Soil and Water Conservation: An Overview

Publication Date: July 2007

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Environment

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Abstract:

Soil and water conservation topics will be prominent in the 110th Congress, especially as it considers policy options for the next farm bill. Conservation proposals introduced late in the 109th Congress (H.R. 6064 and H.R. 6193) are expected to be reintroduced, and many interest groups continue to offer policy recommendations ranging from general concepts to specific legislative language. On January 31, 2007, the Administration released its farm bill recommendations.

The current farm bill, enacted in 2002 and generally expiring at the end of FY2007, increased spending and expanded the scope of the conservation effort by reauthorizing and amending many U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation programs and enacting new ones. An example of increased spending is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (from $200 million annually before FY2002 to $1.3 billion in FY2007); and an example of a raised enrollment ceiling is the Wetlands Reserve Program (from 1,075,000 acres to 2,275,000 acres). Several new programs also expanded the scope of conservation. For example, the Conservation Security Program (CSP) provides payments to producers who address natural resource concerns as part of their farm operation on so-called "working lands." Other new programs were created to conserve grasslands, address surface and ground water conservation needs, permit approved third parties to provide conservation assistance, and encourage use of innovative conservation technologies.

Implementation controversies have arisen since 2002. One of these, how to fully fund technical assistance in support of the mandatory conservation programs, was resolved with legislation enacted in 2004 (P.L. 108-498). A second, implementing the CSP, continues as Congress has repeatedly limited funding and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, the implementing agency, has responded by limiting program eligibility to specified watersheds, instead of making it available nationally.

Congress continues to monitor conservation topics. Oversight hearings were held in earlier congresses, and are scheduled under new leadership in both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. Topics addressed at recent conservation hearings include endangered species, the Conservation Reserve Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and the overall status of the conservation effort. Conservation also was discussed during several field hearings held by the House Agriculture Committee to gather farm bill input.

Congressional appropriators influence conservation topics annually. The Administration has submitted its FY2008 budget proposal, which will initiate this year's appropriations process. FY2007 funding is being provided under a continuing resolution, which Congress currently is working to extend through the fiscal year. Conservation funding under the FY2007 budget resolution is similar (with one notable exception) to actions in FY2006 on appropriations, when Congress agreed to make cuts in several mandatory programs, while rejecting cuts to discretionary programs that were proposed by the Administration.