National Association of Conservation Districts

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NACD CALLS FOR FAIR TREATMENT OF CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
IN BUDGET RECONCILIATION PROCESS

WASHINGTON, D.C.—November 18, 2005—National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) President Bill Wilson today asked the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees for fair and equitable treatment of conservation programs as the committees prepare for conference on the budget reconciliation package.

While cuts seem inevitable at this time, NACD remains deeply concerned about proposed cuts to conservation programs. Farm Bill conservation programs benefit every community across the nation. Proven benefits of the programs include cleaner water and air, reduced soil erosion, better soil quality and improved wildlife habitat.

"This is a painful process, as the programs facing cuts are critical to our nation's natural resources and to landowners," said Wilson, a rancher-surveyor from Kinta, Okla. "However, we understand the process that forces the cuts and urge equitable treatment of conservation programs as our lawmakers finalize the budget reconciliation package."

In a letter to House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership, Wilson encouraged conferees to consider proportionate cuts across all Farm Bill programs if cuts to conservation programs are deemed necessary. If constrained to only the programs mentioned in their respective bills, however, Wilson recommended adjusting the reductions to the Conservation Reserve Program, the Conservation Security Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Watershed Rehabilitation Program to meet in the middle of the House and Senate versions of the reconciliation package.

Further, Wilson encouraged conferees to avoid cutting the Agricultural Management Assistance program. This program presents little savings in the proposed bills, yet has a large impact in the states and communities that carry it out.

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The National Association of Conservation Districts is the non-profit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts and 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For almost 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. NACD’s website is at www.nacdnet.org.

Actual text of the letters follows:

November 18, 2005

Dear Chair and Ranking Member,

On behalf of America’s 3,000 conservation districts, I write to ask that you consider a compromise on budget reconciliation as it relates to recommended cuts to the Farm Bill conservation programs. NACD has been working with both the House and Senate committees from the beginning of the process to provide credible data and input from those who would be most deeply affected by reconciliation. From the outset we have called for a fair and equitable approach to making the painful budget decisions that must be made.

We remain deeply concerned about the proposed cuts to the very programs that, not only help farmers and ranchers, but also benefit each and every community across the nation. The proven benefits of these vital conservation programs include cleaner water and air, reduced soil erosion and better soil quality, and better habitat to support an abundant wildlife resource. The cuts, as proposed, will have the effect of reducing farmer and rancher investments that are key to getting conservation on the land. For most of the programs targeted, farmers and ranchers invest their own money—typically 50 percent or more—to match the federal cost share and incentive payments. This leveraging almost literally doubles the conservation investment.

If cuts to conservation programs are necessary, they should be proportionate across all Farm Bill conservation programs so as to share the burden as equitably as possible. If conferees feel they are constrained to consider only the programs mentioned in their respective bills, we specifically ask that you consider reductions to the Conservation Reserve Program, the Conservation Security Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Watershed Rehabilitation Program be adjusted to meet in the middle of the House and Senate versions.

Further, we ask that you not make any cuts to the Agricultural Management Assistance program. This program presents little savings yet it has a large impact in the states and communities that carry it out. The following chart summarizes our recommendations:

Since the budget resolution and reconciliation process began, NACD has consistently said that if cuts to conservation programs must be made, we ask that they be as equitable as possible. This continues to be our position.

We thank you for consideration of our proposed compromise, as well as your continued support of private lands conservation programs.

Sincerely,

Bill Wilson
President, National Association of Conservation Districts