USDA FUNDS NEW PROGRAMS PROVIDING ADDITIONAL CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS AND RANCHERS

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2001-Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced that $30 million is available through two new programs providing additional conservation assistance to the nation's landowners.

"Farmers and ranchers can receive financial assistance to voluntarily address threats to soil, water, and related natural resources," said Veneman. "These programs also help with water management and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operations."

The two programs-Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) and Soil and Water Conservation Assistance (SWCA)-are part of a continuing effort to provide agricultural producers with conservation assistance.

Through AMA, producers can construct or improve water management structures or irrigation structures; plant trees for windbreaks or to improve water quality; and mitigate risk through production diversification or resource conservation practices, including soil erosion control, integrated pest management, or transition to organic farming.

AMA is available in 15 states where participation in the Federal Crop Insurance Program is historically low. They are: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

SWCA will help landowners comply with federal and state environmental laws and make beneficial, cost-effective changes to cropping systems, grazing management, nutrient management, and irrigation.

SWCA is available nationwide in areas that are not part of designated priority areas for Environmental Quality Incentives Program or Wetlands Reserve Program, or national priority areas for the Conservation Reserve Program.

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service has leadership for SWCA and the conservation provisions of AMA. To be eligible, applicants must own or control the land and agree to implement specific eligible conservation practices. The federal share will be 75 percent of the cost of an eligible practice.

Under AMA, the Agricultural Marketing Service is responsible for an organic certification program and the Risk Management Agency is responsible for mitigation of financial risk through an insurance cost-share program.

Additional information on SWCA, AMA, and other conservation programs is available at: http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/PROGRAMS/COD/codindex.htm

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