U.S. House To Consider Protection For Farmers And Land

Current federal farm programs provide some financing for voluntary conservation programs, but the funds (about $2 billion a year)fall far short of demand. Three out of four farmers who apply are turned away. This year's farm bill would shift $2 billion from commodity payments to payments for participation in voluntary conservation programs, letting the US continue to support family farmers while also protecting natural resources and environmental quality. " It is in this progressive tradition that we have introduced legislation to restore conservation to the important place in the farm bill that it had in Roosevelt's day. In addition to providing an equitable distribution of federal assistance payments to small agricultural producers, our proposal would also work to protect wildlife habitat, reduce sprawl onto agricultural land, and improve air and water quality."

Thanks to Sheryl Stolzenberg