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.
The Honorable Pat Roberts
109२XNUMX हार्ट सिनेट कार्यालय भवन
वाशिंगटन, डीसी 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.
आदरपूर्वक,
Allen Roth
Ellis County
एलन विलियम्स
स्कट काउन्टी
Bill Simshauser
केर्नी काउन्टी
Brigham Stewart
वाशिंगटन काउन्टी
Brit Hayes
Hodgeman County
C. Brian Hastings
Hodgeman County
Cameron Peirce
रेनो काउन्टी
Chad Basinger
रेनो काउन्टी
C.J. Blew
रेनो काउन्टी
Colby Harner
Sugar Creek Ranch
रेनो काउन्टी
Dale and Nancy Kirkham
ग्रीनवुड काउन्टी
Darrin Unruh
रेनो काउन्टी
Derek Zongker
रेनो काउन्टी
Don Hineman
लेन काउन्टी
Donn Teske
Pottawatomie County
Ed Reznicek and Mary Fund
Nemaha County
Erika Jaeger
4F Farms, Inc.
केर्नी काउन्टी
Felix Revello
पावनी काउन्टी
Forrest and Marlene Peters
Phillips County
Fred and Connie Neufeld
McPherson County
जीन अल्बर्स
Kingman County
James Funke and Christine Terrill
रेनो काउन्टी
Jerry Clasen
रेनो काउन्टी
जिम र लिसा फ्रान्सेली
रेनो काउन्टी
Kendall Hodgson
राइस काउन्टी
Larry Hickman
रसेल काउन्टी
Laura and Doug Fortmeyer
Jubilee Farm
ब्राउन काउन्टी
Luke Jaeger
Trifecta Farms, Inc.
Sherman County
Marion Krehbiel
रेनो काउन्टी
Matthew Jaeger
Trifecta Farms
Sherman County
Michael and Melinda Moeder
Logan and Thomas Counties
Myron Schmidt
Gray County
रोन ब्राउन
चेयेन्ने काउन्टी
साम स्यान्डर्स
रेनो काउन्टी
Ted Worl
राइस काउन्टी
Titus Jaeger
Jaeger Family Farms, Inc.
केर्नी काउन्टी
टोड मिलर
Harper County
Tom Holmquist
सलाइन काउन्टी
Travis Groff
Ellis County
ट्रय श्रोडर
बार्टन काउन्टी
