they terminated, andthe termination would not defeat the

    No provisions. Participants can terminate contractsand retain payments if they were infull compliance when theyterminated, and the terminationwould not defeat the contract

    No provisions.

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    contract purposes. Violations caused bynatural disasters are not consideredviolations. Producers can renewcontracts for 5 to 10 years; holders oftier I contracts must agree to applyadditional conservation practices in theland already under contract or adopt newones on another portion of their

    operation. [2001]

    purposes. Violations caused bynatural disasters are not consideredviolations. Producers can renewcontracts for 5 to 10 years; holdersof tier I contracts must agree toapply additional conservationpractices in the land already undercontract or adopt new ones on

    another portion of their operation.[201]

    G. Duties. Producers agree toimplement the plan, to provide recordsto the Sec. on implementation, and toavoid inconsistent actions. The Sec.agrees payments that rise with each tier,and are limited based on complex

    standards spelled out in the legislation.Funds are not available for animal wastestorage and treatment facilities, or wastetransfer devices, or for buying andmaintaining equipment that is notintegral to a land-based practice.[2001]

    No provisions. Producers agree to implement theplan, to provide records to the Sec.on implementation, and to avoidinconsistent actions. The Sec.agrees payments that rise with eachtier, and are limited based on

    complex standards spelled out in thelegislation. The Sec. can approved1 state pilot program. [201]

    No provisions.

    H. Regulations. Regulations are to be

    issued within 270 days ofenactment.[2001]

    No provisions. Regulations and other implementing

    actions can start on the date ofenactment. [206]

    No provisions.

    I. Funding. Authorizes mandatoryfunding from the CCC, includingfunding for technical assistance, at anunspecified level, from FY2002 throughFY2007. [2701]The amount available for technicalassistance is limited to 15% of the total

    No provisions. Amends 1241 to authorizemandatory funding from the CCC,including funding for technicalassistance, at an unspecified level,from FY2002 through FY2006.[202]

    No provisions.

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    3. Partnerships and Cooperation.Adds a new 1243 to the 1985 FSA toallow special projects as recommendedby a state conservationist, which canrespond to meeting the requirements ofthree specified federal environmentallaws or addressing watersheds or otherareas with significant environmental

    problems. Allows the Sec. to provideincentives. Participants agree to a planto adjust implementation ofconservation programs to increaseenvironmental benefits. Funding uses5% of mandatory funding forconservation programs, with any fundsnot obligated by April 1 to go to otherconservation activities that year. [2003]

    No provisions. Adds a new 1242(f) to the 1985FSA to allow special projects asrecommended by a stateconservationist, which can respondto meeting the requirements of threespecified federal environmentallaws or addressing watersheds orother areas with significant

    environmental problems.Participants agree to a plan to adjustimplementation of conservationprograms to increase environmentalbenefits. Funding uses 5% of EQIPfunds annually, with any unusedfunds to go to other EQIP activitiesthat year. [203]

    No provisions.

    4. Great Lakes Basin Soil Erosion

    and Sediment Control Program.Authorizes appropriations of $5 millionannually from FY2002 through FY2007to implement a new soil erosion andsediment control program for the GreatLakes basin in 1240P of the 1985 FSA.

    [2502]

    No provisions. Authorizes $5 million annuallythrough FY2006 to implement anew soil erosion and sedimentcontrol program for the Great Lakesbasin in 1240O of the 1985 FSA.[217(a)]

    No provisions.

    5. Grassroots Source WaterProtection Program. Authorizesappropriations of $5 million annuallyfrom FY2002 through FY2007 to usetechnical assistance capabilities of ruralwater associations that operate wellheador groundwater protection programs in

    No provisions. Authorizes appropriations of $5million annually through FY2006 touse technical assistance capabilitiesof rural water associations thatoperate wellhead or groundwaterprotection program in 1240Q of the1985 FSA. [217(a)]

    No provisions.

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    stewardship[2004(a)] entities to provide these services.Adds a new 1244(c) allowing theSec. to provide incentives to theseproducers(except socially-disadvantaged ones) to participate inconservation programs. [204]

    B. Privacy of Personal Information(Confidentiality). Adds a new 1244(b)to prohibit the Sec. (or any contractor tothe Sec.) from releasing personalinformation about individuals related toconservation programs, except inaggregate. Exceptions are specified.[2004(a)]Treatment of data collected using theNatural Resources Inventory to protect

    the identity of individuals is specified.[2004(b)]

    No provisions. Adds a new 1244(g) to prohibit theSec. from releasing personalinformation about individualsrelated to conservation programs,except in aggregate. [204]

    No provisions.

    C. Regional Equity of ConservationSpending. Requires the Sec. to givepriority to funding of specifiedmandatory conservation programs instates that have received less than $12million by April 1 each fiscal year(Spending for the CRP, WRP, and theConservation Security Program isexcluded from this calculation). [2701]

    No provisions. Requires that each state receive atleast $12 million annually fromFY2002 through FY2006, forconservation programs. Of the total,$5 million is to be used for EQIP,and $7 million is to be used forother conservation programs, withany portion not obligated by April1of the fiscal year to be reobligatedto other specified programs. [241]

    No provisions.

    9. Assessment of ConservationPrograms. Requires the Sec. todevelop a plan to better coordinate andconsolidate the implementation of

    No provisions. Requires the Sec. to develop a planto better coordinate and consolidatethe implementation of conservationprograms to insure funding of

    No provisions.

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    Farmland Protection Program (FPP).Mandatory funding, including funding fortechnical assistance, authorized at:$50 million in FY2002;$100 million in FY2003;$125 million in FY2004 and FY2005;$100 million in FY2006; and$97 million in FY2007.

    Acreage limits are deleted. Also authorizesa new Farm Viability Program, andappropriates necessary funds from FY2002through FY2007. (CBO estimates increasein budget authority of $597 million throughFY2007.) (2503)

    FPP mandatory funding authorized atno more than $50 million annually,and the upper and lower acreageenrollment limits are eliminated.(CBO estimates increase in budgetauthority of $250 million throughFY2006, and $500 million throughFY2011.)

    FPP mandatory funding authorized at:$150 million in FY2002;$250 million in FY2003;$400 million in FY2004;$450 million in FY2005;$500 million in FY2006; and$100 million in FY2007.Not more than $10 million annually goes to

    a new Market Viability Program, and theupper and lower acreage enrollment limitsare eliminated. (CBO estimates increase inbudget authority of $1.750 billion throughFY2006.)

    FPP authorized upper andlower acreage enrollmentlimits of 340,000 acres and170,000 acres, respectively,through FY2002, with totalmandatory funding of $35million. (16 U.S.C. 3830)(CBO estimates no additional

    spending through FY2007 inbaseline.)

    Resource Conservation and Development

    Program (RC&D) Authorized

    permanently to appropriate such funds asmay be necessary. (2504)

    RC&D is authorized permanently toappropriate such funds as may be

    necessary.

    RC&D is authorized permanently toappropriate such funds as may be necessary.

    RC&D authorized suchdiscretionary funds as may

    be necessary throughFY2002. (16 U.S.C. 3453-3461)

    Conservation Corridor Demonstration

    Project. Authorizes appropriations ofsuch funds as are necessary for FY2002through FY2007 for projects on theDelmarva Peninsula. (2601)

    No provisions. Authorizes, from mandatory fundingprovided for EQIP, $10 million in FY2003;$15 million in FY2004; $20 million inFY2005; $25 million in FY2006; and $0 inFY2007 for a nutrient reduction pilotprogram in the Chesapeake Bay drainage(and also funds a drinking water supplierspilot program).

    New program noprovisions.

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    Small Watershed RehabilitationProgram. Authorizes mandatory fundingat: $45 million in FY2003;$50 million in FY2004;$55 million in FY2005;$60 million in FY2006;$65 million in FY2007; and$0 in FY2008.

    Also authorizes appropriated funding at:$45 million in FY2003;$55 million in FY2004;$65 million in FY2005$75 million in FY2006; and$85 million in FY2007. (CBO estimatesincrease in budget authority of $275million through FY2007.) (2505)

    Authorizes appropriations of $15million annually in discretionaryspending for FY2002 and eachsucceeding year.

    No provisions. Authorized appropriatedfunding at:$10 million in FY2002;$15 million in FY2003;$25 million in FY2004; and$35 million in FY2005.(16 U.S.C. 1012)

    Conservation Security Program (CSP)CSP mandatory funding authorized atsuch funds as are necessary starting inFY2003. (CBO estimates increase inbudget authority of $369 million throughFY2007.) (2001)

    No provisions. CSP mandatory funding authorized at suchfunds as are necessary. (CBO estimatesincrease in budget authority of $387 millionthrough FY2006.)

    New program noprovisions.

    Partnerships and Cooperation Use up to5% of the mandatory funding forconservation programs for special projectswhere enhanced technical and financialassistance is provided; any available fundsnot obligated by April 1 of the fiscal yearmay be reallocated to another programreceiving mandatory funding. (2003)

    No provisions. May use up to 5% of the mandatory fundingfor EQIP for special projects whereenhanced technical and financial assistanceis provided; any available funds notobligated by April 1 of the fiscal year maybe reallocated to EQIP.

    New program noprovisions.

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    Great Lakes Basin Program for SoilErosion and Sediment ControlAuthorizes appropriations of $5 millionannually from FY2002 through FY2007.(2502)

    No provisions. Authorizes appropriations of $5 millionannually from FY2002 through FY2006.

    New program Noprovisions.

    Conservation of Private Grazing Lands.Authorizes appropriations of $60 millionannually from FY2002 through FY2007.(2502)

    No provisions. Authorizes appropriations of $60 millionannually from FY2002 through FY2006.

    Authorized appropriations of$20 million in FY1996; $40million in FY1997; and $60million in each subsequentfiscal year. (16 U.S.C.

    2005b)Grassroots Source Water Protection

    Program. Authorizes appropriations of $5million annually from FY2002 throughFY2007. (2502)

    No provisions. Authorizes appropriations of $5 millionannually from FY2002 through FY2006.

    New program noprovisions.

    Agricultural Management Assistance.Permanently authorizes mandatory funding,and authorizes an additional $10 million

    annually in FY2003 through FY2007.(CBO estimates increase in budgetauthority of $50 million through FY2007.)(2501)

    No provisions. No provisions. Permanently authorized $10million annually to go to 10to 15 states that are

    underserved by cropinsurance. (7 U.S.C. 524)(CBO estimates no additionalspending through FY2007 inbaseline.)

    Desert Terminal Lakes (CBO estimatesincrease in budget authority of $200million in FY2002.) (2507)

    No provisions. No provisions. New program noprovisions.