Agricultural News
American Farmland Trust Applauds Re-linking of Conservation Compliance to Crop Insurance Premium Assistance in Senate Farm Bill
Tue, 14 May 2013 16:27:24 CDT
The American Farmland Trust (AFT) applauded the Senate Agriculture Committee for its work on the 2013 Farm Bill and in particular the language that re-links conservation compliance to crop insurance premium assistance. AFT helped lead the coalition of 32 conservation, commodity and farm organizations that proposed the plan to re-link conservation compliance with crop insurance and oppose any further limits on crop insurance as it becomes the primary risk-management tool for America's farmers.
According to a position paper submitted to the Senate Agriculture Committee by the groups, nearly two dozen different risk-management and conservation programs have traditionally been subject to conservation compliance requirements, "but notably missing from this list is eligibility for the crop insurance program." The consensus agreement was offered as part of the Chairman's package of amendments and passed by voice vote in today's Committee session.
Under the Senate farm bill, crop insurance would continue to be available to all farmers, but premium assistance would be eliminated if farmers fail to implement soil conservation plans on highly erodible crop land or fail to refrain from draining wetlands for agricultural production.
"This is a common sense, balanced approach that shows a mutual commitment to both conservation stewardship and to maintaining the long-term economic viability of America's farmers and ranchers," said Jon Scholl, president of AFT.
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