Release No. 0502.96

                                      Tom Amontree (202) 720-4623
                                               TAMONTREE@usda.gov
                                      Dann Stuart  (202) 690-0474
                                                 Dstuart@usda.gov

THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE
  CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM

     WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 1996 -- Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman
today announced a major shift in USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
"The focus of the proposed CRP will be to conserve and improve our natural
resources,"  Glickman said.  "Through the proposed rule, the Department
intends to enroll land that will yield the highest environmental benefits, and
return to production less erodible land better suited for planting crops."

     USDA is issuing a proposed rule that would expand the types of land
covered by the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and target the most
environmentally sensitive acreage for enrollment.  Under the Conservation
Reserve Program, landowners who sign contracts agree to convert highly
erodible and other environmentally sensitive cropland to approved conservation
uses for 10 years.  In exchange, participating landowners and operators
receive annual rental payments and may receive cost-share assistance with
respect to the establishment of the conservation use.

     "The Clinton Administration intends to build upon the successes of the
CRP with continued emphasis on the enrollment of acreage which would notably
reduce soil erodibility, improve water quality, protect wildlife habitats,
encourage tree planting and achieve other significant conservation and
environmental benefits," said Glickman.  "Controlling soil erosion is still
the single largest priority of CRP because it not only protects our future
ability to produce abundant food, but is also  important in protecting and
improving the quality of our air and water."

     Provisions of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997, effectively
prohibit new extensions of expiring CRP contracts in the fiscal year beginning
October 1, 1996. USDA plans to hold the first sign-up for new contracts early
next year.  All landowners wanting to participate in the CRP, including those
with expiring contracts, must submit bids for their land and compete with
other bids.

     "The proposed rule ensures that the rates for CRP land are comparable to
local rental rates," said Glickman.  "Rental rates must be fair both to those
entering the program and to farmers and ranchers who must compete with CRP in
renting land."

     USDA has already implemented a continuous sign-up system which provides
additional incentive payments for people who enroll their environmentally
sensitive land or put their land into the highest environmental use possible,
such as by using it to grow filter strips, riparian buffers, and field wind
breaks.

     "To provide the broadest range of conservation benefits from CRP, we
propose to expand eligibility criteria to accept cropped wetlands," said
Glickman.  "Enrolling wetlands in the CRP benefits everyone by saving soil,
improving water quality and ensuring protection of some of our most important
wildlife habitat on private lands.  It provides producers an economically
viable option to properly manage their land and makes it easier to comply with
other wetland protection measures."

     "Some say that we must choose between modern production agriculture and
the environment.  The 10 year success and popularity of the CRP among
producers and the public prove otherwise," said Glickman.  "Production
agriculture and increased farm income are absolutely compatible with the
concerns we all share for a clean and healthful environment.  And this
Administration is a proven friend to both the farmer and the environment."

     Glickman said the CRP proposed rules are a big part of the Clinton
Administration's effort to strengthen "locally-led conservation assistance" to
landowners.  While the proposed rules establish the basic policy goals and
broad criteria for the CRP, it is the producers, conservation districts,
county committees, local NRCS and FSA employees and the state conservation
leadership who will ultimately be the most influential in enrolling priority
land.

     Glickman added that the CRP rules were created together with the other
conservation programs to maximize environmental benefits for every dollar
spent as well as serve landowners simply and efficiently.  These benefits will
become more apparent very soon once the rules for the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP) are announced with other conservation rules to
follow shortly.  To date, the Department has announced rules for the Wetlands
Reserve Program as well as the Wetlands and Highly Erodible Land Programs,
also known as Swampbuster and Sodbuster, respectively.

     Between October 14-18, 1996, listening forums will be conducted in all
fifty states to provide as many people as possible the opportunity to comment
on the proposed rule.  Written comments on the proposed rule should be
submitted to: Cheryl Zavodny, Farm Service Agency (FSA), CEPD, P.O. Box 2415,
Stop 0513, Washington, D.C. 20050-0513.  All comments must be received within
45 days of the date the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register to
be assured of consideration.

                                        #