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USDA RELEASES $323 MILLION FOR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
<br />ATTACHMENT #4
<br />usDA NEWS RELEASE -'
<br />United States Department of Agriculture • Office of Communications • 1400 Independence Avenue. SW
<br />Washington, DC 20250.1300 - Voice: (202) 720.4623 • Email: oc, news 0usda.gov - Web: http: //%Y% w.usda,gov
<br />Release No. 0371.02
<br />Alisa Harrison (202) 720 -4623
<br />USDA RELEASES $323 MILLION FOR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
<br />WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2002 — Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced the
<br />availability of $323 million for the Fannland Protection Program (FPP) and the Wetlands Reserve
<br />Program (WRP) administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. These funds will allow
<br />NRCS to fully implement these programs in fiscal year 2002 as authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill.
<br />"These funds will help keep agricultural lands in production and they will help protect our
<br />country's valuable wetland ecosystems," Veneman said.
<br />Through FPP, $48 million will allow USDA to enter into agreements with states, tribes, local
<br />governments and nonprofit organizations —such as land trusts and land resource conservation
<br />councils —to protect productive farmland through the purchase of conservation easements. USDA
<br />provides up to 50 percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation easement.
<br />Through WRP, approximately $275 million will enable NRCS to enroll up to 250,000 acres into
<br />the program. Landowners who have already submitted WRP applications to the local NRCS office will
<br />be notified when funds are available for their projects. The goal of the program is to achieve the greatest
<br />wetland functions and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre enrolled in the
<br />program.
<br />The Bush administration remains committed to providing the tools and resources for
<br />environmental stewardship to ensure that the land remains both healthy and productive. The 2002 Farm
<br />Bill represents an unprecedented investment in conservation on America's private lands, nearly $13
<br />billion over the next six years.
<br />Detailed information on these and other conservation programs authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill
<br />is available on the Web at http: / /www.nres.usda. ov /programs /fanubill /2002 /products.html.
<br />Farmland Protection Program state -by -state funding list:
<br />State
<br />Funding
<br />State
<br />Funding
<br />State
<br />Funding
<br />Arizona
<br />1,681,200
<br />Kentucky
<br />2,052,700
<br />Ohio
<br />1,442,800
<br />California
<br />2,350,500
<br />Maine
<br />850,000
<br />Pennsylvania
<br />2,748,400
<br />Colorado
<br />1,959,700
<br />Maryland
<br />2,545,400
<br />Rhode Island
<br />1,328,600
<br />Connecticut
<br />1,967,600
<br />Massachusetts
<br />2,244,200
<br />South Carolina
<br />500,000
<br />Delaware
<br />1,836,500
<br />Michigan
<br />2,131,600
<br />Utah
<br />50,000
<br />Florida
<br />1,000,000
<br />Missouri
<br />411,100
<br />Vermont
<br />1,733,600
<br />Georgia
<br />1,380,300
<br />Montana
<br />1,229,200
<br />Virginia
<br />1,530,500
<br />Idaho
<br />450,000
<br />New Hampshire
<br />1,831,100
<br />Washington
<br />1,936,500
<br />http: / /www.usda.gov /news /releases /2002/09/0371.htm 09/09/2002
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