Environmental Defense Applauds Call For More Conservation Spending

As the U.S. Senate prepares to debate a 10-year budget blueprint, a bipartisan group of 25 Senators today sent a letter to the Senate’s Budget Committee chairmen urging more funding for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation assistance programs.

A recent Environmental Defense report, based on USDA information, found that most farmers seeking conservation assistance from the government are turned away because of a lack of funds. “Farmland and ranchland cover 55% of the American landscape, dramatically impacting water quality, food safety, wildlife habitat, and the pace of sprawl,” said Environmental Defense water resources specialist Scott Faber. “Federal spending for USDA conservation programs must be increased to meet demand from farmers and ranchers for financial and technical assistance, and to address many of these pressing environmental challenges.” The report can be found at www.environmentaldefense.org

“Helping farmers and ranchers meet public demand for clean water and air, open space, wildlife habitat as well as safe, fresh food should become the basis for renewing our public commitment to agriculture,” the Senators wrote today to Senate Budget Committee Chairmen Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Kent Conrad (D-ND).

The budget resolution before the Senate this week will serve as a blueprint when Congress reauthorizes federal farm programs next year.

Senators joining the letter include Jim Jeffords (R-VT), Pat Leahy (D-VT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Max Baucus (D-MT), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Max Cleland (D-GA), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Tom Daschle (D-SD), Chris Dodd (D-CT), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), John Kerry (D-MA), Carl Levin (D-MI), Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Harry Reid (D-NV), Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Robert Torricelli (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Boosting funding for conservation programs will also ensure that U.S. farm spending meets new limits imposed by international trade agreements, the letter said. The Senators urged their colleagues to seize the “opportunity to put farm policy back on track and develop new approaches that work for producers, consumers and taxpayers.”