New USDA Website Features Conservation Initiative to Strengthen Rural
  Economies
                                                           
                                       Release No.  0062.00
                                                           
                                Susan McAvoy (202) 720-4623
                                      susan.mcavoy@usda.gov
                                  Hank Wyman (202) 720-5974
                                        hank.wyman@usda.gov
  
  NEW USDA WEB SITE FEATURES CONSERVATION INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN RURAL
  ECONOMIES
  
       WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2000--The U.S. Department of Agriculture has
  launched a new web site to provide farmers and ranchers with information
  on USDA's proposed Conservation Security Program that was announced on
  February 2, 2000.  Information on how farmers and ranchers could benefit
  from the $1.3 billion proposal is now available at
  http://www.nrcs.usda.gov.
  
       "The President, the Vice President and I strongly believe that we
  must look at land as a valuable commodity instead of as a tool that can
  be replaced," Secretary Glickman said.  "This Conservation Initiative,
  which is a key part of the overall Farm Safety Net  package, will build
  upon and strengthen stewardship by those who make their living from the
  land without threatening their livelihood in the process."  
  
       The proposal, totaling nearly $1.3 billion in FY 2001 mandatory
  funding, would:
  
                      Fund a new Conservation Security Program at $600 million in
            FY 2001 and 2002
                      Increase the Environmental Quality Incentives Program by
            $125 million per year
                      Increase the Wetlands Reserve Program to enroll 250,000
            acres per year
                      Increase the Conservation Reserve Program to 40 million
            cumulative acres
                      Increase bonuses for "Continuous sign-ups" under the
            Conservation Reserve Program by $100 to $125 million per
            year, FY 2000 to 2002
                      Increase the Farmland Protection Program to $65 million per
            year
                      Increase the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program to $50
            million per year
                      Provide the necessary USDA technical assistance to implement
            these programs
  
  The proposal is an outgrowth of discussions at five regional
  forums on private land conservation held last fall, culminating in the
  USDA National Summit on Private Land Conservation held on December 7,
  1999.  At the summit, Secretary Glickman called for a renewed national
  commitment to preserving private land.  
  
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