Agricultural News
Oklahoma Conservation Leaders support House Ag Committee's 'Discussion Draft' of the Farm Bill Conservation Title
Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:29:29 CDT
Leaders of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) expressed support for the Conservation Title contained in the proposed version of the Farm Bill released yesterday by Congressman Frank Lucas, Chair of the House Agriculture Committee and Congressman Collin Peterson, Agriculture Committee Ranking Member. According to Joe Parker, President of OACD, the proposed conservation language will continue providing farmers and ranchers the tools they need to practice good conservation on the land.
"We are very happy with the work done by Chairman Lucas and Ranking member Peterson in crafting this version of the conservation title," Parker said. "The proposed language released this week closely mirrors that passed last month by the Senate and while it does reduce conservation spending overall, we feel that it will still provides us with the tools necessary to protect our natural resources while producing the food and fiber needed to feed and clothe the world."
Parker said that the Conservation Title proposed by Chairman Lucas and Congressman Peterson streamlines several conservation programs in an effort to increase efficiency and reduce complexity while reducing conservation spending by roughly $6.1 billion. While this reduction to conservation spending is sizable, Clay Pope, Executive Director of OACD said that it's structured in a way that helps address the federal deficit without gutting critical natural resource work on the land.
"The need for protecting our natural resources has never been greater but at the same time, we have to get our fiscal house in order," Pope said. "We feel that the changes to the Conservation Title proposed by Chairman Lucas and Ranking Member Peterson allow us to continue protecting our soil, water, air and wildlife habitats while reducing overall spending. We're glad to support the work the Chairman and the Ranking member have done and we look forward to working with them as the farm bill continues through the process."
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