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Most farmers seeking U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) help
to improve water quality, combat sprawl, or protect rare wildlife
species are rejected due to inadequate funding, according to an
analysis conducted by Environmental Defense, American Farmland
Trust, Environmental Working Group, and The Trust for Public Land.
Nationwide, the analysis found:
- 70% of farmers and ranchers seeking USDA funds to help water
quality are rejected due to inadequate funding.
- More than 3,000 farmers offering to restore more than 500,000
acres of wetlands are being rejected.
- Nine-out-of-ten landowners offering to preserve open space by
selling development rights are being rejected.
- 3,000 farmers and ranchers offering to create habitat on their
land are being rejected.
"Clearly, landowners are anxious to preserve open space, improve
water quality, and restore habitat for rare species," said
Environmental Defense attorney Scott Faber. "The next Farm Bill
should provide sufficient funds to reward farmers, ranchers and
private foresters when they need federal help to meet environmental
challenges."
"Boosting conservation payments will also ensure that federal
farm payments flow to all farmers, ranchers and foresters, and to
all states," Faber said. Only 15 states received a combined annual
average of $12.2 billion in FY 1998 and FY 1999 -- or 74% of all
direct payments to farmers. At the same time, five of the nation's
largest agricultural states; Florida, California, New York, North
Carolina, and Pennsylvania received just 6% of federal farm spending
even though these states jointly account for 29% of the gross
revenues earned by America's farmers. Environmental Defense urged
Congress to support the Working Lands Stewardship Act, championed by
Ron Kind (D-WI) and Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), which boosts annual
conservation payments by more than $7 billion.
To review state-by-state conservation backlog data, read the
report Losing Ground at http://www.environmentaldefense.org/.
### Environmental Defense, a leading national
nonprofit organization based in New York, represents more than
300,000 members. Since 1967 we have linked science, economics, and
law to create innovative, equitable, and cost-effective solutions to
the most urgent environmental problems.
www.environmentaldefense.org | 
