---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 3839aa–22"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "3839aa–22"
heading: "Conservation stewardship program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/3839aa-22"
units:
  - "Chapter 58 — Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation and Reserve Program"
  - "Subchapter IV — Agricultural Resources Conservation Program"
  - "Part IV — Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program"
  - "Subpart b — conservation stewardship program"
---

# §3839aa–22. Conservation stewardship program

- (a) **Establishment and purpose—** During each of fiscal years 2019 through 2031, the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) shall carry out a conservation stewardship [program](/usc/16/3839aa–21.md?p=6) to encourage producers to address [priority resource concerns](/usc/16/3839aa–21.md?p=5) and improve and conserve the quality and condition of natural resources in a comprehensive manner—
  - (1) by undertaking additional [conservation activities](/usc/16/3839aa–21.md?p=2-A); and
  - (2) by improving, maintaining, and managing existing [conservation activities](/usc/16/3839aa–21.md?p=2-A).
- (b) **Exclusions—**
  - (1) **Land enrolled in other conservation programs—** Subject to [paragraph (2)](#b-2), the following land (even if covered by the definition of [eligible land](/usc/16/3839aa–21.md?p=4-A)) is not eligible for enrollment in the [program](/usc/16/3839aa–21.md?p=6):
    - (A) Land enrolled in the conservation reserve [program](/usc/16/3839aa–21.md?p=6), unless—
      - (i) the conservation reserve contract will expire at the end of the fiscal year in which the land is to be enrolled in the [program](/usc/16/3839aa–21.md?p=6); and
      - (ii) conservation reserve [program](/usc/16/3839aa–21.md?p=6) payments for land enrolled in the [program](/usc/16/3839aa–21.md?p=6) cease before the first [program](/usc/16/3839aa–21.md?p=6) payment is made to the applicant under this subpart.
    - (B) Land enrolled in a [wetland](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-27) reserve easement through the agricultural conservation easement [program](/usc/16/3839aa–21.md?p=6).
  - (2) **Conversion to cropland—** [Eligible land](/usc/16/3839aa–21.md?p=4-A) used for crop production after December 20, 2018, that had not been planted, considered to be planted, or devoted to crop production for at least 4 of the 6 years preceding that date shall not be the basis for any payment under the [program](/usc/16/3839aa–21.md?p=6), unless the land does not meet such requirement because—
    - (A) the land had previously been enrolled in the conservation reserve [program](/usc/16/3839aa–21.md?p=6);
    - (B) the land has been maintained using long-term crop rotation practices, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21); or
    - (C) the land is incidental land needed for efficient operation of the farm or ranch, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1240J, formerly § 1238E, as added Pub. L. 110–234, title II, § 2301(a)(2), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1041, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title II, § 2301(a)(2), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1769; amended Pub. L. 112–55, div. A, title VII, § 716(b), Nov. 18, 2011, 125 Stat. 582; Pub. L. 113–79, title II, § 2101(a), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 722; renumbered § 1240J and amended Pub. L. 115–334, title II, §§ 2301(b), (d)(1)(C), 2308(b), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4551, 4554, 4565; Pub. L. 117–169, title II, § 21001(c)(3), Aug. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 2017.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 3838e of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 115–334.

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–169 substituted “2031” for “2023” in introductory provisions.

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2308(b)(1), substituted “2019 through 2023” for “2014 through 2018” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2301(d)(1)(C), struck out subpar. (C) which read as follows: “Land enrolled in the conservation security program.”

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2308(b)(2), substituted “December 20, 2018” for “February 7, 2014”.

2014—Pub. L. 113–79 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to conservation stewardship program.

2011—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–55 substituted “2014” for “2012”.