FARM BILL PROGRAMS

Farm Bill programs provide significant opportunities and it is up to each individual, with assistance from local Conservation District and USDA employees, to determine how these programs can benefit their operation.  Below are some brief descriptions of Farm Bill Programs and other programs in conjunction with Farm Bill Programs.  Please contact the Clare Conservation District for more information.  
 

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program provides financial assistance to landowners for improving their conservation methods on agricultural lands. The program offers assistance for a wide variety of conservation measures on
all types of agricultural land including row crops, orchards, pastures,
forage crops and managed forest land. Program payments may be provided for up to three years to encourage producers to carry out management practices they may not otherwise use without the financial assistance. 
Learn more

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) encourages agricultural and forestry producers to maintain existing conservation activities and adopt additional ones on their operations.  Learn more

Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP).
The Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program provides matching funds to help purchase development rights to keep productive farm and ranch land in agricultural uses. FRPP funds go to existing farmland preservation programs that use the matching funds to purchase development rights from landowners. The program’s goal is to preserve farmland that is at risk of being converted
to non-agricultural uses.  Learn more

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
The Conservation Stewardship Program is a voluntary conservation program that encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by undertaking additional conservation activities and improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities. CStP payments compensate producers for adopting new conservation measures and improving and maintaining their existing ones. Learn more

Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP).
The Grassland Reserve Program is a voluntary program that helps landowners and operators restore and protect grassland, including rangeland, pastureland, shrubland, and certain other lands, while maintaining the areas for grazing. GRP contracts and easements prohibit the production of crops, other than grasses and hay, that require breaking the soil surface except for appropriate land management activities included in a grassland conservation plan.
Learn more

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). 
The Wetlands Reserve Program is a voluntary program that allows landowners to restore former wetlands that were converted to farmland. Through WRP, NRCS will provide financial assistance to a landowner to restore wetlands on their property. Landowners also have the option of enrolling their restored wetlands into a 10-year, 30-year, or permanent-easement. Learn more 


State Acres for Wildlife (SAFE). 
Owners and operators of certain cropland in designated geographical areas may enroll eligible land in a new Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CR) conservation practice titled State Acres For wildlife Enhancement (SAFE), also known as CP38.  Learn more.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 
 
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). NRCS has signed an interagency agreement with EPA for approximately $34 million to fund GLRI conservation
work in priority watersheds within Great Lakes states. The purpose of the agreement is to provide funding to NRCS to implement priority programs, projects, and
activities to protect, restore and maintain the Great Lakes ecosystem, as identified in the GLRI Action Plan.