USDA seeks farmers' view on conservation program
Date: 12-Feb-03
Country: USA
Part of the 2002 farm subsidy law, the Conservation Security Program was hailed as a way to funnel "green" payments to growers, but has since faced a difficult birth. Some lawmakers have tried to limit it to a one-state pilot program this year rather than a nationwide program.
"Comments gathered during the 30-day comment period will help us develop a proposed rule," said Bruce Knight, head of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The USDA expects to publish the notice in the Federal Register soon, which would kick off the public comment period, after which a proposed rule would be drawn up.
Backers say the program would pay farmers and ranchers for adoption of beneficial conservation practices, with payment rates increasing as more practices are applied to a larger portion of an operator's land.
As part of its fiscal 2004 budget, the Bush administration this month proposed limiting the program to $2 billion over the next decade.
Environmentalists have criticized Bush's proposal, saying the caps would limit an innovative program. They said the budget would not enroll as much land in the Wetlands Reserve as allowed by law - 178,000 acres instead of the 250,000 acres possible.
