CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

NCBA Staff Contact: 

Jill Davidsaver, Manager of Legislative Affairs
202-347-0228

jdavidsaver@beef.org

Summary:

NCBA actively supports environmentally-friendly land conservation programs and initiatives. The 2002 Farm Bill provided an historic level of financial and technical assistance for conservation activities - $13 billion over six years. For the past few years, these programs have been implemented across the country.  America’s cattlemen are hoping to get similar support for cost-share conservation programs in the final 2007 Farm Bill. 

In the 2007 Farm Bill, NCBA members have identified funding for conservation programs – especially “working lands” programs – as a top priority.  The House version of the Farm Bill contains increased funding for conservation programs.  Within the Conservation Title, the budget for the popular Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) increases to $2 billion per year over the life of the bill. The bill will also broaden eligibility for EQIP funds to include custom feeders and livestock markets. 

But flaws remain within the House bill such as an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) cap and payment limitations for conservation.  This language makes many ranchers ineligible for Farm Bill conservation programs.  NCBA is working to exempt conservation programs from the AGI cap and payment limitations when the Farm Bill goes to conference. 

Funding for conservation programs was included in the Senate Farm Bill, but most of that funding is allocated to the Conservation Stewardship Program (formerly the Conservation Security Program) and the Wetlands Reserve Program.  NCBA will be urging conferees to consider a final conservation title that more closely resembles the funding levels in the House-passed version. 

Background:

The biggest single program for cattle producers is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Other programs include the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), the Farmland Protection Program (FPP), the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and the Conservation Security Program (CSP) which provides payments for producers who have historically practiced good stewardship on their agricultural lands and incentives for those who want to do more.

In the past, some farm bill program implementations did not keep pace with producer needs or expectations. NCBA worked hand-on with government officials to better the implementation process. In addition, some of the funding agriculture worked so hard for was subject to cuts.

ESAP:

NCBA's Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) has worked to further promote the importance of pursuing innovative conservation practices for more than fifteen years. This award recognizes outstanding stewards in the beef industry - producers who go above and beyond when it comes to conservation. In addition, NCBA is continues to work with government officials to support and promote the "Walk a Mile in My Boots" program, which promotes land conservation practices by giving U.S. cattlemen and farmers and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service employees an opportunity to learn about each other’s work with the land. 

Key Points:

·         Cattle producers are natural stewards of the land, and NCBA strongly supports environmental conservation and land stewardship.

·         Top priorities for cattlemen in the 2007 Farm Bill are increased funding for working lands programs – especially the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)and the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP).

·         As conference discussions begin on the 2007 Farm Bill, NCBA will be asking conferees to exempt Farm Bill conservation programs from the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) cap and payment limitations that current exist in the House Farm Bill.  Payment limitations don’t make sense for conservation.  NCBA will be calling for legislative language that will remedy this problem so our producers can continue to participate in cost-share conservation programs.

·         Another top priority for cattlemen related to Farm Bill conservation programs is the need to streamline the programs.  There are problems of overlapping and a substantial backlog of applications for some conservation programs. Understanding that funding is limited, NCBA supports streamlining on a larger scale, between overlapping programs, as well as within the programs. Streamlined, more user-friendly and efficient programs are key to making the most of taxpayer’s dollars.