2008 NRCS Farm Bill Conservation Programs

Updated July 29, 2009

The conservation provisions in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) will provide conservation opportunities for farmers and ranchers for years to come. The new provisions build on the conservation gains made by farmers and ranchers through the 1985, 1996 and 2002 Farm Bills. They simplify existing programs and create new programs to address high priority environmental goals.

Conservation programs under the 2008 Farm Bill are:

• Agricultural Management Assistance Program
• Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative
• Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative
• Conservation of Private Grazing Land Program
• Conservation Reserve Program  (Farm Service Agency)
• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
• Agricultural Water Enhancement Program  (EQIP)
• Conservation Innovation Grants (EQIP)
• Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
• Grassland Reserve Program
• Healthy Forest Reserve Program
• Small Watershed Rehabilitation Program
• Wetlands Reserve Program
• Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program
   

Highlights and Announcements

Public Comment for Conservation Practice Technical Assistance (Federal Register Notice, PDF) is open through August 11, 2009.

June 15, 2009 - The WRP amendment (PDF) is available, extending the public comment period until July 2, 2009.

Older Highlights and Announcements

 

2008 NRCS Farm Bill Documents and Additional Information

Conservation Program Documents

At-a-Glances are one-page overviews of 2008 NRCS Farm Bill conservation programs and related topics.

Fact Sheets are detailed documents about 2008 NRCS Farm Bill conservation programs.

Farm Bill Public Comments Links

Introduction to 2008 NRCS Conservation Programs Rules explains how rule-writing process works.

How to Submit Public Comments details how stakeholders and the general public can participate in the rule-making process.

Notices NRCS publishes in the Federal Register for public comment.

Proposed Rules  NRCS publishes in the Federal Register for public comment.

Interim Final Rules NRCS publishes in the Federal Register for public comment.

Public comments submitted to NRCS about the 2008 Farm Bill.

 

Additional Information

Network Effects Diagrams demonstrate the effects of installing conservation practices.

Grants.gov is the source to find and apply for federal government grants, including requests for proposals for some 2008 farm Bill programs.

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