Copyright 1999 Federal Document Clearing House, Inc.
Federal Document Clearing House Congressional Testimony
July 21, 1999
SECTION: CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY
LENGTH: 1388 words
HEADLINE:
TESTIMONY July 21, 1999 RICHARD ROMINGER SENATE AGRICULTURE,
NUTRITION AND FORESTRY PRODUCTION AND PRICE COMPETITIVENESS FARMLAND PROTECTION
PROGRAM
BODY:
Statement of Richard Rominger, Deputy
Secretary Unites States Department of Agriculture Before the Senate Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry July 21, 1999 Mr. Chairman and Members of
the Committee, thank you for inviting me to discuss the important issue of
farmland protection. I would like to begin by recognizing the efforts and
leadership of Members of this Committee, including Senator Leahy, for
introducing S. 333, which would extend the authority of the program and make a
few changes to the authorizing legislation. The bill would provide $55 million
annually for the program. I would like to recognize Senator Santorum for his
legislation, S. 598. Preserving valuable and highly productive farmland for
future generations has been a priority for me as Deputy Secretary of
Agriculture. When I travel back home to California from time to time, I need not
look much further than my mailbox to see some of the richest and most productive
soils that our planet has to offer. And from the soils of Yolo County
California, we produce some of the most valuable and special crops that one can
find anywhere in the United States. Almonds, pistachio nuts, pears, prunes, and
tomatoes, to name a few, are bountiful in the many acres of farmland separated
by a few roads and an occasional farmstead. We all know that as a nation, the
United States is blessed with some of the most productive soils and most
temperate climate found anywhere in the world. Our predecessors recognized this,
and it is quite apparent that most populated centers of the developing United
States were located directly on or near the most productive farmland.
Consequently, our nation has benefited from great prosperity and abundance from
everything the land has produced. But members of this committee know all too
well that the rural roads and occasional farmsteads in so many parts of the
country are giving way to subdivisions, parking lots, and malls. Today more than
85 percent of domestic fruit and vegetables are grown in counties influences by
urban development. Approximately 79% of dairy production takes place in urban
influenced counties. The Office of Management and Budget defines these as
counties within a Metropolitan Statistical Area, and adjacent counties.
Population in counties with the highest agricultural productivity is more than
twice he national average. Conversion of farmland could jeopardize future
production capacity for the nation and dramatically affect the quality of life
for many Americans. In his State of the Union Address, the President referenced
the issues of urban sprawl and the troubling trend of conversion of agricultural
lands for development. The President's FY 2000 budget requests a total of $77.5
million for the Farmland Protection Program in two components: $50 million in
new discretionary funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to support
the President's Land Legacy Initiative and $27.5 million in CCC
funding under proposed legislation. As part of the Livability Agenda, Vice
President Gore has stressed the need to protect farmland and has challenged us
to ensure that our children see horses, cows, and farms outside, not just in
books and movies. There is an important national interest in the protection of
farmland threatened by structural development and conversion to non-agricultural
uses. Its preservation prevents irreversible damage to vital ecosystems,
provides openspace, and preserves a quality of lie threatened by urbanization.
Farmers on the edge of urban development face many challenges. As development
ensues, these lands are taxed at a rate that reflects their potential for
residential development. As family farms are unable to meet this increasing tax
burden, farmland is irreversible converted to non-agriculture uses. We estimate
that since 1967, an average of 1.5 million acres of farmland have been converted
to other uses each year. Even more troubling, I would note that in most states,
prime farmland is being converted at 2 to 4 times the rate of less productive
land. Conversion of farmland threatens the future of the nation's food supply,
and also means lower standards of water and air quality, and lack of open space.
The public has responded to these troubling trends. I would note that last
November, 148 measures aimed to protect open space appeared on ballots. The
voters approved eighty-four percent of those ballot initiatives. Most notably,
New Jersey passed a referendum for a $1.4 billion land preservation program,
which will aim to preserve half of the state's remaining two million acres of
undeveloped land. This historic step is an indication of the local demands for
farmland protection and preservation of open space. It also demonstrates how our
initiatives at the federal level have spurred and contributed toward state and
local action. THE FARMLAND PROTECTION PROGRAM (FPP) Mr. Chairman, as you know,
the Farmland Protection Program (FPP), authorized by the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (1996 Act) protects prime or unique farmland
from conversion to nonagricultural uses. It provides matching funds to leverage
funds from States, Tribes, or local government entities that have farmland
protection programs. The FPP establishes partnerships with State, Tribes and
local government entities to acquire conservation easements or other interests
in land. It protects farmland from urbanization and helps maintain a healthy
environment and sustainable rural economy. The program was originally funded in
the 1996 Act at a level of $35 million. All of these funds were committed by
Fiscal Year 1998, and the easement acquisition process is underway. With these
funds, up to 460 farms, representing 127,000 acres of farmland in 19 states will
be permanently protected from conversion to nonagricultural uses. In addition,
the federal investment in FPP will spur about $190 million in state and local
contributions for this activity. This is an impressive return on a relatively
small federal investment. As of June, 168 farms, consisting of 33,543 acres have
had easements recorded. These represent a federal contribution of $15 million
with a state/local contribution of $60 million. I am including for the record a
table showing data for each state. What the data does not show, however, is the
impact that the program has had on the ground. For example, in York County,
Pennsylvania, George and Naomi Phillips have protected 620 acres of their
farmland with a conservation easement. The land has been in agricultural
production since the 18th century and serves as an integral part of the local
economy. In Delaware, Richard Morgan has protected 176 acres of his farmland,
rich with sweet corn, field corn and soybeans. Not only will Sussex County
Delaware be ensured the long-term viability of the farming operation, but it
will also benefit from sound management practices and environmental stewardship
of the Morgan farm. Mr. Morgan is one of six farmers in Delaware's history to
receive the "State of Delaware Governor's Award" for protecting water quality.
The Farmland Protection Program is making significant progress in protecting
farmland, utilizing a relatively small federal resource. But the needs are great
and more resources are needed. I commit to working with you Mr. Chairman, and
Members of this Committee to continue funding and support for FPP so that we can
maximize the benefits of the local initiatives, which have started or have been
enhanced by the FPP. As farmers or as public servants, one of the lasting marks
that we will leave upon the land will be the health of our natural resources.
Along with that, ensuring an abundance of productive farmland, clean water, and
air will be the true measure of what we have accomplished. I look forward to
working with you on this issue. Not only do we need to extend the authority for
F.P.P., but we need additional resources to make it work. Therefore, I ask your
support for $50 million in new discretionary funding from the Land and Water
Conservation Fund to support F.P.P. and full funding from the C.C.C. so that we
can ensure food and fiber for our children, and a more healthy and livable
environment. I thank the Chairman and would be happy to answer any questions
that members might have.
LOAD-DATE: July 27, 1999
