§3839aa–22 — Title 16 Conservation | U.S. Code

§3839aa–22 Conservation stewardship program

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 58— - ERODIBLE LAND AND WETLAND CONSERVATION AND RESERVE PROGRAM › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION PROGRAM › Part Part IV— - Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program › Subpart subpart b— - conservation stewardship program › § 3839aa–22

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

From fiscal year 2019 through 2031, the Secretary must run a conservation stewardship program. It helps producers add new conservation activities and improve, maintain, and manage existing ones to protect natural resources. Land in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) or under a wetland reserve easement cannot enroll, except CRP land can join if its CRP contract ends that fiscal year and CRP payments stop before the first program payment. Crop land used after December 20, 2018 that was not planted or devoted to crops for at least 4 of the 6 years before that date cannot get payments, unless it was in CRP, maintained under long‑term crop rotation, or is incidental land needed to run the farm.

Title 16, §3839aa–22

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)During each of fiscal years 2019 through 2031, the Secretary shall carry out a conservation stewardship program to encourage producers to address priority resource concerns and improve and conserve the quality and condition of natural resources in a comprehensive manner—

(1)by undertaking additional conservation activities; and

(2)by improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities.

(b)(1)Subject to paragraph (2), the following land (even if covered by the definition of eligible land) is not eligible for enrollment in the program:

(A)Land enrolled in the conservation reserve program, unless—

(i)the conservation reserve contract will expire at the end of the fiscal year in which the land is to be enrolled in the program; and

(ii)conservation reserve program payments for land enrolled in the program cease before the first program payment is made to the applicant under this subpart.

(B)Land enrolled in a wetland reserve easement through the agricultural conservation easement program.

(2)Eligible land used for crop production after December 20, 2018, that had not been planted, considered to be planted, or devoted to crop production for at least 4 of the 6 years preceding that date shall not be the basis for any payment under the program, unless the land does not meet such requirement because—

(A)the land had previously been enrolled in the conservation reserve program;

(B)the land has been maintained using long-term crop rotation practices, as determined by the Secretary; or

(C)the land is incidental land needed for efficient operation of the farm or ranch, as determined by the Secretary.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 3838e of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 115–334. Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–169 substituted “2031” for “2023” in introductory provisions. 2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2308(b)(1), substituted “2019 through 2023” for “2014 through 2018” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2301(d)(1)(C), struck out subpar. (C) which read as follows: “Land enrolled in the conservation security program.” Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2308(b)(2), substituted “

December 20, 2018” for “

February 7, 2014”. 2014—Pub. L. 113–79 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to conservation stewardship program. 2011—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–55 substituted “2014” for “2012”.