USDA Action. Priority factors for farmland preservation are spelled out in the Request for Proposals (RFP) that was published in the Federal Register. They are used by most State and local government entities. 

Status: Fully implemented (code 1). 

USDA Action. The Office of General Counsel (OGC) provided a reading January 29, 1997. OGC advised USDA that when program eligibility criteria are met and the Federal investment is protected, a non-governmental entity may hold title to a conservation easement acquired, in part, with Federal funds through the FPP as long as certain conditions are met including NRCS approval.  

Since authorized funding levels were reached in 1998, new funding authority is being proposed in FY 2000. 

Status: Partially implemented (code 2).  NRE proposed legislative changes for FY 1999, FY 2000 and FY 2001 to include State, local, Tribal and other eligible non-governmental entities. 

The Agricultural Risk Protection Act of FY 2000 provided $10 million for conservation easements on farmlands. The $10 million allows for the participation of state, local, & Tribal governments as well as for non-governmental organizations.

USDA Action. The results of the 10 years of SARE research have been incorporated in a series of publications referred to as "Farming for Profit, Stewardship and Community." These include two-page "tip sheets" on ten topics of interest to small farmers that were prepared by CSREE's SARE program with widespread input from educators and farmers--e.g., soil improvement, marketing, pest management, farm planning. 

Ten thousand copies of tip sheets about the SARE research have been distributed to USDA field offices (e.g., Service Centers (FSA/NRCS/RD), Cooperative Extension, Risk Management Agency), nonprofit organizations, and farmers and ranchers.  They are also on the World Wide Web
(http://www.sare.org/tipsheet/index.htm),
and featured at conferences such as the National Small Farm Conference, the Small Farm Today trade show and the North Central SARE marketing conference. 

A series of ads--one of which is about the tip sheets and how to get them, both on the web and by mail--is underway in Small Farm Today magazine and may be expanded to other publications. 

Status: Partially implemented (code 2).

USDA Action. To identify places where small farms have a particularly high reliance on pesticide and nutrient use, staff of CSREES-ECS and the SARE program are working with ERS and NASS to examine the potential use of their surveys. After an evaluation of the different survey tools, they developed a strategy that would link the production information for a particular crop from one survey with economic data for another survey.  

Linking this information could potentially help separate use of pesticides and nutrients by size of farm based on gross sales. The issue still to be resolved is the geographic scale of resolution for determining the farms with a higher reliance of inputs. The scale may be too large to help in developing a targeted outreach strategy for sustainable agriculture information. 

Status: Partially implemented (code 2).

USDA Action.  No specific legislative actions have been taken. The Forest Service continues to monitor legislative activity as it relates to the Treaty. The Forest Service also will continue to administer permits under existing regulations for the protection of the environment and the individuals who hold livestock grazing permits. 

Status: Not implemented (code 4). Long term. The Forest Service will continue to monitor. 

USDA Action. An ERS Staff Report on "The Economic Importance of Grazing and Public Lands to Western Communities" is undergoing review and clearance within the Agency. 

Status: Fully implemented (code 1). The final report will be developed into an article for a Winter (1999-2000) issue of the ERS Agricultural Outlook magazine and/or as a special article for the ERS Dairy, Livestock and Poultry Report.

USDA Action. Current regulations and direction do not preclude the development of grassbanks. Allotments that are vacant and not under permit may be used as grassbanks on individual National Forests.  

When all other options have been utilized, including grassbanks on a temporary basis, a permit reduction may be the only reasonable means of complying with environmental laws and protecting the natural resources.  

Status: Not implemented (code 4). Long term. The Forest Service will continue to monitor. 

USDA Action. Current regulations and direction do not preclude the development of grassbanks. Allotments that are vacant and not under permit may be used as grassbanks on individual National Forests.  

When all other options have been utilized, including grassbanks on a temporary basis, a permit reduction may be the only reasonable means of complying with environmental laws and protecting the natural resources.  

Status: Not implemented (code 4). Long term. The Forest Service will continue to monitor. 

USDA Action. The Forest Service   continues to actively participate in CRM teams when they are activated within a state. The Food Service believes this is a successful process that is working well when used and will continue to participate in CRM team development. 

Status: Fully implemented (code 1).

A full-time, sustainable technical force should be create to provide ongoing research in the monitoring and management of public lands. 

USDA Action. Current law and regulations require that livestock grazing fees be returned to the U.S. Treasury for subsequent distribution to States and for livestock grazing improvements as authorized by law.  

The Food Service continues to use the best available science in its decision making process. New research is reviewed for applicability to livestock grazing management as it is published.  

The technical work force of the Forest Service continues to monitor and evaluate the use of rangelands. 

Status: Not implemented (code 4). Long term. The technical work force of the Forest Service continues to monitor and evaluate the use of rangelands. 

USDA Action. NRCS has exercised restraint in approving exceptions to the 1,000 animal-unit limitation in EQIP. No exceptions have been granted to date. In FY 2000 budget, additional EQIP funds are proposed to: 

1. boost the level of financial assistance available to operators of animal feeding operations; and 
2. to allow for an increase in financial assistance to small and limited resource farmers. 

USDA Action. An NRCS National Headquarters (NHQ) ESA committee has been appointed. The committee has begun revisions of the current NRCS guidance which supports the NRCS-ESA policy.  

This guidance modification will provide further clarification and direction for conducting formal and informal consultation procedures with US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.  

This process will enable NRCS field staff to be more responsive to the needs of landowners involved with endangered species and habitats.  

As a pilot project, NRCS in Texas is utilizing "Safe Harbor: assurances for private landowners. Texas procedures will be reviewed by the NHQ-ESA committee as a potential model for use by other State Technical Committees. This model will used for implementing incentives or assurances for small farm and ranch operators to comply with the ESA.  

Additional information briefs, training sessions, and discussions on this topic will be conducted at the National Fish and Wildlife Biologists Workshop in April 1999. 

A model strategy for streamlining consultations has been developed on a regional level by an interagency task force in New Mexico and Arizona. 

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). NRCS is actively involved in the policy revision process.

USDA Action. Seeking to train NRCS professionals and conduct an outreach campaign to encourage foresters and resource professionals to include potential commercial value in plans and to incorporate the forest land plan into the rest of the farm plan.  

Additional funding is required to fully implement recommendation and is linked to recommendations in Policy Goal 7. NRCS is implementing on a limited basis. 

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). State Foresters continue to schedule and provide training on a regular and routine basis. Funding remains an issue. 

USDA Action: No funding was requested for this program in the FY 2000 or FY 2001 Budgets.

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). For FY 2001,  $6.3 million was appropriated for this program.

USDA Action: USDA requested $28.8 million for this program in the FY 2000 Budget, and $29.4 million in the FY 2001 Budget.

Status: Fully implemented (Code 1). Congress appropriated $32.9 million for FY 2001.

In FY 2000, $29.4 million was available for this program..

USDA Action. USDA requested $10 million in the President's FY 2000 Budget to fund this program. 

Status: Unable to be implemented (code 3).  Congress did not appropriate funds for this program in FY 2001, FY 2000, or FY 1999. However, NRE will continue to seek funding for this program.