| Enacted Legislation | Proposed Legislation | Commentary |

Enacted Legislation

2004

Florida Legislature approves bill amending Rural Lands Stewardship Program (section 163.3177(11)(d), Florida Statutes), making it a "specifically encouraged designation" on future land use maps for all counties.  With the success of this program in Florida, it now will be possible to begin introducing this resource-protection, sprawl-containing, innovative-development, market-driven program in other states.  For details, click here.

2003

Oregon Legislature approves "Conservation Incentives Bill."  Stewardship Agreement section mirrors "Farmland Stewardship Program" (see below)  with additional refinements.  Well thought-out!  For details, click here  

2002

1-10) The 2002 Farm Bill (H.R. 2646, which became Public Law 107-171 May 13,2002):

You may view the Farm Bill on THOMAS, the Library of Congress service that provides information on Congress:
Bill Summary or Full Text

The next 4 documents are in PDF format and require the Adobe Acrobat Reader (which you can download for free):

Short summary of the 2002 Farm Bill (PDF - 6 pages)

Comprehensive summary (PDF - 17 pages)

Statement of Managers narrative (PDF- 250 pages)

Statutory language for the 
"Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002"  (PDF - 421 pages)

Also, you may wish to view:

Excerpts from the 2002 Farm Bill:
 Farm Bill Programs that Provide New Revenue Sources for Producers and Promote Rural Lands Stewardship

Implementation:

For online information about the Farm Bill, go to: http://www.usda.gov/farmbill/ 

The 2002 Farm Bill Conservation Programs page contains links to a set of fact sheets on the new programs that can be printed for distribution.

The National Association of Conservation Districts has a very good table summarizing implementation status of the conservation programs at http://www.nacdnet.org/govtaff/FB/ImpStatus.htm

Details on farm bill implementation also can be obtained from the House Agriculture Committee website: http://agriculture.house.gov/farmbill.htm

11-12) Text of Sec. 2003 and Sec. 2005, which establishes the Farmland Stewardship Program concept through "stewardship agreements" and a plan to be prepared by the Secretary of Agriculture with recommendations on how to improve conservation delivery: 

Farmland Stewardship Program included in Final Farm Bill

Statutory Language for Implementing the Farmland Stewardship Program

13-15) Text of Sec. 2101 (Conservation Reserve Program), Sec. 2401 (Grassland Reserve Program) and Sec. 2502 which amends Sec. 1240N of the Food Security Act of 1985 (Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program), with sections highlighted where changes were made during conference committee negotiations to ensure the programs address the needs of producers in ALL states, with a particular emphasis on states outside the plains and grain belt that are dominated by specialty crops, ranches and agricultural operations other than those dedicated to commodity crops:

Conservation Programs Now Address Needs of More Producers.

Proposed Conference Committee Language to Ensure Important Habitats
are an ASSET, not a LIABILITY for Private Landowners

Email exchange with National Wildlife Federation re: proposed change

16) A brief description of the "Rural and Family Lands Protection Act," an agricultural conservation bill crafted through a cooperative effort led by Florida Farm Bureau Federation and Florida Audubon.  This legislation was signed into law by Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on June 19, 2001--

Proposed Legislation

18-22)Text of Sec. 256, which contains additional details about the Farmland Stewardship Program, as included in Title II of S. 1673, and the House-passed Farm Bill, HR 2646--  

Conference Committee Proposal (April 2002)

Original Conference Committee Language (February 2002)

 Sec. 256, Subtitle F, Title II, S 1673, U.S. Senate

Sec. 256, Subtitle F, Title II, H.R. 2646, U.S. House of Representatives

The following Fact Sheet explains the differences between the House language and the conference committee language proposed in February 2002. This section-by-section analysis helps to explain the thinking behind the Farmland Stewardship Program concept:

Fact Sheet - The Farmland Stewardship Program

23) Text of the Farm Bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives--

 Go to
http://agriculture.house.gov/farmbill.htm

Or click on 
House-passed Farm Bill (HR 2646)
(please note, this is a 381-page Adobe Acrobat PDF file)

Or go to http://thomas.loc.gov/  
and at the top of the page, where it says
"Search Bill Text for 107th Congress By Bill Number"
type HR 2646 in appropriate box and click "Search"

24) Text of the Farm Bill passed by the U.S. Senate--

 Go to
http://agriculture.senate.gov/Briefs/2001FarmBill/2001farmbill.html

Or click on 
Final Senate Farm Bill (Engrossed Bill HR 2646)
(please note, this is a 1,334-page Adobe Acrobat PDF file)

Or go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ 
At the top of the page, where it says
"Search Bill Text for 107th Congress By Bill Number"
type HR 2646-EAS in appropriate box and click "Search"

25) H.R. 2542, the "American Farmland Stewardship Act of 2001," introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL) on July 18, 2001.  To view this document, click on the following link--

H.R. 2542, U.S. House of Representatives

For a link to Rep. Adam Putnam's web site, click here.

Commentary

26) USDA Secretary Ann Veneman's statement on Food and Agricultural Policy for the New Century, September 19, 2001--

News summary of Sec. Veneman's Sept. 19 statement

link to full document

27) Rep. Putnam wrote USDA Secretary Ann Veneman on September 21.  He points out how the Farmland Stewardship Program is consistent with her policy statements on agricultural policy.  A copy of the letter can be viewed at: 

Rep. Putnam letter to Sec. Ann Veneman 

For a link to Rep. Adam Putnam's web site, click here.