Agricultural News
Kansas Conservationist Urges Congress to Maintain Conservation Funding Levels
Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:53:20 CDT
Kansas farmer and conservationist Ronald Brown testified this morning at a field hearing held by the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee in Wichita, Kan. The hearing focused on issues surrounding the 2012 Farm Bill. A lifelong resident of Fort Scott, Brown serves as president of the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts and on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Conservation Districts.
Brown urged Congress to, at a minimum, maintain the mandatory conservation funding levels as agreed in the 2008 Farm Bill. He also called for full funding of technical assistance to help farmers, ranchers and landowners continue their critical role in protecting our nation's air, water and soil.
"Partnerships on the local, state and federal level are essential for coordinating and streamlining these efforts," said Brown. "The 2012 Farm Bill should be developed to ensure those partnerships and coordination of effort."
With Kansas currently facing severe drought conditions, Brown underscored the importance of effective farming and soil conservation practices not only to the state's economy but also to its' citizens quality of life.
"Kansas farmers and ranchers-understand all too well the frustration and sense of futility that their predecessors felt when the lack of rainfall in the thirties turned the Great Plains into a giant Dust Bowl," said Brown. "But the key difference between the Dirty Thirties and today is the improved farming and soil conservation practices that prevent wind erosion and keep the Great Plains from experiencing the dust storms that plagued the area back then."
Click here to view Brown's full testimony.
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