· Participation in the ALUS program is completely voluntary.

· The amount of land enrolled in ALUS is capped at a maximum (usually about 20 percent) in order to maintain an agriculturally based landscape.

· ALUS is designed to be integrated into existing land-use policies, conservation initiatives, and incentive programs so as to compliment them rather than compete against them.

· Lands that are deemed of marginal productivity or of noted environmental fragility are the primary target of the ALUS program, with the intention being to retire or alter cultivation practices for ecological benefits.

· In addition to being voluntary, ALUS is meant to be flexible with short-term contracts. Farmers are also permitted to withdraw from the program earlier than the contract-specified duration, but will have to reimburse any payments received.

· To comply with trade obligations, ALUS programs must be “production neutral”, meaning the program must be compliant with World Trade Organization green box policies. These green box policies allow payment for conservation and environmental projects, as well as research, crop insurance, extension work, and other policies associated with agriculture that do not distort production or provide price support for agricultural producers.