USDA releases $1.5 billion for voluntary conservation programs

WASHINGTON – Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey today announced the release of nearly $1.5 billion in funding for conservation programs on working lands this fiscal year.  The distribution of funds to states makes conservation programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service operational.

“These funds demonstrate the Bush Administration’s commitment to working lands and to maintaining high environmental stewardship in communities across the nation,” Rey said. “The Department of Agriculture remains committed to providing the conservation tools and resources to ensure that the land remains both healthy and productive.”

With financial and technical assistance from NRCS, farmers, ranchers, and other landowners will continue to address resource concerns on agricultural working lands, promote environmental quality, address challenges in water quality and quantity, protect prime farmland and grazing land, and protect valuable wetland ecosystems and wildlife habitat on private lands.

The FY 2004 allocations to states include $1.2 billion in financial assistance and $305 million for technical assistance for NRCS Farm Bill programs and other activities.  At least $30 million of the technical assistance funds will be used for technical service providers. 

“This funding will provide positive applications of sound conservation on the ground – at the local level – on America’s privately-owned farms and ranches,” Rey said.

Now that these funds have been allocated, NRCS state offices will begin writing contracts with farmers and ranchers nationwide.  These contracts will help ease the existing backlog in these popular programs improving soil, water, air, and at-risk habitat on working lands.

Information on conservation programs is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002/products.html.  Landowners who want specific information regarding program participation should contact their local USDA Service Center or NRCS office, located at http://offices.usda.gov or in the telephone book under Federal Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture.