ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION:
NASF Forest Resource Management Committee
Southern Group of State Foresters

ISSUE OF CONCERN:
Reimbursement of State Forestry Agencies for costs associated with delivery of forestry technical assistance provided to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants

BACKGROUND:
Since 1986, State Forestry Agencies have been reimbursed by the USDA Forest Service for forestry technical assistance rendered to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants. Periodically, reimbursement rates have been adjusted to account for increased costs associated with the delivery of CRP forestry technical assistance.

A cooperative financial agreement between the Forest Service, USDA Farm Service Agency and the Commodity Credit Corporation establishes the reimbursement rate. The current agreement was executed in 1998, and associated reimbursement rates range from $2 to $10 per acre depending on the particular CRP forestry practice. This level of reimbursement is significantly less than the actual costs reported by State Forestry Agencies to deliver CRP forestry technical assistance.

Since the passage of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, the Forest Service has been attempting to execute a new cooperative financial agreement with the USDA Farm Service Agency and Commodity Credit Corporation.

The National Association of State Foresters believes it is time to execute a new financial agreement between the Forest Service, USDA Farm Service Agency and the Commodity Credit Corporation establishing reimbursement rates more in line with actual costs to State Forestry Agencies to deliver CRP forestry technical assistance.

RESOLUTION:
Respectful of the limits posed by the Commodity Credit Corporation’s Section 11 cap on funds available, the National Association of State Foresters strongly encourages the Forest Service to expedite discussions with the USDA Farm Service Agency and Commodity Credit Corporation and execute a new cooperative financial agreement reimbursing State Forestry Agencies for CRP forestry technical assistance at a level more consistent with the average actual cost.

NASF ACTION:

( X ) Approved

DATE OF ACTION:
September 29, 2004