From: Debbie Neustadt

I have seen several emails on this today and last weekend at the
National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture meeting this was
mentioned. This is a case where the program was schedualed to run out
and action would be needed to keep it funded. This is what happens when
the theme of the day is "tax cut". In Iowa the demand for this program
was more than the money available.

The Administration has decided not to continue the Wetlands Reserve
Program
(WRP).

In its efforts to reduce cut the USDA budget and provide a larger tax
reduction, programs that are complete are not renewed (i.e., would need
reauthorization language in the budget to be continued).  See
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/usbudget/blueprint/bud16.html ,
"Completed and
Reformed Programs:."

The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) and Forestry Incentive
Program
also are in the group to be eliminated. The FY2002 budget "Blueprint"
only
includes the outline for the budget and total amounts allocated to each
department. The detailed budget showing how much each agency will be
allocated is not scheduled to be released until April 3 - after the tax
reduction bill has passed. Once the tax cut bill is passed, there will
not be
any "new" funds available to restore unbudgeted programs or fund new
ones
without taking money from some other program.

The final year of WRP enrollment is underway. The $164,000,000 available
for
enrollment of 140,000 acres into the WRP in FY 2001 has been allocated
to the
states. The 1,075,000 acre authorized cap for the program will be
reached
this year.  The current unfunded backlog of eligible project
applications
exceeds 570,000 acres on more than 3,000 separate farms and ranches
across
the nation. Although many Senators and Representatives recognize the
value of
WRP in restoring valuable wetland functions, taking much relatively
unproductive and flood prone land out of production, and in provided
needed
funds to help farm families, individuals and the leadership do not seem
to be
willing to insist on continued funding for the program.

For more information on WRP see http://wl.fb-net.org/

Terry

Terry Z. Riley
Director of Conservation
Wildlife Management Institute
1101 Fourteenth Street, NW, Suite 801
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 371-1808
FAX:  (202) 408-5059
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]

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