Commodity Credit Corporation June 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) amends the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) regulations to update the terms and conditions of enrolling acreage in CRP and other eligibility requirements to implement certain provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The purpose of CRP is to cost-effectively assist producers in conserving and improving soil, water, wildlife, and other natural resources by converting environmentally-sensitive acreage from the production of agricultural commodities to a long-term vegetative cover.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) published in the Federal Register of January 15, 2009, an interim final rule with request for comment amending the program regulations for the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) to incorporate programmatic changes authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Act). The January 15, 2009 interim final rule changed the nature and scope of the agreement NRCS enters into with the landowner under a WRP easement in a manner which could interfere with the restoration efforts of some lands enrolled in the program. Since the change to the program was not necessitated by the 2008 Act, this amendment to the January 15, 2009 interim final rule revises these provisions to further the practical administration of the program consistent with the WRP statute. This amendment re-opens the public comment period for the interim final rule, as amended, for an additional 30 days.