GLICKMAN INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED RULE FOR NEW CONSERVATION


                                            Release No. 0160.98

                                  
                                  Brad Fisher (202) 720-4024
                                  brad.fisher@usda.gov
                                   Roger Salazar (202) 720-4623
                                         roger.salazar@usda.gov

GLICKMAN INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED RULE FOR NEW CONSERVATION PILOT
PROGRAM 
 
    ABERDEEN,S.D. April 8,1998--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
invited the public to comment on a proposed rule for the creation of an
innovative new conservation pilot program.  The proposed rule was published
in the April 2, 1998, edition of the Federal Register.

     "The Conservation Farm Option pilot program will offer farmers
incentives and cost-share payments to explore new ways to address resource
problems in ways that will maximize benefits to the environment and keep
farms productive," said Glickman.

     "USDA programs have helped improve natural resources on America's
farms and we expect CFO to do the same," said Pearlie S. Reed, Chief of
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, which, with the Department's
Farm Service Agency, administers the pilot program.
    
    "The CFO pilot program will provide producers with opportunities to
address their resource needs through a single plan," added Reed.  To be
eligible for CFO, producers must implement a conservation plan that
addresses soil, water, wetlands, or wildlife conservation measures.
    
    The CFO pilot program is specifically for producers of wheat, feed
grains, cotton, and rice who have a production flexibility contract. 
Participation is based upon a 10-year contract between the Secretary of
Agriculture and the producer.
    
    The CFO pilot program was authorized under Section 335 of the Federal
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 and joins other USDA programs
that help improve the quality of natural resources in agricultural areas.
    
    This new pilot program may include innovative conservation measures
and other practices similar to those offered through the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program, the Wetland Reserve Program, and the
Conservation Reserve Program.

    In the near future, USDA will publish in the Federal Register a
request for proposals.  Included in the request will be background
information on the legislation, an overview of the program, a description of
available funding for fiscal year 1998, a list of the minimum requirements
of a proposal, USDA contact persons, a copy of the proposal submission form
with guidance for completing the form, and a summary scoring sheet.

    Any individual, organization, or entity eligible for CFO may submit a
proposal.  Proposals received for fiscal year 1998 will be rated by a USDA
interdepartmental team.  The team will make its selections from the highest
rated proposals.
    
    The deadline for comments is June 1, 1998.  They should be addressed
to Gary R. Nordstrom, Director, NRCS Conservation Operations Division, P.O.
Box 2890, Washington, D.C. 20013-2890, Attention: CFO. Comments may be faxed
on 202-720-1838. 

    This rule may also be accessed, and comments submitted, on the
Internet.  Users can access the NRCS homepage at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov. 
The proposed rule is located on menu for 1996 Farm Bill Conservation
Programs.
    
    USDA contacts for the proposed rule are, at NRCS, Daniel Smith, who
may be reached by telephone on 202-720-3524, by fax on 202-720-4265, or by
e-mail at dan.smith@usda.gov, Attention: CFO.  At FSA, the contact is Edward
Rall, who may be reached by telephone on 202-720-7795, by fax on 202-720-8261, or by e-mail at erall@wdc.fsa.usda.gov, Attention: CFO.
    
    Information about the CFO pilot program also is available from local
NRCS and FSA field offices.

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