Mandatory Spending

Function 300 - Natural Resources and Environment

Limit Enrollment in the Department of Agriculture Conservation Stewardship Program

CBO periodically issues a compendium of policy options (called Options for Reducing the Deficit) covering a broad range of issues, as well as separate reports that include options for changing federal tax and spending policies in particular areas. This option appears in one of those publications. The options are derived from many sources and reflect a range of possibilities. For each option, CBO presents an estimate of its effects on the budget but makes no recommendations. Inclusion or exclusion of any particular option does not imply an endorsement or rejection by CBO.

Billions of dollars 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2015-2019 2015-2024
Change in Outlays 0 * -0.2 -0.4 -0.5 -0.7 -0.9 -1.1 -1.2 -1.4 -1.1 -6.4

Notes: This option would take effect in October 2015. Estimates are relative to CBO’s August 2014 baseline projections.

* = between -$50 million and zero.

Under the Conservation Stewardship Program, landowners enter into multiyear, renewable contracts with the Department of Agriculture to undertake various conservation measures in exchange for annual payments and technical help. This option would prohibit new enrollment in the program beginning in fiscal year 2016.