Budget stress, political change, and heightened global competition are forcing a reexamination of conservation and environmental programs for U.S. agriculture. Questions about reauthorizing the Conservation Reserve Program typify the tradeoffs. Currently, that effort is the major solution to environmental problems related to agriculture. But what lands truly merit long-term retirement for environmental purposes at high cost to taxpayers and export markets? Are less expensive approaches available that save budget expense, allow continued production, and ameliorate other priority environmental problems? This report responds to a bipartisan request from the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee about these issues.