Release No. 0045.98
                                                               
Remarks
                                
                               OF
                     SECRETARY DAN GLICKMAN
                 CRP 16TH SIGN-UP ANNOUNCEMENT
                OLYMPIA, WA  -- JANUARY 29, 1998

     As many of you know, this Administration pushed very hard in
the 1996 Farm Bill to reinvigorate the Conservation Reserve Program
to make it more than just an acreage set-aside program, but a
program that's true to its name -- one that gives farmers the
resources they need to do what farmers want to do -- which is
conserve resources while feeding America and the world. Farmers make
their living from the land. They as much as anyone understand the
importance of preventing soil erosion, protecting wildlife habitat,
and preserving the health of our rivers and streams. As you will see
in the results of this sign-up, farmers are stepping up to the plate
in a big way and making a very real contribution to a sustainable
future. 

     Last February was our first sign-up under the new system. We
were a bit rushed because of the lateness of the Farm Bill, but our
folks at the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources
Conservation Service -- along with all our partners in the
conservation districts, state and local government and private
groups -- did a great job. They also learned a lot, and spent the
time in between sign-ups involved in a massive outreach and public
information campaign. They've been out in the countryside talking to
farmers, answering questions and offering advice on how farmers
could offer the most environmentally beneficial bid possible. 

     As a result, this was a highly competitive sign-up. There were
9.5 million acres submitted by farmers. Today, we are accepting
about 5.9 million acres. This is the right number in terms of
capturing the greatest environmental benefits while leaving ample
room for other critical aspects of this program, like the continuous
sign-up which allows farmers and ranchers -- at any time -- to
enroll parcels of their land that are dedicated to high-priority
practices, such as buffer strips and riparian buffers that protect
our waterways and the wildlife that depend on them. We're also
leaving room for states to participate in the Conservation Reserve
Enhancement Program. We hope that both of these special CRP programs
can help the efforts here in Washington to address the salmon
problem.

     As you can see from your handouts, taxpayers got more
environmental bang for their buck than  ever before. Costs per acre
will be a little higher than in the 15th sign-up, but still about
$4.50 below what the old program would have paid -- saving taxpayers
more than a quarter of a billion dollars over the life of these
contracts. It was worth paying a little more to get higher-rent land
that yields greater environmental benefits. In short, we recognized
that you get what you pay for. The acreage we accepted will allow
for the restoration of more than 300,000 acres of wetlands and
protective upland areas; 57,000 acres of rare and declining habitat;
150,000 acres of trees and three million acres in high priority
conservation areas.
                                
     Washington state is a tremendous example of what this sign-up
is going to give America. I've heard a lot from Senator Murray about
the environmental sensitivity of the land here. She asked me to come
out and get a first-hand look and talk to farmers. So last summer, I
went to Pasco and learned about the wind erosion problem caused by
Washington's volcanic soils. As a result, we reworked the
environmental benefits formula to better recognize the importance of
these and other particularly sensitive soils to our air quality.
That made a big difference for Washington. I'm pleased to announce
today that 82 percent of the land offered in this sign-up from
Washington  will enter the conservation reserve.

     In his State of the Union speech, President Clinton reaffirmed
this Administration's commitment to leaving a cleaner, healthier,
more productive and sustainable planet for our children. The new CRP
is a shining example of how we achieve a sensible balance between
the needs of our economy today and our world tomorrow. I want to
thank the farmers and ranchers of Washington and across the country
for making this sign-up such a tremendous success.

 Thank you.
                                
                               #

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