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Texas Agriculture Archive

September 20, 2002

Texas to receive $8 million
in Wetlands Reserve funds

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman has announced the availability of $323 million for the Farmland Protection Program (FPP) and the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. These funds will allow NRCS to fully implement these programs in fiscal year 2002 as authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill.

"These funds will help keep agricultural lands in production and they will help protect our country's valuable wetland ecosystems," Veneman said.

Through WRP, approximately $275 million—including $8,150,000 for Texas—will enable NRCS to enroll up to 250,000 acres into the program. Landowners who have already submitted WRP applications to the local NRCS office will be notified when funds are available for their projects. The goal of the program is to achieve the greatest wetland functions and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre enrolled in the program.

Through FPP, $48 million will allow USDA to enter into agreements with states, tribes, local governments and nonprofit organizations—such as land trusts and land resource conservation councils—to protect productive farmland through the purchase of conservation easements. USDA provides up to 50 percent of the appraised fair market value of the conservation easement. No FPP funds have been allocated to Texas.

The Bush administration remains committed to providing the tools and resources for environmental stewardship to ensure that the land remains both healthy and productive, an administration spokesperson said. The 2002 Farm Bill represents an unprecedented investment in conservation on America's private lands, nearly $13 billion over the next six years.

Detailed information on these programs is available on the Web at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002/products.html.