The U.S. Senate and House have both passed different versions of the 2007 Farm Bill that include historic levels of funding for conservation and Chesapeake Bay cleanup that must now be reconciled.

“Both the House and Senate versions of the federal Farm Bill, while not yet reconciled, provide unprecedented levels of new conservation funding that will help the region’s farmers significantly improve water quality,” said Doug Siglin, Federal Affairs Director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “The Senate legislation contains a special Chesapeake Bay watershed program that will provide $165 million in technical and financial assistance for farmers to improve water quality in local streams and rivers and the Bay itself. It also includes a strengthened Conservation Stewardship Program that will reward the best farming conservation practices in our region and across the nation. We commend and thank Senators Casey and Specter for their effective work to ensure passage of this important legislation.

“Over the next few weeks, Senate negotiators will be working to reconcile the Senate bill with the House version, which also contains a dedicated program for Chesapeake Bay farmers to improve water quality as well as significant increases to other important conservation programs. We look forward to working with Senate and House negotiators to ensure that the final bill promotes water quality improvements in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to the greatest possible degree, and to working closely with USDA and the region's farmers to meet the conservation goals that we all share.”

For more information, visit the CBF Federal Farm Bill webpage.

12/14/2007