WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/AG/N/USA/91 
24 October 2012 
 (12-5796) 
Committee on Agriculture Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION  
 
 
The following submission, dated 22 October 2012, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the United States of America .  The notification concerns new or modified domestic 
support measures exem pt from reduction ( Table DS:2 ). 
  G/AG/N/USA/91 
Page 2  
 
  Table DS:2 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  United States  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement: 
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
 
(1) Full title of measure:   Voluntary Public Access and Ha bitat Incentive Program (VPA–HIP) 
 (2) Domestic legislation reference:   The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, 
P.L. 110-246, 18 June 2008 
 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria, i.e., those in:   Provisions are 
consistent with criteria in Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture, paragraph 12. 
 
 The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat In centive Program (VPA-HIP) is a competitive 
grants programme administered by the US Depa rtment of Agriculture.  The primary objective 
of the VPA-HIP is to encourage owners and oper ators of privately-held farm, ranch and forest 
land to voluntarily make that land available for access by the public for wildlife-dependent 
recreation, including hunting or fishing, under programmes implemented by state or tribal 
governments. 
  Only states and tribal governments are eligible  for VPA-HIP.  The funding provided by the 
VPA-HIP will help states and tribal govern ments greatly increase access and recreational 
experiences.  Grant recipients may use the fundi ng to provide higher re ntal payments, provide 
technical and conservation services to landow ners and increase acreage enrolled for public 
access.  Grants are awarded through a competitiv e grant process.  Grants can be for up to 
three years. 
 
 Priority is given to proposals that use th e grant money in a public access programme to 
address these objectives: 
 
 Maximize participation by land owners; 
 Ensure that land enrolled in the progr amme has appropriate wildlife habitat; 
 Provide incentives to strengthen wildlife ha bitat improvement efforts on Conservation 
Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) land; 
 Supplement funding and services from other federal, state, tribal government or private 
resources that is provided in the form of cash or in-kind services;  and 
 Provide information to the public ab out the location of public access land. 
 (4) Cost of measure:   Under the 2008 Farm Act, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), to 
the maximum extent practicable, makes $50 million of CCC funds available under VPA–HIP through the 2012 fiscal year (ending 30 Sept ember 2012).  This is not, however, an 
entitlement programme, and it is possible that not all of the funds will be expended should 
there not be sufficient desirable applications offered. 
 (5) Date of entry into effect:   The 2008 Farm Act came into e ffect 18 June 2008.  The regulation 
establishing the VPA-HIP became  effective on 8 July 2010. 
 
(6) Period of application:   1 October 2008 – 30 September 2012. 
 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):   None.  G/AG/N/USA/91 
 Page 3 
 
 
  Table DS:2 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  United States  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
 
(1) Full title of measure:   Conservation Loan Program 
 (2) Domestic legislation reference:   The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, 
P.L. 110-246, 18 June 2008 
 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria, i.e., those in:   Provisions are 
consistent with criteria in Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture, paragraph 12. 
  The US Department of Agriculture's (USD A) Farm Service Agency (FSA) makes and 
guarantees loans to promote conservation practi ces on farms and ranches that help protect 
natural resources throughout the United States.  The goal of the Conservation Loan (CL) 
Program is to provide access to credit for farmers who need and want to implement conservation measures on their land but need funding to implement these practices.  Goals of conservation measures include reducing soil eros ion, improving water quality, and promoting 
sustainable and organic agricultural practices. 
 
 Applicants must have a conservation plan  approved by USDA's Natural Resources and 
Conservation Service.  CL funds can be used to implement a conservation practice, such as: 
 
 installation of conservation structures; 
 establishment of forest cover; 
 installation of water conservation measures; 
 establishment or improvement of permanent pastures; 
 transitioning to organic production; 
 manure management, including manure digestion systems; and 
 adaptation of other emerging or existing conservation practices, techniques or 
technologies. 
 
(4) Cost of measure:   The programme provides for direct loans and loan guarantees.  There is no 
fixed budgetary outlay associated with the programme.  The cost of the programme is measured as an interest rate subsidy. 
 (5) Date of entry into effect:   The programme was authorized by the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008.  An interim regulati on was published on 3 September 2010.  A final 
regulation became effective 18 May 2012. 
 
(6) Period of application:   1 October 2008 – 30 September 2012.  Loan terms can exceed 
beyond the period of application.  Guaranteed CLs may be scheduled over a repayment period 
not to exceed 30 years. 
 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):   None. 
  
__________