Rarely does an opportunity arise that has farmers, environmentalists and business groups pushing in the same direction. But we have that opportunity now.

The PA Resource Enhancement and Protection Act, or REAP, is waiting for legislative approval and inclusion in the state budget. REAP is included in House Bill 100 (Stern-R-Blair, Daley-D-Washington) and Senate Bill 690 (Waugh-R-York, O’Pake-D-Berks).

But will policymakers seize this opportunity to enact a common sense approach to providing clean water for all Pennsylvanians, while providing a brighter future for our farm families?

The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and over 60 other community and business groups surely hope so.

The REAP proposal is straightforward and cost effective: give farmers the tools to implement proven conservation measures that achieve water quality improvements that benefit everyone.

Unlike many other pressing and expensive issues being discussed in Harrisburg these days, this proposal would allow us to start now and work locally, farm by farm, and make progress far faster and cheaper than most other policy options.

The tools and the knowhow are there.

For example, when a dairy farmer makes improvements to a barnyard near a stream, manure is controlled (good for the fish) and the cows are healthier and more productive (good for the bottom line). It’s the classic win-win scenario. We also make good on our commitment to restore the Chesapeake Bay.

Some may ask why more of these improvements haven’t already been made. Why don’t farmers make these additional investments themselves? If you live in the country, the answer lies just down the lane.

Ask any local farmer how business has been and you’re likely to get an earful. 2006 was a truly dismal year: rock bottom milk prices with many farmers losing money with each full milk truck leaving the farm. Even though milk prices have rebounded a bit, high feed and fuel costs are keeping profits low or nonexistent. Imagine having 70 hour work weeks to barely scrape by.

All this is to say that farmers do their best to be good stewards of the land and water, but they can’t do it on their own in today’s farm economy. Like it or not, the price on a gallon of milk or pound of chicken doesn’t include even once cent for protecting our streams. Our cheap and plentiful food supply doesn’t factor in the health of the Susquehanna River or the Delaware Bay.

REAP creates an innovative combination of tax credits, proven conservation technologies and financial contributions from farmers themselves. It means clean drinking water, healthy streams and some much-needed help for our farms.

Let’s hope our leaders in Harrisburg approve this pro-farm and pro-environment initiative in this year’s budget. That would be a harvest everyone can celebrate.

For more information, visit the REAP webpage.

6/22/2007