The new paradigm of land use needs a new framework for action. Buried in the contentious debate over land use and property rights are some evolving answers. As in the early stages of any major conflict, the solutions are not yet well refined. The ability of government to intervene will be limited. Mechanisms for sharing the cost of stewardship of our natural resources between the private land owner and the public at large must be developed.
Private landowners have an inherent interest in land stewardship.
AssumingCongress follows through with its commitments, as commodity programs are phased out over the next 6 years, a comprehensive, well balanced set of conservation programs built on the principle of shared responsibility will be phased in. The program authorizes the agriculture secretary to purchase conservation easements to protect farmland by matching state funding. Although a modest program it represents the first significant step in providing federal assistance to local communities for farmland protection. CRP pays farmers to take highly erodible land out of production. The 1996 Farm Bill reauthorizes CRP with a cap of 36.4 million acres.