Justification Memo

USDA
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United States
Department of
Agriculture

June 24, 2010

Farm and Foreign
Agricultural
Services
Farm Service
Agency
1400 Independence
Avenue, SW
Stop 0540
Washington, DC
20250-0540

TO:

Nathan J, Frey
Office of Management and Budget Desk Officer

THROUGH:

Ruth Brown
Department Clearance Officer

FROM:

Chris Beyerhelm ~
~. ~ ~
Deputy Administrator for Farm Loan Programs

SUBJECT: Request for Emergency Approval of a New Information Collection
Package - 2008 Farm Bill- Conservation Loan (CL) Program
The Farm Loan Programs (FPL) ofthe Farm Service Agency (FSA) has been tasked with
implementing the Conservation Loan (CL) Program authorized by Section 5002 of the
2008 Farm Bill (Pub. L. 110-246), which amends section 304 of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act (CONACT) (7 U.S,C. 1924).
Conservation of natural resources is a high priority of the current administration. There
is strong interest and participation from farmers in programs that support and encourage
conservation practices. However, many farmers do not have the up front capital to
implement these conservation projects.
The 2010 Agricultural Appropriations Bill (Pub. L. 111-80) provided funding for this
Farm Bill program in fiscal year 2010. Therefore, we are requesting emergency approval
of a new information collection package by August 1, 2010 to meet these new
conservation initiatives.
FSA is expediting the publication of CL Program as an interim rule, to be effective on
publication. FSA believes that advance solicitation of comments for this rulemaking
would be impractical and contrary to public interest, as it would delay implementation of
conservation projects that are critical to accomplishment of conservation objectives.
The existing forms and processing of the loans in FLP will be used for the CL Program.
The CL Program's burden hours will be related to new applicants for loans, not new or
different infonnation.
If there are any questions or concerns, please call Deirdre Holder at 202-205-5851.
USDA is an Equal Opportunity

Employer