CANTON, MN — The Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee is scheduled to write its funding bill during the week of June 20, and supporters are asking them to fully fund the popular Conservation Security Program. Initiated under the 2002 Farm Bill, the Conservation Security Program rewards farmers for implementing conservation measures that benefit the environment.

Last year, Congress took money from the program to provide disaster relief, and the money has not yet been returned to the program.
“The Conservation Security Program is essential to good farm policy, and it requires enough funding to allow more farmers to enroll next year,” said Loni Kemp, Senior Policy Analyst at the Minnesota Project.

”Over 200 groups, representing a broad spectrum of farmer, environmental, wildlife, consumer and religious groups, just sent a letter to U.S. Senate leaders urging full funding for this unique and valuable conservation program,” noted Kemp. “The intent was to offer all farmers all over the country a green payment for working the land to produce a profit and benefit the soil and water.”

Last year, farmers were allowed to apply for CSP in less than one percent of the nation’s watersheds. This year it was offered in ten percent of watersheds – still far below the nationwide scope that was intended in the 2002 Farm Bill. Minnesota offered the program in six watersheds. The groups signing the letter, including the Minnesota Project, urge the Senate to provide the funding needed to make this popular program available to many more farmers.

According to the letter, changes in agricultural practices are urgently needed. Agriculture currently contributes to serious soil erosion, flooding, water pollution, and loss of wildlife habitat. Agriculture is the primary cause of surface water pollution in the U.S., contributing to 70 percent of the nation’s impaired rivers, 49 percent of its impaired lakes and 27 percent of its impaired estuaries.

“The Conservation Security Program is enormously popular with farmers,” said Kemp, “because it provides incentives to implement conservation practices on working lands. Farming to protect the environment makes sense for everybody, and this program makes it possible.”

The letter is linked at: http://www.agmatters.net/Stewardship/CSP_SignOnLetter_Approps_June_13_Final.doc