Farm Bill Update
Senate Agriculture Committee passes Farm Bill; Floor Vote Next
The Senate Agriculture Committee recently passed its version of the 2007 Farm Bill, setting the bill up for a vote on the Senate floor in the coming weeks. The bill has several positive steps for conservation, including an increase to the Wetlands Reserve Program and a stronger Sodsaver provision to protect native prairie, although there are several unresolved issues.
One of these is a continuing problem with the way that Wetlands Reserve Program lands are appraised, which is keeping many landowners from enrolling in the program. The Senate also did not follow the House's lead in developing a waterfowl and wildife friendly biofuels policy. There have also been proposals to use money set aside for conservation for other, non-conservation projects and priorities.
Ducks Unlimited is working aggressively with Senators and their staff to ensure that these issues are addressed in the debate on the floor.
| |
Ducks Unlimited Request |
House |
Senate |
| Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) |
Annual allocation of 250k acres; 3.25 million acre national cap |
Fully funded through 2012 at $1.6 billion and 250k acres per year |
Same as House |
| Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) |
39.2 million acre cap with at least 7.8 million acres in the Prairie Pothole Region |
39.2 million acres per year; No priority designation for Prairie Pothole Region |
Same as House |
| Sodsaver |
Removal of all incentives for those that break native prairie for cropland |
No Crop Insurance on newly broken prairie for 4 years |
Permanent ban on crop insurance for newly broken land |
| Grasslands Reserve Program |
Protect 2 million acres of grasslands |
$1 billion |
$240 million |
| Biofuels and waterfowl habitat |
Biofuels policy that is consistent with waterfowl and wildlife needs - corn and cellulosic ethanol |
Cellulosic ethanol crop production that is consistent with waterfowl habitat needs |
Nothing included in this bill to address DU concerns |
As the Farm Bill is debated, it is critical that Ducks Unlimited members and supporters keep in touch with their Senators to make sure that conservation is a priority for them. Take action and call your Senators, every voice and every vote counts!
