Agricultural News
Conservation Districts President Calls on Congress For Swift Farm Bill Action
Thu, 17 May 2012 18:00:19 CDT
Based upon recent information that the U.S. Senate and House are both making progress on a Farm Bill, National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) President Gene Schmidt released the following statement:
"We need a 2012 Farm Bill now. The Senate Agriculture Committee deserves high accolades for its swift, bipartisan passage of a common-sense Farm Bill that will soon be taken up by the full Senate. We also understand the House Agriculture Committee is making strong progress towards its own bill.
"As a conservationist and a producer, I truly believe that the Conservation Title is tremendously important to the future of America. The bottom line is, producers want to do the right thing - they just need the right tools and technical assistance to do it. Farm Bill conservation programs are there to help producers implement conservation practices through voluntary, incentive-based methods-rather than through a top-down regulatory approach. These programs play a critical role in protecting our precious air, land and water, while at the same time supporting our nation's long-term economic and food security.
"After all, if we don't protect and preserve our nation's natural resources, we won't have any land on which to produce food, fuel and fiber. I think everyone would agree it's better to make a long-term investment in our natural resources today, than to be forced to pay escalated costs for repair in the future.
"The benefits of a strong Conservation Title provide value to everyone - regardless of whether or not they're directly involved in agriculture. After all, everyone eats and everyone needs clean air and water. With the world's population on the rise, the sustainability of our food supply has never been more important.
"The Senate bill includes a strong Conservation Title that streamlines and consolidates programs for increased efficiency and ease-of-use for producers, while maintaining critical funding for all of the conservation purposes needed to implement conservation where it counts.
"The time is now - let's call on Congress to pass a Farm Bill that works for American agriculture and protects natural resources for the future."
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