National Association of Conservation Districts

Action Alert

Action Requested
Date: May 20, 2009
Subject: Fiscal Year 2010 Conservation Program Cuts

Action Requested:
Contact your Members of Congress and ask that they reject the President's proposed funding cuts to Conservation in fiscal year 2010 (FY10).

Background:
The President recently released details of his proposed FY10 budget. The budget reflects substantial cuts to programs across most every department and agency in the federal government. Included were over $400 million in cuts to MANDATORY conservation programs under the Department of Agriculture just for next year alone.

NACD and conservation districts fought hard for increased funding for conservation programs during the development of the 2008 Farm Bill.  We were successful in gaining increases to important programs such as EQIP, Farmland Protection, and funding to continue WRP, WHIP and GRP.  Less than one year since Congress approved the increased funding for conservation, the President is recommending eliminating a portion of these funds.  We cannot allow these cuts to become part of the final FY10 agriculture appropriations bill.

Specific programs, original funding contained in the 2008 Farm Bill, and proposed cuts include:

The budget also makes a legislative reduction to the Conservation Reserve Program incentives for Public Access. These cuts represent significant loss of conservation on our nation’s private farmlands, ranchlands and forestlands.

Contacts
Now is the time to contact Congress and urge their support of full funding of Farm Bill conservation programs in FY10. Congress will be taking up appropriations bills in the very near future to set actual FY10 spending levels. During this process, Congress will have the ability to reject the President's proposed cuts to conservation programs and ensure full funding of Farm Bill conservation programs in the agriculture appropriations bill. Tell them to keep full conservation program funding in the FY10 agriculture appropriations bill.

Members of Congress will be returning home to observe the Memorial Day Recess the week of May 25. This presents an excellent opportunity for conservation districts to discuss in person support for full funding of conservation programs in FY10 agriculture appropriations. Call to request a meeting or check newspapers and other media outlets for announcements of public meetings with your Members of Congress.

Talking Points:
Below are some sample talking points for letters, phone contacts, or for discussion with your Members of Congress:

• Farm Bill Conservation programs provide critical assistance to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to address natural resource issues on their operations
• Conservation programs address critical environmental issues such as improved water quality, soil health and habitat. Many of the practices also sequester carbon to mitigate climate change
• Conservation practices and technical assistance must be tailored to crop production type, landscape, soil type, water resources, habitat needs and many other issues that vary across the United States
• Conservation programs may allow producers to take environmentally sensitive land out of production, provide cost-share funds to make structural improvements in their operations, or incentives to undertake new management practices
• Most of these programs only provide a partial payment for the conservation practice, so producers must also provide part of the funding
• The 2008 Farm Bill was finalized in June of last year. It is important for the new law to be given a chance to work without financial reductions in the fiscal year 2010 budget
• Congress provided funding for these program and approved this legislation less than a year ago so now is not the time to make changes

Contact Information:
Members of Congress can be contacted through telephone, email and web contact information. This information can be accessed at the following websites:
 
U.S. House of Representatives: http://www.house.gov/writerep
U.S. Senate: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

You can also contact your Members of Congress by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
 
(Please remember when contacting Members of Congress that use of federally owned equipment is prohibited. This includes fax machines, computers, email or any other method which involves federal property)

Report Back
We rely on your feedback to know which Members of Congress have been contacted, what questions or feedback they have, and where additional information may be needed. Please report your contacts to jeremy-peters@nacdnet.org.