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Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Federal Farm Bills Released By US House, Senate Could Benefit Chesapeake Bay Watershed

On May 1, leaders of the Congressional Agriculture Committees unveiled separate versions of legislation to reauthorize the federal Farm Bill, the largest and most influential agricultural legislation in the nation, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

The Farm Bill, which is renegotiated about every five years, has far-reaching outcomes for the way food is grown, the livelihood of farmers, and the health of rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay.

US House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, (R-Pa.), released an overview of his panel’s version of the Farm Bill on Wednesday.

US Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) rolled out a detailed summary of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act.

Farmers play a critical role in keeping waterways clean. Agriculture is the second largest land use in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, behind only forests.

The large number of acres in agriculture production is one of the reasons that nutrient runoff from farms is the largest source of pollution in our waters.

Working with our agricultural communities is our greatest opportunity to create meaningful and lasting change for clean water.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation advocates for programs that help farmers install conservation projects that reduce pollution to waterways.

CBF urges Congress pass a final version of the Farm Bill that:

-- Invests in and makes updates to key conservation programs that provide technical support to farmers and incentivize regenerative agriculture. Those include the Conservation Reserve Program, the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP);

-- Authorizes the Chesapeake Bay States' Partnership Initiative to direct additional federal resources to Chesapeake Bay watershed farms, particularly in Pennsylvania;

-- Develops and maintains a robust workforce of agricultural conservation professionals to help install local conservation programs and practices on the ground; and,

-- Preserves the $20 billion investment from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act that Congress devoted specifically to Farm Bill conservation programs.

“We applaud Chairwoman Stabenow for including these priorities in the initial Senate version of the bill,” said CBF in a statement.

For the House version, full details on these programs are not yet available.

CBF Federal Director Keisha Sedlacek issued the following statement--

“The Farm Bill is an unparalleled opportunity for the Chesapeake Bay and our region’s farmers.

“This legislation can focus federal resources on conservation programs that lead to cleaner waterways and more resilient farms, address climate change, and benefit local economies.

“We thank Chairwoman Stabenow for her leadership on including key conservation elements in the Senate legislation.

“We’re grateful to Chairman Thompson for his hard work on moving the Farm Bill forward and look forward to learning more details about the House version.”

For more on Chesapeake Bay-related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA webpage. Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column). Click Here to support their work.

Also visit the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership to learn how you can help clean water grow on trees.

CBF has over 275,000 members in Bay Watershed.

Visit DEP’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed webpage to learn more about cleaning up rivers and streams in Pennsylvania's portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Click Here to sign up for regular updates on Pennsylvania’s progress.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

The draft 2024 report has an interactive report viewer that allows you to zoom in to your own address to see if the streams near you are impaired and why.

Click Here to check out your streams. Click Here for a tutorial on using the viewer.

Related Articles - Watersheds:

-- Chesapeake Bay Model Estimates Decline In Nutrient, Sediment Pollution; PA, 4 Other Jurisdictions Did Not Meet 2023 Reduction Targets For Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sediment [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Federal Farm Bills Released By US House, Senate Could Benefit Chesapeake Bay Watershed [PaEN]

-- DEP Launches Pilot Program In 10 Counties To Speed Up Processing Chapter 102 Erosion & Sedimentation Permits Starting May 1 [PaEN]

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-- Gov. Shapiro Announces SBA Low-interest Loans Available For April 2024 Flood Survivors In Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Washington, Westmoreland Counties [PaEN]