The Center for Rural Affairs recently led an effort to gather farmers in support of conservation programs in the farm bill. On May 7, this letter was sent to Sen. Pat Roberts (KS) who chairs the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
El Honorable Pat Roberts
Edificio de oficinas del Senado 109 Hart
Washington, DC-20510 1605
Dear Chairman Roberts,
As farmers and ranchers in Kansas, we write to you with concerns about the future of conservation programs authorized in Title II of the Farm Bill. The recent version of this omnibus legislation that came out of the House Agriculture Committee strikes a serious blow to working lands conservation programs. First, it essentially would eliminate the Conservation Stewardship Program. The bill also proposed to significantly lower the funding available for working lands programs, which additionally includes the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), by nearly $5 billion over 10 years. We are asking that the Senate Agriculture Committee maintain and improve the structure and funding of the working lands conservation programs as authorized in 2014.
We know from experience that conservation practices reduce on-farm risk and enhance profitability. Measures such as planting cover crops, engaging in no-till, and rotational grazing can help to build soil health, lessen disease pressure, and improve the resiliency of rangeland. In turn, conservation practices pass on benefits to the wider community. For example, protecting water quality, reducing nutrient loss, and addressing the risks of wildfires help to ensure a safe, secure, and cost-effective food system.
One of the major barriers that farmers and ranchers face in adopting additional conservation practices and technologies is that it includes risk: the financial risk of investment, and also the risk of taking on a new practice with a learning curve. Therefore, incentives for innovation and investment are vital to build and maintain a resilient agriculture – particularly in the face of volatile weather, adapting pests, and increased demand for food.
Voluntary working lands programs offer the potential to create long-term benefits for society and farmers and ranchers without increasing burdensome and administratively expensive regulations. In the long run, these public working land investments are needed to save taxpayers money by potentially lowering disaster and insurance payments.
Strong support for conservation, especially working lands programs, not only improves agriculture, benefits taxpayers, and protects resources, but also it is vital for our long-term national security. Around the world, in areas where land is degraded and food is scarce, conflicts and crises arise. Furthermore, protecting the future productivity and health of our soil, water, and air strengthens the future of a healthy and well-fed America.
Thank you so much for your service and leadership in the Senate Agriculture Committee. We are confident you and your committee members will protect the funding and programs in the Conservation Title of the Farm Bill especially the working lands programs like CSP and EQIP.
Respetuosamente,
allen roth
El condado de Ellis
Alan Williams
Scott County
Bill Simshauser
Condado de Kearny
Brigham Stewart
Condado de Washington
Brit Hayes
Condado de Hodgeman
C. Brian Hastings
Condado de Hodgeman
cameron peirce
Condado de Reno
Chad Basinger
Condado de Reno
C.J. Blew
Condado de Reno
Colby Harner
Sugar Creek Ranch
Condado de Reno
Dale and Nancy Kirkham
Condado de Greenwood
Darrin Unruh
Condado de Reno
Derek Zongker
Condado de Reno
Don Hineman
Condado de Lane
Donn Teske
Condado de Pottawatomie
Ed Reznicek and Mary Fund
Condado de Nemaha
Erika Jaeger
4F Farms, Inc.
Condado de Kearny
Felix Revello
Condado de Pawnee
Forrest and Marlene Peters
Condado de Phillips
Fred and Connie Neufeld
Condado de McPherson
gen albers
Condado de Kingman
James Funke and Christine Terrill
Condado de Reno
Jerry Clasen
Condado de Reno
jim y lisa francés
Condado de Reno
Kendall Hodgson
Condado de arroz
Larry Hickman
Condado de Russell
Laura and Doug Fortmeyer
Granja de jubileo
Condado de Brown
Luke Jaeger
Trifecta Farms, Inc.
Condado de Sherman
Marion Krehbiel
Condado de Reno
Mateo Jaeger
Trifecta Farms
Condado de Sherman
Michael and Melinda Moeder
Logan and Thomas Counties
Myron Schmidt
Condado gris
Ron Brown
Condado de Cheyenne
lijadoras sam
Condado de Reno
Ted Worl
Condado de arroz
Titus Jaeger
Jaeger Family Farms, Inc.
Condado de Kearny
Todd Miller
Condado de Harper
Tom Holmquist
Condado salino
Travis Groff
El condado de Ellis
Troy Schröder
Condado de Barton
