Conservation Incentives For Farmers and Wetlands
(Washington,
DC – October 3, 2008) A new package of conservation incentives will bring
much needed help to farmers’ efforts to restore America’s wetlands, according to
one of the country’s leading environmental advocacy groups.
The
United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced
the incentives earlier today for wetlands restorations under the Conservation
Reserve Program (CRP). Environmental Defense Fund experts are praising the plan,
which they say will provide dramatic environmental benefits.
“We
have been working for years to encourage incentives like these,” said Sara Hopper, Agricultural Policy
Director for Environmental Defense Fund. “We applaud today’s announcement by
FSA. There’s a lot of pressure to farm on marginal lands right now because of
record high commodity prices. These incentives will help conservation remain a
competitive financial option for private landowners. The new incentives will
also help more farmers and landowners restore wetlands, which filter polluted
water and provide important habitat for wildlife.”
The
incentives are designed to support restoration of wetlands, both in floodplains
and in other areas, and restoration of duck nesting habitat. The funding is also
aimed at restoring bottomland timber forests in the floodplains of some of
America’s major rivers and tributaries, which has been a particular priority for
Environmental Defense Fund.
“Planting
more bottomland hardwood trees on the banks of rivers will help protect the
health and safety of people across the Midwest and South,” said Terry Noto, a
conservation expert working with Environmental Defense Fund. “These wetland
forests improve the quality of our drinking water, provide floodwater storage,
and reduce the severity of flooding downstream. They provide vital habitat for
endangered species, migratory birds and game. Planting more trees will also help
us sequester more than one million tons of carbon. The new plan provides badly
needed incentives, and we think they’ll be worth every penny.”
The
specific incentives include:
- A
signing incentive payment of $100 per acre for enrolling in the program;
-
A
40 percent practice incentive payment, which -- combined with the current 50
percent cost-share rate -- provides as much as 90 percent of the cost of
restoring wetlands and planting vegetation;
-
A
20 percent bonus on current CRP soil rental rates.
“We’re
thrilled to see this plan go forward today,” said Hopper. “America has
lost so many of its native wetlands. This is a significant opportunity to
help farmers help the environment.”
October 7, 2008
Conservation Incentives For Farmers and Wetlands
(Washington,
DC – October 3, 2008) A new package of conservation incentives will bring
much needed help to farmers’ efforts to restore America’s wetlands, according to
one of the country’s leading environmental advocacy groups.
The
United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced
the incentives earlier today for wetlands restorations under the Conservation
Reserve Program (CRP). Environmental Defense Fund experts are praising the plan,
which they say will provide dramatic environmental benefits.
“We
have been working for years to encourage incentives like these,” said Sara Hopper, Agricultural Policy
Director for Environmental Defense Fund. “We applaud today’s announcement by
FSA. There’s a lot of pressure to farm on marginal lands right now because of
record high commodity prices. These incentives will help conservation remain a
competitive financial option for private landowners. The new incentives will
also help more farmers and landowners restore wetlands, which filter polluted
water and provide important habitat for wildlife.”
The
incentives are designed to support restoration of wetlands, both in floodplains
and in other areas, and restoration of duck nesting habitat. The funding is also
aimed at restoring bottomland timber forests in the floodplains of some of
America’s major rivers and tributaries, which has been a particular priority for
Environmental Defense Fund.
“Planting
more bottomland hardwood trees on the banks of rivers will help protect the
health and safety of people across the Midwest and South,” said Terry Noto, a
conservation expert working with Environmental Defense Fund. “These wetland
forests improve the quality of our drinking water, provide floodwater storage,
and reduce the severity of flooding downstream. They provide vital habitat for
endangered species, migratory birds and game. Planting more trees will also help
us sequester more than one million tons of carbon. The new plan provides badly
needed incentives, and we think they’ll be worth every penny.”
The
specific incentives include:
- A
signing incentive payment of $100 per acre for enrolling in the program;
-
A
40 percent practice incentive payment, which -- combined with the current 50
percent cost-share rate -- provides as much as 90 percent of the cost of
restoring wetlands and planting vegetation;
-
A
20 percent bonus on current CRP soil rental rates.
“We’re
thrilled to see this plan go forward today,” said Hopper. “America has
lost so many of its native wetlands. This is a significant opportunity to
help farmers help the environment.”