[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 7]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR701.15]

[Page 26-27]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
                            CHAPTER VII--FARM
                SERVICE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 701--CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS--Table of Contents
 
               Subpart--Agricultural Conservation Program
 
Sec. 701.15  Method of approval.

    The county committee will determine the extent to which Federal 
funds will be made available to share the cost of each approved 
practice, taking into consideration the county allocation, the 
conservation and environmental problems in the county, the land 
involved, and the practices for

[[Page 27]]

which requested cost-sharing is considered by the county committee as 
most needed. The method approved shall provide for the issuance of 
notices of approval showing for each approved practice the number of 
units of the practice for which the Federal Government will share in the 
cost and the amount of the cost-share for the performance of that number 
of units of the practice. To the extent practicable, notices of approved 
practices shall be issued before performance of the practice is started. 
No practice may be approved for cost-sharing except as authorized by the 
county program, or in accordance with procedures incorporated therein. 
Available funds for cost-sharing shall not be allocated on a pro-rata 
basis, but shall be directed to the accomplishment of the most enduring 
benefits attainable.
    (a) Cost-sharing may be approved under annual agreements or long-
term agreements.
    (b) Annual agreements may be approved in all counties. Long-term 
agreements are limited to farms or ranches which are within Soil 
Conservation Districts (or comparable districts) through which the Soil 
Conservation Service provides planning and technical services, except:
    (1) Farms and ranches located within a county designated for the 
Great Plains Conservation Program are only eligible for long-term 
agreements that cover part of a farm. Long-term agreements that cover 
whole farms shall not be approved in these counties.
    (2) Farms and ranches not located within a Soil Conservation 
District (or comparable district) may be eligible for a long-term 
agreement, provided conservation plans of operations are developed by 
the farmer or rancher in cooperation with the Soil Conservation Service 
and approved by an appropriate State official or, in cases where an 
appropriate State official is not available, approved by the Soil 
Conservation Service.