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Washington NRCS Farm Bill Programs and Services
The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 includes programs to address environmental issues and provide funding for conservation efforts on private lands. The conservation provisions are designed to assist farmers and ranchers in meeting both environmental and economic goals, including healthier soil, cleaner water, increased wildlife habitat, more economically stable rural communities, and increased scenic beauty. The programs work through the implementation of conservation practices by landowners with the technical assistance and financial support of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Washington State Conservation Commission and local conservation districts.
Learn about the
Farm Bill Program Successes in Washington State.
| Conservation Security Program (CSP) |
A voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance for the conservation, protection, and improvement of soil, water, and related resources on Tribal and private lands. The program provides payments for producers who historically have practiced good stewardship on their agricultural lands and incentives for those who want to do more. The 2005 CSP program sign-up includes a renewable energy component in which eligible producers will receive compensation for converting to renewable energy fuels such as soy biodiesel and ethanol, for recycling 100 percent of on-farm lubricants, and for implementing energy production, including wind, solar, geothermal and methane production. |
| Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) |
A voluntary conservation program that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, farmers and ranchers may receive financial and technical help to install or implement structural and management conservation practices on eligible agricultural land. |
| Resource Conservation and Development Program (RC&D) |
The purpose of RC&D is to help rural areas to plan and implement activities to conserve natural resources while supporting economic development. Projects include those that create jobs, improve soil and reduce soil erosion, promote tourism and provide flood control. Authorized RC&D areas are locally sponsored areas designated by the Secretary of Agriculture for RC&D technical and financial assistance program funds. NRCS can provide grants for land conservation, water management, community development, and environmental needs in authorized RC&D areas.
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| Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) |
WHIP provides financial incentives to develop habitat for fish and wildlife on private lands. Participants agree to implement a wildlife habitat development plan and USDA agrees to provide cost-share assistance for the initial implementation of wildlife habitat development practices. |
| Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) |
WRP is a voluntary program to restore wetlands. Participating landowners can establish conservation easements in exchange for payment up to the agricultural value of the land and 100 percent of the restoration costs for restoring the wetlands. |
| Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) |
A voluntary program that helps landowners and operators restore and protect grassland, including rangeland, and pastureland, and certain other lands, while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. The program emphasizes support for grazing operations, plant and animal biodiversity, and grassland and land containing shrubs and forbs under the greatest threat of conversion. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) administer the program, in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service. Funding for the GRP comes from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).
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| Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) |
The program provides matching funds to State, Tribal, or local governments and nongovernmental organizations with existing farmland protection programs to purchase conservation easements or other interests in land. |
| Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) |
This program provides incentives to restore and improve salmon and steelhead habitat on private land. Under the program, landowners voluntarily remove land from production and grazing for 10 to 15 years and plant trees and shurbs to stabilize stream banks. In return, landowners receive annual rent, incentive and maintenance payments, and cost-share for installations. It is a joint partnership between the State of Washington and USDA, and is administered by the Washington State Conservation Commission and the Farm Services Agency (FSA). |
Watershed Program (PL-566) |
The Watershed Program works through local government sponsors to assist local participants in solving natural resource and related economic problems on a watershed basis. Projects include watershed protection, flood prevention, erosion and sediment control, water supply, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, wetlands creation and restoration, and public recreation in watersheds of 250,000 or fewer acres. Both technical and financial assistance are available. |
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