One thing I learned at the Western SAWG meeting was that they worked their little tails off to get the Conservation money in the Farm Bill. It was passed by the Democratically controlled Congress. Now the Republican Congress is trying not to fund it. There is a comment period now which everyone could respond to, whether or not they qualify for the program, so that the program will remain open for those souls who DO qualify. "Comments on the advanced notice will be taken into consideration as USDA prepares the final version of the Proposed Rule for CSP."
This is being sponsored by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) There are a number of programs--Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), , the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), Forestry Incentives Program (FIP), Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), the Conservation Security Program (CSP) (The law makes CSP an entitlement program with no specific budget cap--all who are eligible and develop and implement approved conservation plans may receive CSP payments. Check with the Land Stewardship Project <www.landstewardshipproject.org>) There's a Value-Added Agricultural Product Market Development Grants program and a Direct Marketing program. Check <www.agMRC.org> I have 4 inches of paper on this and it's quite hard to understand. We were told that they were trying to nullify CSP by not funding technical aid, but that we should get as many people as possible to inquire about it to keep it open. Hope this helps. I do not have any particular insight on this myself. You're going to have to do your own research. Best, Merla
