§ 1410.107 - Conversion to trees.

An owner or operator who has entered into a contract under part 704 of this title as of November 28, 1990, may elect to convert areas of highly erodible cropland, subject to such contract, which are devoted to permanent cover, from such cover to hardwood trees (including alley cropping where permitted by CCC), windbreaks, shelterbelts, or wildlife corridors.

(a) With respect to any contract modified under this section, the participant may elect to extend such contract to a term not to exceed 15 years.

(b) With respect to any contract modified under this section in which such areas are converted to windbreaks, shelterbelts, or wildlife corridors, the owner of such land must provide a useful life easement on such land to CCC for the useful life of such plantings.

(c) CCC shall, as it determines appropriate and in the public interest, pay up to 50 percent of the eligible cost of establishing new conservation measures authorized under this section except that the total cost share paid with respect to such contract, including a cost share paid when the original cover was established, may not exceed the amount which CCC would have paid had such land been originally devoted to such new conservation measures.

(d) With respect to any contract modified under this section, the participant must participate in the Forest Stewardship Program.