In agricultural and environmental policy, green payments refers to payments made to producers as compensation for environmental benefits that accrue as a result of or in conjunction with their farming activities. The Conservation Security Program, authorized in the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 2001- 2006), generally is viewed as the first green payments program in the United States, paying producers to provide conservation benefits on land from which food and fiber are being produced.