For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
press@sustainableagriculture.net
Release: NSAC Urges Congress to Include Popular Conservation Funding in Farm Bill Extension
Washington, DC, December 13, 2024 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), a coalition of more than 150 farm, food, conservation, and rural organizations, called on Congress to prioritize additional funding for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) working lands conservation programs as lawmakers finalize an extension of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.
In a letter sent today to key Congressional leaders, NSAC highlighted the widespread popularity of USDA conservation programs among farmers and ranchers, noting that many cannot access critical funding due to overwhelming demand. The letter emphasized that programs like the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) help farmers increase productivity, improve soil health, build resilience to extreme weather, mitigate climate impacts, and protect natural resources like clean water and wildlife habitats.
“Farmers and ranchers have repeatedly voted with their conservation program applications, registering consistent and overwhelming support for on-farm conservation funding as approved by Congress through the Inflation Reduction Act,” said Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director, adding that: “Congress must seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to support conservation farming and ensure the sustainability of our agricultural systems”
Despite an $ 18 billion investment approved by Congress in 2022 through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), demand for conservation funding continues to outpace available resources. In fiscal year 2023 alone, tens of thousands of farmers across the country were turned away from CSP and EQIP, with 24,645 farmers denied from CSP and 100,228 farmers denied from EQIP.
The letter urged Congress to continue investments in conservation programs by permanently increasing USDA’s funding for working lands conservation. It emphasized the importance of protecting the long-term viability of the nation’s farm economy by ensuring farmers have access to the resources they need to implement sustainable farming practices.
Find the full letter here.
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The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more and get involved at: https://sustainableagriculture.net
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