NEWS

United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
9173 W. Barnes Dr., Suite C
Boise, Idaho 83709
 
For more information:
Joyce Swartzendruber 378-5704

NRCS RECEIVES FUNDING FOR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

BOISE, Sept. 12, 2002—The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Idaho has received $450,000 for the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) and $2 million for the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). These funds will allow NRCS to fully implement these programs by Sept. 30 as authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill.

NRCS solicited proposals for FPP projects through the Federal Register earlier this year with a deadline of July 15. Idaho received one project proposal from the Trust for Public Lands to keep agricultural lands in production in Gooding County.

Richard Sims, NRCS state conservationist, said his agency will now enter into a cooperative agreement with the Trust and obligate money for the project. The Trust will work with the landowner, process the easement acquisition, and hold, manage and enforce the easement. The Federal share of the easement acquisition is 50 percent of the appraised fair market value.

Sims said WRP funds will be obligated to a backlog of landowners who have already submitted WRP applications to their local NRCS office, covering about 1,600 acres. The tentatively accepted landowners will be notified that they must sign an intent to continue.

WRP is offered on a continuous sign-up basis. NRCS encourages interested landowners to file applications at their local NRCS or conservation district office at any time. Additional program funds will be available in fiscal year 2003, which starts October 1.

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