[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 6]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR631.1]

[Page 385]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
   CHAPTER VI--NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF 
                               AGRICULTURE
 
PART 631--GREAT PLAINS CONSERVATION PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart A--General Provisions
 
Sec. 631.1  Purpose.


    (a) The Great Plains Conservation Program (GPCP) is a special 
program targeted to the total conservation treatment of farm or ranch 
units with the most severe soil and water resources problems. The 
purpose of the program is to assist farm, ranch and other land users to 
make changes in their cropping systems and land uses which are needed to 
conserve, develop, protect, and utilize the soil and water resources of 
their lands. This purpose is achieved by controlling erosion, conserving 
water, and adjusting land use to mitigate climatic, soil, topographic, 
flood, saline and other natural hazards.
    (b) Program participation is voluntary and is carried out by 
applying a conservation plan encompassing an entire operating unit. A 
conservation plan is developed with the land user in consultation with 
the local conservation district and is used to establish a GPCP 
contract. This contract provides for cost sharing between the land user 
and the Secretary of Agriculture for applying needed land use 
adjustments and conservation treatment within a specified time schedule. 
The program is supplemental to, not a substitution for, other programs 
in the Great Plains area.