PA Environment Digest

Share this:

Farm, Conservation Groups Say New Federal Farm Bill Has Victories, But Serious Cuts To Farm Conservation

Congress gave final approval to the 2018 federal Farm Bill that groups like the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation say contains wins for ag conservation, but it also contains “serious shortcomings.” The President is expected to sign the bill.

Federal financial and technical support to Pennsylvania's agricultural community is critical to helping Pennsylvania meet its water quality improvement goals, including the milestones for cleaning up its portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

National Sustainable Ag Coalition

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition issued this statement about the 2018 Farm Bill--

“By providing key “tiny but mighty” farm bill programs with permanent funding, the 2018 Farm Bill will make a critical investment in the future of American agriculture,” said Juli Obudzinski, Interim Policy Director at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC). “No longer will the family farmers who rely on these programs to start or grow their small businesses, or the food and farm organizations who provide direct training and outreach services, have to worry about the fate of these vital resources each farm bill cycle.”

“The final deal addresses a growing need to scale up our nation’s farm-to-fork initiatives, invest in healthy food, support the next generation of farmers and other underserved producers, and continue making strides in organic agriculture research,” said Obudzinski. “We thank the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees for providing much needed stability and reliability through these permanent investments.”

“We are glad to see that the conference report retains CSP’s structure as a unique and independent program, and believe these reforms send a strong message to USDA to focus funding on the most impactful conservation activities to address our most pressing environmental challenges,” said Obudzinski. “We also applaud conferees for boosting conservation easement funding and for ensuring that the Conservation Reserve Program includes the new Clean Lakes, Estuaries, and Rivers (CLEAR) initiative to support conservation buffers to benefit water quality.”

PA Dept. Of Agriculture

Gov. Wolf and the Department of Agriculture released this statement on the federal Farm Bill--

The legislation contains a number of positive aspects for Pennsylvania agriculture. Two provisions are particularly notable. The first strengthens support for dairy farmers by offering reduced premiums and new coverage levels for milk produced under the new Dairy Risk Management program. The second removes hemp as a schedule 1 drug under federal law, allowing states to create programs for the cultivation of hemp for commercial purposes.

The Bill also increases funding for conservation efforts and workforce and education opportunities, and continued support for programs that help rural communities and businesses thrive, including broadband access and local food systems.

Additionally, the legislation includes protections for crop insurance, helping farmers purchase policies to protect them from devastating weather conditions.

The Farm Bill also includes a significant increase in federal funding for farmland preservation nationwide through the federal Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), with Pennsylvania poised to access these funds over the next four years.

Click Here for the full statement.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Director of Science and Agricultural Policy Beth McGee said this about the Farm Bill compromise--

"The most cost-effective way to reduce pollution to local rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay is to implement agricultural best management practices, many of which are funded through Federal Farm Bill programs. These conservation practices are essential to implementation of the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint.

"The compromise legislation will increase conservation funding, simplify and streamline the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, and help ensure adequate and fair compensation to landowners willing to implement forest buffers—one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce pollution from agriculture.

"CBF appreciates the work of Senators Chris Van Hollen and Bob Casey that made these changes possible."

The Farm Bill authorizes $50 million more a year for states participating in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

Environmental Defense Fund

Callie Eideberg, Senior Policy Manager for Sustainable Agriculture for the Environmental Defense Fund, issued this statement on the Farm Bill--

This farm bill recognizes farmers and ranchers as integral to achieving long-term climate resilience and water quality goals.

“It takes important steps forward on environmental priorities while ensuring that America’s working lands are profitable, productive and part of the climate solution. The bill prioritizes sustainability impact and innovation on private lands, with full funding for the conservation title.

“We look forward to seeing the farm bill cross the finish line and to the U.S. Department of Agriculture implementing exciting conservation provisions that build agricultural resilience to benefit all Americans.”

Highlights of the bill include:

-- Public-private partnerships: Annual funding of $300 million for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program that will bring an additional $3 billion in matching private dollars to the table to deliver water quality improvements at the watershed-scale.

-- Soil health: Annual funding of $25 million for a new soil health pilot project that will provide incentives to producers who improve soil health and increase soil carbon.

-- Crop insurance: Removal of a barrier to cover crop adoption by ensuring that planting and terminating cover crops won’t jeopardize crop insurance eligibility.

-- Agricultural data: Requirement that USDA issue a feasibility report on existing data about crop yields, conservation adoption and risk management.

-- Less red tape: Expedited review process for Conservation Practice Standards to allow USDA to adapt quickly to new technologies and best practices.

The Nature Conservancy

Mark R. Tercek, CEO of The Nature Conservancy had this to say about the 2018 Farm Bill--

The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 will increase the flexibility and resources going toward public-private partnerships and easements, and takes important steps toward climate-smart practices. The bill also extends the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program, which encourages partnerships on science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes.

“This Farm Bill was the biggest opportunity in years for Congress to make the right policies for—and investments in—the conservation of private lands in the United States. Thankfully, lawmakers seized that opportunity. They passed a bill that will help farmers, ranchers and forest owners become more sustainable and productive, while protecting lands and waters for the benefit of all Americans and wildlife.

“In short, the new Farm Bill is a victory for the conservation and stewardship of the natural treasures that are America’s ranches, farms and forests. The health of these lands is critical to the success of private landowners, to our economy and to rural communities. The bill’s investment in conservation programs, combined with important forestry provisions, will give landowners tools to protect their land and their way of life.

“We look forward to seeing this Farm Bill become law and working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement these important programs.”

Serious Shortcomings - NSAC

Despite several historic victories and investments, NSAC says the final bill contains serious shortcomings.

Over the next ten years, the 2018 Farm Bill will cut billions in funding for performance-based conservation through the Conservation Stewardship Program.

By failing to restore the $6 billion cut to conservation funds made in the 2014 Farm Bill, the only way to provide for other necessary increases within the Conservation Title – given limited available funds – was to cut funding from working lands conservation.

That cut may start out small, but for the next farm bill in 2023, it amounts to a $5 billion reduction in combined budget authority for CSP and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

“The final bill will ultimately shortchange working lands conservation by stripping billions in conservation support to farmers through programs like CSP [Conservation Stewardship Program],” said Obudzinski. “We are disheartened to see that this farm bill further reduces CSP funding at a time when farmers are increasingly struggling to deal with extreme weather and other climate change-related challenges.”

Overall, the bill fails to address some of most significant challenges facing American agriculture and rural communities – food and farm business consolidation, dwindling rural populations and resources, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

In some cases, the bill not only fails to move the needle forward, it actively takes steps backward by failing to restore funding cuts to conservation programs or close widening loopholes in our commodity subsidy and crop insurance programs.

Follow these links to the NSAC’s 2018 Farm Bill Drill Down Posts--

-- Conservation Programs

-- Organic Agriculture

-- Local/Regional Food Systems, Rural Development

-- Beginning And Socially Disadvantaged Farmers

-- Text Of Final 2018 Farm Bill

Visit the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Blog for more information on the 2018 Farm Bill as it becomes available.

NewsClips:

Crable: New Federal Farm Bill Will Have Big Impact On Lancaster County Farmers

Compromise Federal Farm Bill Makes More Funds Available For Chesapeake Bay

AP: Congress Approves $400B For Ag Subsidies, Conservation, Food Aid

What’s In The New Federal Farm Bill- More Organic Farming Help, Dairy Lifeline