16 U.S.C. § 3838D
Section 3838d · Definitions
Current version, with additions and removals from the June 18, 2008 version.
In this subpart:
In this subpart:
(1) Conservation activities
(A) In general
The term “conservation activities” means conservation systems, practices, or management measures that are designed to address a resource concern.
(B) Inclusions
The term “conservation activities” includes—
(i) structural measures, vegetative measures, and land management measures, including agriculture drainage management systems, as determined by the Secretary; and
(ii) planning needed to address a resource concern.
(2) Conservation measurement tools
The term “conservation measurement tools” means procedures to estimate the level of environmental benefit to be achieved by a producer in implementing conservation activities, including indices or other measures developed by the Secretary.
(3) Conservation stewardship plan
The term “conservation stewardship plan” means a plan that—
(A) identifies and inventories resource concerns;
(B) establishes benchmark data and conservation objectives;
(C) describes conservation activities to be implemented, managed, or improved; and
(D) includes a schedule and evaluation plan for the planning, installation, and management of the new and existing conservation activities.
(4) Priority resource concern
The term “priority resource concern” means a resource concern that is identified at the State level, in consultation with the State Technical Committee, as a priority for a particular watershed or area of the State.
(5) Program
The term “program” means the conservation stewardship program established by this subpart.
(6) Resource concern
The term “resource concern” means a specific natural resource impairment or problem, as determined by the Secretary, that—
(A) represents a significant concern in a State or region; and
(B) is likely to be addressed successfully through the implementation of conservation activities by producers on land eligible for enrollment in the program.
(7) Stewardship threshold
The term “stewardship threshold” means the level of natural resource conservation and environmental management required, as determined by the Secretary using conservation measurement tools, to improve and conserve the quality and condition of a resource concern.
The term “agricultural operation” means all eligible land, whether or not contiguous, that is—
under the effective control of a producer at the time the producer enters into a contract under the program; and
operated with equipment, labor, management, and production or cultivation practices that are substantially separate from other agricultural operations, as determined by the Secretary.
The term “conservation activities” means conservation systems, practices, or management measures.
The term “conservation activities” includes—
structural measures, vegetative measures, and land management measures, including agriculture drainage management systems, as determined by the Secretary; and
planning needed to address a priority resource concern.
The term “conservation stewardship plan” means a plan that—
identifies and inventories priority resource concerns;
establishes benchmark data and conservation objectives;
describes conservation activities to be implemented, managed, or improved; and
includes a schedule and evaluation plan for the planning, installation, and management of the new and existing conservation activities.
The term “eligible land” means—
private or tribal land on which agricultural commodities, livestock, or forest-related products are produced; and
lands associated with the land described in clause (i) on which priority resource concerns could be addressed through a contract under the program.
The term “eligible land” includes—
cropland;
grassland;
rangeland;
pasture land;
nonindustrial private forest land; and
other land in agricultural areas (including cropped woodland, marshes, and agricultural land used or capable of being used for the production of livestock), as determined by the Secretary.
The term “priority resource concern” means a natural resource concern or problem, as determined by the Secretary, that—
is identified at the national, State, or local level as a priority for a particular area of a State;
represents a significant concern in a State or region; and
is likely to be addressed successfully through the implementation of conservation activities under this program.
The term “program” means the conservation stewardship program established by this subpart.
The term “stewardship threshold” means the level of management required, as determined by the Secretary, to conserve and improve the quality and condition of a natural resource.