National Association of Conservation Districts

Action Alert

Action Requested

Subject: 2008 Farm Bill Vote This Week

Date: May 13, 2008

Urgent Action Requested: Call your Members of Congress and Support Passage of 2008 Farm Bill Conference Report to H.R. 2419.

Background

Members of the Farm Bill Conference Committee today released the conference report for the 2008 Farm Bill. Conservation programs under the conference report would see a substantial increase in funding.

NACD has been advocating for a strong conservation title in the next Farm Bill for over two years.  Our message has been clear, that we were seeking to maintain the locally led conservation program delivery system, focus on working lands conservation programs with a priority on the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and revisions to ease the participation in a nationwide Conservation Security Program. We also pushed for greater forestry provisions in all conservation programs, with the belief that all private agricultural land, forest land and ranch land should be eligible for conservation programs.

NACD’s focus has always been on ensuring that there are sufficient technical resources to assist in the delivery of conservation programs, whether provided directly through NRCS, conservation district or other third party providers (TSPs).

NACD believes that the 2008 Farm Bill proposal, the Food Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 meets many of the priorities set by the NACD Board of Directors through our Farm Bill Priorities (approved in August 2006) and our Farm Bill Core Statements (approved in February 2007)

Specifically this legislation includes the following provisions:

• Increases a financial commitment to working lands conservation programs, with increases to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Farmland Protection Program.

• Rewrites and streamlines the Conservation Stewardship Program (formerly the Conservation Security Program) to allow for nationwide participation.  The elimination of the tier structure should ease program delivery and understanding by producers.  New enrollment based on acreage providing for an annual enrollment of almost 13 million acres.

• Increases provisions for the eligibility of non-industrial private forest land in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Farmland Protection Program.

• Provides funding for the Healthy Forest Reserve Program and maintains a strong Forestry Title.

• Provides funding to continue the Wetlands Reserve Program and the Grasslands Reserve Program.   These programs will expire without the provisions and funding in this bill.  WRP appraisal issues are also address in the bill.

• Although the CRP acreage cap is decreased to 32 million acres, the bill allows for continued enrollment through continuous sign-up and CREP.

• Defines technical assistance as technical services provided directly to farmers, ranchers, and other eligible entities, such as conservation planning, technical consultation, and assistance with design and implementation of conservation practices and technical infrastructure, including activities, processes, tools and agency functions needed to support delivery of technical services, such as technical standards, resource inventories, training, data and technology, monitoring and effects analyses.  This definition should strengthen our efforts to support technical assistance and broad impact of what is included in technical assistance.

• Clarifies third party technical assistance (technical service providers) and allows for eligible payments for technical services such as conservation planning, education and outreach and assistance with design and implementation of conservation practices.

• Allows for “technical assistance only” contracts for producers for the purpose of planning, design or installation of an eligible practice under the conservation programs.

• Exempts Local Work Groups from the Federal Advisory Committee Act.  This commitment to the locally led conservation program delivery process specifies local work groups in the law, and allows for greater transparency and participation in natural resources priority setting.

As you know, Farm Bill negotiators have been hard at work over the last months finalizing details. The conference report reflects bi-partisan support of conferees and the determination of the Agriculture Committees in both the House and Senate to craft strong farm policy under very tough budget conditions. As a result, this conference report represents the best opportunity we might have for the next several years to reinvest in the conservation programs that are critical to protecting our natural resources. The President has said he will veto the bill, and increases in conservation program funding would be lost should a 1 or 2 year extension occur.

As Congress begins consideration of the conference report this week, a strong first vote is necessary to ensure a veto-proof majority. This will require broad bi-partisan support to accomplish. That is why it is critical to contact your Members of Congress now.

Please call your Members of Congress and let them know support exists in their district for the Farm Bill Conference Report.

Contact Information and Talking Points

You can reach your Members’ offices by calling the Capitol Switchboard:

U.S. House of Representatives: 202-225-3121

U.S. Senate: 202-224-3121

Talking points to support Conference Report to H.R. 2419 include:

·        Provides critical investment in conservation programs to help landowners protect natural resources

·        Strengthens:

o       the locally led implementation of conservation programs

o       the technical assistance necessary to deliver conservation programs

o       improved efficiency and producer access to programs

·        Important: Be sure to ask if your Members of Congress intend to support the Farm Bill Conference Report

Follow Up

Let us know when you make a call to your Members of Congress and any feedback you receive. We would be especially interested in knowing if they plan to support the Conference Report.  Email your information to jeremy-peters@nacdnet.org.