Hearing To Review The Usda Administration Of Conservation Program Contracts

Hearing to review the USDA administration of conservation program contracts : hearing before the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research of the Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, first session, March 25, 2009.

Agricultural conservation has been a public policy issue for more than 60 years. Congress has repeatedly taken action on the issue through water and soil legislation, often as part of omnibus farm bills. The USDA¿s conservation efforts have centered on implementing these conservation programs through working land conservation practices, retiring land from production or estab. conservation easements, and providing technical assistance. The climate change debate and use of ecosystem services markets has brought conservation to the forefront of discussion on the role of agriculture in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Also, the effect of ethanol production on natural resources and changes in land use is an ongoing concern in the area of biofuels policy.