Conservation Reserve Program: Alternatives Are Available for Managing
Environmentally Sensitive Cropland (Chapter Report, 02/21/95,
GAO/RCED-95-42).

If not properly managed, agricultural production on the nation's 382
million acres of cropland can harm water and air quality, soil
productivity, and wildlife habitat.  Congress created the Conservation
Reserve Program in 1985 to temporarily remove highly erodible surplus
cropland from production.  The Agriculture Department has agreed to pay
farmers nearly $20 billion to take more than 36 million acres out of
production for 10 years.  These contracts begin to expire in 1995, with
the contracts for most of the acres--22 million--expiring in 1996 and
1997.  This report estimates the amount and the locations of land
covered by the program and other environmentally sensitive cropland that
should be removed from production for environmental reasons and
discusses alternatives for managing this land.  GAO also presents
information on Conservation Reserve Program land and other
environmentally sensitive cropland that can remain in production.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  RCED-95-42
     TITLE:  Conservation Reserve Program: Alternatives Are Available 
             for Managing Environmentally Sensitive Cropland
      DATE:  02/21/95
   SUBJECT:  Agricultural programs
             Soil conservation
             Land management
             Land leases
             Water resources conservation
             Environmental monitoring
             Agricultural production
             Pollution control
             Pesticides
             Farm income stabilization programs
IDENTIFIER:  USDA Conservation Reserve Program
             USDA National Resources Inventory
             USDA Wetlands Reserve Program
             USDA Acreage Reduction Program
             USDA Agricultural Conservation Program