NEWS
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of Communications News Room 460-A
Washington, DC 20250-1300
Internet: News@usda.gov   Phone: 202-720-9035
World Wide Web Home Page: http://www.usda.gov

Release No. 0396.02

                               Alisa Harrison (202) 720-4623
                                 Eric Parsons (202) 720-7809

VENEMAN ANNOUNCES $57 MILLION CONSERVATION PROGRAM IN
                     MONTANA
Twenty-six Thousand Acres Targeted in Nine Counties

      WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2002 --- Agriculture Secretary
Ann M. Veneman today announced that the USDA and the state
of Montana, as part of the Conservation Reserve
Enhancement Program (CREP), will launch a $57 million
program to address water quality and wildlife habitats in
all or a portion of nine counties in Montana.

      "This program will help enhance conservation
practices and improve water quality," said Veneman.  "This
is an excellent public-private partnership that will
benefit agriculture and communities in Montana."

      These funds will help protect lakes and water
courses through the establishment of tree buffers, the
planting of native and other grasses, and the restoration
of wetlands.  Another aspect of the state's involvement in
the program will be to recognize the 200th anniversary of
Lewis and Clarks' historic 19th century trip west. 
Overall, the goal in Montana is to reduce the amount of
sediment reaching streams.

      The Montana CREP partnership targets 26,000 acres in
Montana located in the nine designated counties of Blaine,
Broadwater, Cascade, Chouteau, Gallatin, Fergus, Lewis and
Clark, Phillip and Madison.

      The total cost of the program is expected to reach
$57 million over 15 years.  Of that amount, $41 million
will come from the federal government and $16 million from
state and private organizations.

      The Bush administration is committed to providing
the tools and resources for environmental stewardship and
conservation of working lands to ensure that the land
remains both healthy and productive.  The Farm Security
and Rural Investment Act of 2002 represents an
unprecedented investment in conservation on America's
private lands, nearly $13 billion over the next six years.

      CREP uses state and federal resources to help solve
environmental problems.  The CREP combines an existing
USDA program, the Conservation Reserve Program, with state
programs to provide a framework for partnerships to meet
specific state and national environmental objectives. 
These programs provide for voluntary agreements with
farmers to convert cropland to native grasses, trees and
other vegetation in return for rental payments and other
incentives.

      Interested farmers and ranchers may contact their local
FSA offices for further information on eligibility
requirements and application procedures.  Additional
information is also available online at:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/crep.htm

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