The Conservation Stewardship Program functions by encouraging stewardship on agricultural lands, cropland, grassland, pastureland, rangeland and non-industrial private forest land by providing financial assistance to producers who meet program requirements.

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (AECP) is to provide easements for the long-term restoration and protection of environmentally sensitive lands from being developed or converted to non-agricultural uses. The program focuses on conserving agricultural land as well as wet-lands and their related benefits. These two functions are evaluated separately, maintaining some of the distinction implied by having separate programs.

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program is new for 2014. RCPP serves to integrate regional and watershed level management of natural resources and conservation activities and to facilitate cooperation between state or local government, producer associations, and producers. Projects that the program focuses on include water quality and quantity, soil erosion, wild-life habitat, drought mitigation, flood control, and other regional priorities

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program whereby the U.S. Department of Agriculture provides technical and financial assistance to active farmers and ranchers to address natural resource concerns such as soil conservation, water quality and quantity, nutrient management, and fish and wildlife habitat. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is working with these landowners to maximize the environmental benefits...

Congress established the Farmland Protection Program (FPP) in the 1996 Farm Bill to limit nonagricultural uses of certain agricultural lands. The program was renamed the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP) for the 2002 Farm Bill, and changed back to the FPP in 2008. The objective of the Farmland Protection Program is to help farmers and ranchers keep their working agricultural land in agriculture. Producers voluntarily sell conservation...

The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary program that assists farmers and ranchers to maintain grasslands as grazing land and prevent conversion of grassland into other uses, such as cropping or urban development. The program focuses on supporting working grazing operations, protecting grassland, and enhancing biodiversity through provision of habitat. Normal haying and grazing activities are allowed under GRP. Producers must also restore...

The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, P.L. 110-246, was passed on June 18th 2008, over the veto of President George W. Bush. Despite protracted debate, the FCEA represents an evolutionary change in farm legislation relative to previous so called Farm Bills. The FCEA consists of fifteen titles: (1) commodity programs, (2) conservation, (3) trade, (4) nutrition, (5) credit, (6) rural development, (7) research and related matters, (8) forestry,...

A voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial support to help landowners with their wetland restoration efforts. The NRCS goal is to achieve the greatest wetland functions and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre enrolled in the program. This program offers landowners...