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Farmland Protection Farmland Protection in the in the
2012 Farm Bill2012 Farm Bill
September 7, 2012
2012 Farm Bill Timeline2012 Farm Bill Timeline
Super Committee Recommendations considered: Oct. 2011
Senate (S. 3240) Committee passage: April 26 Floor passage: June 21
House (H.R. 6083) Committee passage: July 12
Current Conservation ProposalsCurrent Conservation Proposals
Cut more than $6 billion from CBO baseline• Senate: 10%, cuts $6.4 billion over 10 years• House: 9.5%, cuts $6.1 billion over 10 years
Consolidate programs
Cap CRP at 25 million acres
CSP enrollment slowed
EQIP continues, WHIP subsumed
Ag Conservation Easement ProgramAg Conservation Easement Program
Merges three easement programs: FRPP, GRP and WRP
Two options• Agricultural Land Easements (ALE)• Wetland Easements (WE)
Funding flexibility within states
ALE: DefinitionsALE: Definitions
Agricultural land easements • Protect natural resources and the agricultural nature
of the land
• Promote agricultural viability for future generations (Senate version)
• Permit landowners to continue agricultural production and related uses. House version makes subject to approval by Secretary
ALE: Eligible LandALE: Eligible Land
Retains FRPP criteria
Refines definition of grasslands
Specifies“nonindustrial private” forest land
ALE: Cost-Share AssistanceALE: Cost-Share Assistance
Provides cost-share to entities for purchase of easements or other interests in land
Federal share: up to 50% of appraised value Entity share: equal to amount invested by Secretary,
can include donations, 50% of amount paid by Secretary in cash
Up to 75% for grasslands of “special environmental significance”
ALE: ProcessALE: Process
Appraisal methods specified but unclear who is responsible
Evaluation and ranking emphasize:• Protecting agricultural uses and related conservation
values• Protecting areas devoted to agricultural use
Certification process remains the same
ALE: Terms and ConditionsALE: Terms and Conditions
Retains FRPP provisions
Senate version requires that easement be permanent or the maximum extent allowed
Subjects the land to an ALE plan
Right of enforcement for Secretary if terms are not enforced by easement holder
ALE: PriorityALE: Priority
Secretary may prioritize land enrolled in CRP due to expire in one year that is either:
• Grassland that would benefit from protection • Significant wetland area likely to return to
production
Could divert funds to states with high CRP enrollment
Funding and Allocation of FundsFunding and Allocation of Funds
Program/Option Senate House
ACEP $2.2 billion through FY 2017
$250 million in FY 2017
$2.216 billion through FY 2017
$266 million in FY 2017
ALE No less than 40% through FY 2017
$1.38 billion over 10 years
No less than 40% throughFY 2016; no less than 50% in FY 2017
$1.58 billion over 10 years
Timing Timing
Floor vote in House more likely after election
Conference to reconcile differences between bills
After December 31 new Congress and less money
Sequestration
American Farmland TrustAmerican Farmland Trustwww.farmland.orgwww.farmland.org
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