News from U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service
Contact: Jolene Lau, Public Affairs Specialist at 808-541-2600 ext. 135 (Honolulu)

USDA RELEASES INTERIM FINAL RULE FOR AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Public Comment Period on Rule Ends Jan. 20, 2009

Honolulu, Jan. 6, 2009—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) is seeking public comments on the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program, amended in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, or the 2008 Farm Bill, Lawrence Yamamoto, NRCS Director of the Pacific Islands Area announced. Public comments may be submitted until Jan. 20, 2009.

Changes to the AMA Program included the addition of one state—Hawaii—and mandatory program funding for the next four fiscal years. For the first time, mandatory funding is provided through the Farm Bill—$15 million for each fiscal year from 2008 through 2012. AMA, a voluntary, incentives-based program, helps agricultural producers on private land address natural resource issues such as water management, water quality and erosion control.

"The addition of Hawaii to the states eligible for participation in the Agricultural Management Assistance Program means that more of our producers will be able to protect the state’s water quality and quantity with this additional funding,” said Lawrence Yamamoto, NRCS Director of the Pacific Islands Area. “The AMA Program provides us with opportunities to help farmers and ranchers put even more conservation on the land.”

"This is just the latest step in my continuing efforts to support our island producers. And, now that Hawaii has been added to the AMA Program list, it is critical that ranchers and growers take the time to learn about the new rules, give their input, and take advantage of this new resource," said Congresswoman Mazie Hirono.

USDA-NRCS published its interim final rule on AMA in the Federal Register recently. The rule can be found at the USDA-NRCS Web site at [http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2008/interim-rules.html], the official government regulation site at [http://www.regulations.gov/search/index.jsp], and the Federal Register at [http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-27398.htm].

These comments will be used to revise the interim final rule, which establishes the policy to administer the program. USDA-NRCS will publish a final rule that will address the public comments. USDA has used the rulemaking process to streamline program administration and to address statutory changes authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill.

USDA-NRCS administers the conservation provisions of the AMA Program, which provides financial and technical assistance to eligible farmers and ranchers to address natural resource issues such as water management, water quality and soil erosion by including conservation practices into their agricultural operations. Producers may construct or improve water management structures or irrigation structures; plant trees for windbreaks; adopt conservation practices to improve water quality; and reduce risk through diversification or resource conservation practices, including soil erosion control, integrated pest management or organic farming.

Two other USDA agencies have a role in the AMA Program. The Agricultural Marketing Service is responsible for an organic certification cost-share program and the Risk Management Agency is responsible for mitigation of financial risk through an insurance cost-share program.

In addition to Hawaii, the AMA Program also is available in the following 15 states where participation in the Federal Crop Insurance Program has been historically low: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Comments on the interim final rule can be mailed to: Director, Financial Assistance Program Division, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Agricultural Management Assistance Program Comments, P.O. Box 2890, Room 5237-S, Washington, D.C. 20013. Comments can be faxed to (202) 720-4265 and e-mailed to AMA2008@wdc.usda.gov. People with disabilities who are interested in submitting comments can contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600. Comments also can be submitted through the Regulations.gov site’s public comment feature.

For additional information about the Agricultural Management Assistance Program, please visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ama. For more information about NRCS’s programs and services in Hawaii, please visit www.pia.nrcs.usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

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Jolene Lau
Public Affairs Specialist
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
300 Ala Moana Blvd., #4-118
Honolulu, HI 96850
(808) 541-2600 ext. 135

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