Farm Bill Equips Ranchers to Be “Park Rangers” on Their Own Land

On May 13th, the 2002 Farm Bill marks its first anniversary and a historic national investment in farmland conservation.

“Our Nation’s natural resources are national treasures that are not confined to our public parks or forests,” says Bruce Knight, Chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. “Watersheds, wildlife habitat, and our natural systems spill across the private lands that are stewarded by thousands of farmers, ranchers and private citizens across our Nation. The 2002 Farm Bill provides resources for them to do the important environmental work they do every day.”

The stories of the families that follow are six of the recent winners of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Stewardship awards. All work with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. They are just a few of the people transmuting conservation farm programs into a healthy earth—while helping to feed a hungry world.

Success Stories:

• Arizona
• Georgia
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania

Background Information

Partners: A partial list of the Partnerships that have made the work on these private farms and ranches possible includes: The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Nature Conservancy, Conservation Districts, Society for Range Management, State of Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Ducks Unlimited, USDA Project Grass, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Sandhills Task Force, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, Georgia Forestry Commission, American Tree Farm System, University of Georgia, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arizona Water Protection, Arizona State University Cooperative Extension

The Award: The Environmental Stewardship Award Program is held by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to recognize cattle producers whose stewardship practices are inventive, cost-effective and contribute to environmental conservation. Applications are chosen by a committee of university faculty, federal and state government agencies, conservation and environmental organizations. The program is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences.

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