Farm Protection Program: Status and Current Issues (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Jan. 5, 2007 |
| Report Number |
RS22565 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Renee Johnson, Resources, Science, and Industry Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The Farm Protection Program (FPP) is a voluntary federal program that providesfunding to buy conservation easements from farmers and ranchers in an effort to limitconversion of farmland to nonagricultural uses. FPP provides matching funds to stateand local governments and private organizations working with established farm andranch land protection programs, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA). Since 1996, the program has protected more than 449,000 acres throughoutthe United States. Authority for FPP expires September 30, 2007. Although demand toparticipate in FPP continues to grow, exceeding available funding, there are concernsabout how the program has been implemented. Among these concerns are land uselimitations and the federal government's "contingent right" on land under FPP-fundedeasements. During the 109th Congress, several bills were introduced to amend the FPPstatute and to raise program funding, but legislation was not enacted. Similar legislationmay be considered in the 110th Congress and in the anticipated 2007 farm bill debate.
