Agricultural News
Bring Back New Farm Bill with Conservation Improvements- Izaak Walton League
Sun, 23 Jun 2013 19:00:14 CDT
Following defeat of the 2013 Farm Bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Izaak Walton League of America issued the following statement:
"The vote yesterday on the 2013 Farm Bill should be a call to action for the House of Representatives a call to conserve our nation's natural resources, protect American taxpayers from wasteful spending, and end the subsidized destruction of the country's wetlands and grasslands. It is imperative that the House address these issues and bring a new Farm Bill back to the floor for a vote.
"The bill the House defeated yesterday failed to reconnect common-sense conservation standards with crop insurance premium subsidies. For decades, producers receiving taxpayer support had a responsibility to implement conservation practices that reduce soil erosion and protect wetlands. The House bill would have replaced traditional farm programs which include effective conservation standards with expanded crop insurance subsidies that do not.
"Reconnecting conservation compliance with crop insurance will provide the broadest conservation benefits of any provision in the Farm Bill. American taxpayers deserve tangible conservation benefits in return for the billions of dollars in support they provide to farmers through subsides for crop insurance premiums. The House needs to include this common-sense reform in a revised Farm Bill.
"In addition, the House should include a nationwide Sodsaver program to conserve native grasslands that are rapidly disappearing across the country. These areas are critical to our ranching economy and to water quality and wildlife. A nationwide Sodsaver provision will also save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.
"The country needs a five-year Farm Bill that prioritizes conservation. The House must follow the Senate's lead by reconnecting conservation compliance with crop insurance premium supports and implementing a nationwide Sodsaver program, then bring a revised Farm Bill to the floor for a vote. There's too much at stake not to act now."
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