Policy Update

The insider's perspective on the politics of private lands conservation in the United States.

March 16, 2001

PUSH MADE IN CONGRESS FOR MORE CONSERVATION FUNDING FOR PRIVATE LANDS

A coalition of more than 35 groups is pushing Congress to at least double funding for agriculture conservation programs in the budget resolution and next farm bill. Since 1996, funding for conservation programs, like the federal Farmland Protection Program (FPP), the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQUIP), has remained flat while farm payments jumped to $32 billion. In 1996, conservation programs represented 30 percent of the agriculture spending compared to barely 8 percent today. American Farmland Trust (AFT) sent a letter to the Senate and House budget committees to push for increased funding in the budget resolution (Congress's spending blueprint for the next 10 years). This would allow the Senate and House agriculture committees flexibility to make conservation the centerpiece of the next farm bill. Congress needs to pass a new farm bill by the end of 2002. The budget committees are crafting the budget resolution in March with hopes of passing it before Congress recesses for Easter.

AFT DELIVERS TEST AT SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE HEARING ON CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

AFT and several other organizations called for doubled conservation funding during a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing held on March 1. Senators Richard Lugar (R-Ind) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) called the hearing to elicit new ideas for conservation programs in preparation for the next farm bill. Gerry Cohn, AFT's Southeast regional director, highlighted the needs of farmers facing new threats from sprawling development. Cohn focused on using the next farm bill to build community support for agriculture by increasing financial incentives for conservation practices, expanding the Farmland Protection Program and starting new economic development programs the help insure farm profitability in urbanizing areas. To view AFT's testimony, go to http://www.farmland.org/.

FARMLAND PROTECTION CAUCUS REVIVED

Representatives Sam Farr (D-Ca) and Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md) recently revived the new farmland protection caucus in the House of Representatives. This year the caucus will draw attention to the needs of farmers and ranchers in urban-influenced areas and how the next farm bill, tax package and other major pieces of legislation moving through the 107th Congress can help them. The caucus also will work to increase funding for the federal Farmland Protection Program. If your Congressional delegation would like to join the caucus, have them contact either Representative Farr's or Gilchrest's offices.

USDA TO AWARD $25 MILLION IN GRANTS TO PROMOTE VALUE-ADDED VENTURES

USDA Rural Development has announced that $25 million in grants are available for the development of agricultural producer-owned processing businesses. The new Value-Added Agricultural Product Market Development Grants program is designed to encourage independent producers of agricultural commodities to process their raw products into marketable goods, thereby increasing farm income.
Ventures in which agricultural producers add value to their products by processing, packaging or other means are eligible to apply for grants. Grants can be awarded for such activities as conducting feasibility analyses, developing business and marketing plans, or use as working capital while the venture develops cash flow. The maximum allowable grant amount is $500,000, and grant recipients must provide 1-to-1 matching funds. Nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher learning are eligible to apply to establish the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center.
Grant applications for this purpose will be accepted in two rounds. Applications for the first round must be received by 4 p.m. Eastern Time, April 23, 2001. The deadline for the second round is 4 p.m. Eastern Time, June 27, 2001. The recipient of the $5 million grant to establish the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center must supply an additional $5 million in matching funds. All applications for this grant must be received by 4 p.m. Eastern Time, April 30, 2001. This program is administered by USDA's Rural Business Cooperative Service and further information is available at USDA Rural Development state offices, or at the following Web address: http://www.farmland.org/www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm
Contact: Susanne Fleek, AFT's Director of Government Relations, (202) 331-7300

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Policy Update is the nation's leading
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	PUSH MADE IN CONGRESS FOR MORE CONSERVATION FUNDING FOR PRIVATE LANDS
	A coalition of more than 35 groups is pushing Congress to at least double funding for agriculture conservation programs in the budget resolution and next farm bill. Since 1996, funding for conservation programs, like the federal Farmland Protection Program (FPP), the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQUIP), has remained flat while farm payments jumped to $32 billion. In 1996, conservation programs represented 30 percent of the agriculture spending compared to barely 8 percent today. American Farmland Trust (AFT) sent a letter to the Senate and House budget committees to push for increased funding in the budget resolution (Congress's spending blueprint for the next 10 years). This would allow the Senate and House agriculture committees flexibility to make conservation the centerpiece of the next farm bill. Congress needs to pass a new farm bill by the end of 2002. The budget committees are crafting the budget resolution in March with hopes of passing it before Congress recesses for Easter. AFT DELIVERS TEST AT SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE HEARING ON CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AFT and several other organizations called for doubled conservation funding during a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing held on March 1. Senators Richard Lugar (R-Ind) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) called the hearing to elicit new ideas for conservation programs in preparation for the next farm bill. Gerry Cohn, AFT's Southeast regional director, highlighted the needs of farmers facing new threats from sprawling development. Cohn focused on using the next farm bill to build community support for agriculture by increasing financial incentives for conservation practices, expanding the Farmland Protection Program and starting new economic development programs the help insure farm profitability in urbanizing areas. To view AFT's testimony, go to http://www.farmland.org/. FARMLAND PROTECTION CAUCUS REVIVED Representatives Sam Farr (D-Ca) and Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md) recently revived the new farmland protection caucus in the House of Representatives. This year the caucus will draw attention to the needs of farmers and ranchers in urban-influenced areas and how the next farm bill, tax package and other major pieces of legislation moving through the 107th Congress can help them. The caucus also will work to increase funding for the federal Farmland Protection Program. If your Congressional delegation would like to join the caucus, have them contact either Representative Farr's or Gilchrest's offices. USDA TO AWARD $25 MILLION IN GRANTS TO PROMOTE VALUE-ADDED VENTURES USDA Rural Development has announced that $25 million in grants are available for the development of agricultural producer-owned processing businesses. The new Value-Added Agricultural Product Market Development Grants program is designed to encourage independent producers of agricultural commodities to process their raw products into marketable goods, thereby increasing farm income. Ventures in which agricultural producers add value to their products by processing, packaging or other means are eligible to apply for grants. Grants can be awarded for such activities as conducting feasibility analyses, developing business and marketing plans, or use as working capital while the venture develops cash flow. The maximum allowable grant amount is $500,000, and grant recipients must provide 1-to-1 matching funds. Nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher learning are eligible to apply to establish the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. Grant applications for this purpose will be accepted in two rounds. Applications for the first round must be received by 4 p.m. Eastern Time, April 23, 2001. The deadline for the second round is 4 p.m. Eastern Time, June 27, 2001. The recipient of the $5 million grant to establish the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center must supply an additional $5 million in matching funds. All applications for this grant must be received by 4 p.m. Eastern Time, April 30, 2001. This program is administered by USDA's Rural Business Cooperative Service and further information is available at USDA Rural Development state offices, or at the following Web address: http://www.farmland.org/www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm Contact: Susanne Fleek, AFT's Director of Government Relations, (202) 331-7300

*Have the Need to Read?* *Policy Update* back issues are available here.	[ << back ]	Susanne Fleek, Writer and Editor *Policy Update* is the nation's leading weekly news source on private lands conservation. Please email the editor with your comments and suggestions.