“ Farmland Protection in the 2012 Farm Bill September 7, 2012

2012 Farm Bill Timeline Super Committee  Recommendations considered: Oct Senate (S. 3240)  Committee passage: April 26  Floor passage: June 21 House (H.R. 6083)  Committee passage: July 12

Current 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 Program  Merges three easement programs: FRPP, GRP and WRP  Two options Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) Wetland Easements (WE)  Funding flexibility within states

ALE: 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 Land  Retains FRPP criteria  Refines definition of grasslands  Specifies“nonindustrial private” forest land

ALE: 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: 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 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: 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 Funds Program/ Option SenateHouse 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% through FY 2016; no less than 50% in FY 2017 $1.58 billion over 10 years

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 Trust