Farm Bill

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Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Farm Bill)

The 1996 Farm Bill appropriated money for incentives to help the U.S. agricultural community address environmental problems associated with farming. It created the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to provide $200 million/year for farmland and floodplain protection, grazing the lands conservation, and wildlife habitat protection. The bill also revamped the old Conservation Reserve Program by creating the new Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. Since October 1997, six states have signed agreements with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, allowing them to use CREP funds to target state priority areas for restoration. Washington and Oregon are using funds to restore habitat for salmon species listed as Endangered Species. The Washington CREP will restore freshwater riparian habitat along 3,000 miles of salmon streams, including all streams that provide spawning habitat for listed species.

Source: River Network

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