Farm Bill Update and Next Steps

Thanks for your help earlier this year in pressing Congress for a
wildlife-friendly Farm Bill. There were important gains and losses for
wildlife in the final bill, and in the end National Wildlife
Federation opposed the final bill as falling short for fish and wildlife.

However, passage of the 2008 Farm Bill was only the first step. It
lays out a blueprint for Farm Bill conservation programs for the next
five years. Translating that blueprint into on-the-ground habitat for
fish and wildlife will depend on three keys: USDA's program rules,
Congressional appropriations, and state-level decisions by USDA.

As a member of NWF's Farming for Wildlife USA listserve, please read on for ways
you can be involved in promoting wildlife conservation and our sporting heritage
through Farm Bill conservation
programs.

USDA Program Rules

The US Department of Agriculture has begun issuing proposed rules to
implement the changes made in the new Farm Bill.  We plan to summarize
the proposed rules quickly, and provide them to NWF affiliates and
interested friends. We also plan to file comments on the proposed
rules, and would welcome organizations who wish to co-sign those
comments. We will also encourage individuals and organizations to file
their own comments on the proposed rules with USDA.

If you are interested in the new USDA conservation program rules and
want to participate in the rule-making process, please sign up for
NWF's Farm Bill Rules email list.

State-Level Decisions

The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service State Technical
Committees provide advice to the State Conservationist on implementing
USDA conservation programs at the state level. They help set
priorities and approve practices to be funded at the state and local
level. These committees include people from state and federal
agencies, commodity organizations and non-profit organizations with an
interest in agriculture, wildlife, or conservation programs in general.

If you want to help set state-level priorities for USDA conservation
programs or are interested in USDA State Technical Committees, please
sign up for NWF's Farm Bill State Technical Committee email list.

Appropriations

Congress tells USDA how much it can spend on conservation through an
annual appropriations bill. Sometimes, appropriators have cut money
from conservation programs that are supposed to receive `automatic'
funding. Congress passed a bill in October that provides partial-year
funding for fiscal year 2009, and the appropriations committees are
now discussing bills that would fund USDA programs through the rest of
2009. NWF will be working to help NWF affiliates and interested
friends understand and participate in Farm Bill appropriations work.

If you are interested in appropriations issues that impact Farm Bill
conservation and energy programs, please sign up for NWF's Agriculture
Appropriations email list.

Changes at NWF

We plan to upgrade NWF's Farm Bill web site (www.NWF.org/Farmland) to
provide information as the 2008 Farm Bill is implemented. We will also
be adding information on agriculture and climate change.

We will close out our Yahoo Farming for Wildlife listserve and web
site, which have served their purpose of educating people during the
Farm Bill debate.

We plan to create the three email lists noted above, plus a general
Farm Bill and Wildlife email list to share general information about
Farm Bill conservation and energy programs, including major
announcements, legislation, and other developments.

We plan to send you general information and major announcements
related to Farm Bill conservation programs via NWF's Farm Bill and
Wildlife email list, unless you tell us different.

As the debate over the 2008 Farm Bill made clear, we have much work to
do to maintain the federal commitment to conservation programs that
help farmers and ranchers put in place wildlife-friendly practices. We
hope you will join us in our work to make sure the program rules,
Congressional appropriations, and state-level decisions make the best
use of current and new USDA conservation programs to promote fish and
wildlife habitat in America.

When you get an email inviting you to sign up for one or more of the
email discussion lists noted above, please respond. We would also
appreciate your other ideas for making sure we leverage Farm Bill
conservation programs to do the best job possible for America's fish
and wildlife.

Thanks for all your good work!

Duane Hovorka

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2008

Contact
Tom France: (406) 541-6706, france@...
Julie Sibbing: (202) 797-6832 or (703) 403-4676, sibbing@...

Judge issues permanent injunction to stop widespread haying and
grazing on Conservation Reserve Program lands

Court ruling is a victory for wildlife conservation

SEATTLE, WA (July 24) – A U.S. District judge today issued a
permanent injunction against the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
(USDA) program allowing widespread haying and grazing on
Conservation Reserve Program lands. The injunction allows those who
have already applied to the program or who have made farming
decisions based on it to move forward, but forbids opening
additional Conservation Reserve Program lands.
The Honorable John C. Coughenour ruled for the plaintiffs — the
National Wildlife Federation, Indiana Wildlife Federation, South
Dakota Wildlife Federation, Washington Wildlife Federation, Nebraska
Wildlife Federation, Louisiana Wildlife Federation and Kansas
Wildlife Federation – finding that the USDA violated the National
Environmental Policy Act by failing to study the environmental
impacts of its action before implementing the program. The decision
reduces the number of acres open to increased haying grazing from 24
million to less than 2 million.
	 "USDA tried to turn one of America's most important
conservation programs into a farm subsidy program, putting wildlife
at risk throughout the country," said Tom France, Regional Executive
Director of the National Wildlife Federation's Northern Rockies
Natural Resource Center and lead counsel on the case. "Today's
ruling sends a clear message to USDA that it must follow the law in
reviewing potential harmful impacts to wildlife and habitat before
it makes sweeping decisions."
	 "Judge Coughenour's opinion guarantees that conservation
remains the top priority and purpose of the Conservation Reserve
Program, while taking into account the financial needs of the
landowners already invested in opening their lands to increased
haying and grazing," said Julie Sibbing, Senior Program Manager for
Agriculture Policy at the National Wildlife Federation. "We hope in
the future USDA will follow the law and conduct a proper
environmental assessment before it implements new policies regarding
Conservation Reserve Program lands."
	 The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is America's largest
private lands conservation program, covering nearly 35 million acres
of land. Farmers enrolled in the program help provide wildlife
habitat, protect wetlands, and keep over 450 million tons of
topsoil, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer out of rivers every
year. On May 27, the USDA announced plans to allow landowners
holding CRP contracts to modify their contracts, without reimbursing
taxpayers, allowing haying or grazing on 24 million acres of habitat
this year. The National Wildlife Federation and six affiliate
organizations filed suit against the USDA on June 30, arguing that
the agency failed to look at the environmental impacts of the action
as required under the National Environmental Policy Act. On July 8,
the court issued a temporary restraining to halt the program.
`The USDA wanted to sacrifice decades of progress for small, short
term gains," said Ben Deeble, biologist for the National Wildlife
Federation. "For wildlife like the greater sage-grouse and Columbian
sharp-tailed grouse that are struggling in many places, we have an
obligation to avoid any action that might push them closer to
extinction.  For other species like several types of ducks that are
produced in abundance on CRP habitats, we should maintain this
bounty."
The judge ordered the following as part of the injunction:
In recognition of the good faith of those who acted in reliance on
USDA's authority to issue contract modifications related to the
critical feed use program, all those who had applied for contract
modifications prior to the judge's issuance of a temporary
restraining order on July 8th, (1.78 million acres) may proceed to
hay and graze these lands.
No additional applications for the critical feed use program may be
accepted by the Farm Service Agency unless the applicant can make a
showing of having invested at least $4,500 in anticipation of
participating in the program.  For these additional applicants, all
haying shall be completed prior to September 15 and all haying shall
be completed by October 15, 2008.
Those who participate in the critical feed use program cannot hay or
graze lands enrolled in CRP again except pursuant to a managed
haying or grazing contract modification that is consistent with
previously established standards for CRP haying and grazing.
The injunction will not affect the carefully balanced, "managed
haying and grazing" or "emergency haying and grazing" already
allowed on CRP lands, which is not opposed by the National Wildlife
Federation.
National Wildlife Federation is America's conservation organization
inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.
###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2008

Contact
Julie Sibbing: (202) 797-6832 or (703) 403-4676, sibbing@...

Judge orders USDA to halt expanded haying and grazing on
Conservation Reserve Program lands

USDA action puts 24 million acres of wildlife habitat at risk

WASHINGTON, DC (July 9) – A U.S. District Judge yesterday issued a
temporary restraining order against the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), forcing the agency to halt efforts to open 24
million acres of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands to
expanded haying and grazing beyond what current management plans
allow. The restraining order was issued after the National Wildlife
Federation and six of its state affiliates filed a lawsuit against
the USDA, arguing that the agency failed to look at the
environmental impacts of the action as required under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
"Conservationists have been working with private landowners and
Congress for more than 20 years to build and maintain a strong
Conservation Reserve Program," said Julie Sibbing, Senior Program
Manager for Agriculture Policy at the National Wildlife
Federation. "In one fell swoop, the USDA attempted to undermine
decades of progress by circumventing the carefully balanced managed
haying and grazing already allowed on these lands."
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is America's largest private
lands conservation program, covering nearly 35 million acres of
land. On May 27, the USDA announced plans to allow landowners
holding CRP contracts to modify their contracts, without reimbursing
taxpayers, allowing haying or grazing on 24 million acres of habitat
this year. The USDA failed to study the environmental impacts of its
action before it began issuing permits to landowners. Federal law,
including the National Environmental Policy Act, requires such a
study each time a federal agency undertakes an important action like
this one that could harm the environment.
Currently, haying and grazing are allowed on CRP lands according to
a management plan that takes into account the needs of wildlife.
According to the National Wildlife Federation, allowing additional
haying or grazing beyond these management provisions on nearly two-
thirds of CRP lands would harm birds like sage-grouse, which in
states like Washington depend heavily on these habitats. Winter
cover would also be destroyed for birds like pheasants and prairie
chickens that live year-around in one place. If the haying or
grazing were done late enough, the grassland would not have enough
time to recover before the nesting season next spring.
"The proposed program could have serious impacts on wildlife such as
the greater sage-grouse and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, both of
which have been proposed for protection under the Endangered Species
Act," said Ben Deeble, Sage Grouse Coordinator for the National
Wildlife Federation. "All we ask is that the USDA adheres to the
principle of looking before you leap when making decisions that
could harm wildlife."
The case was filed on June 30 in the in the Western U.S. District
Court in Seattle. Joining the National Wildlife Federation on the
suit are the Indiana Wildlife Federation, South Dakota Wildlife
Federation, Washington Wildlife Federation, Arkansas Wildlife
Federation, Louisiana Wildlife Federation and Kansas Wildlife
Federation. A hearing on the full merits of the case will be held
next Thursday, July 17. Until then, the USDA cannot issue any
additional permits and has been ordered to contact landowners who
have already received permits and notify them of the restraining
order.
"Unfortunately for landowners, the USDA made a promise it was not
legally allowed to make," said Sibbing. "As in the past, we will
continue to work with landowners to maximize the benefits of the CRP
program for both people and wildlife."
Yesterday's order does not impact the emergency release of CRP acres
in response to drought and flood.
"As this case is being decided, we have heard that the USDA is also
considering plans to offer penalty free releases of Conservation
Reserve Program acres to landowners to plant more grain crops," said
Sibbing. "The National Wildlife Federation opposes early releases of
CRP land without reimbursement of the taxpayer funds invested in
them. This restraining order sends a strong message to USDA that
moving forward with such an effort without conducting a proper
environmental impact statement is ill-advised."
National Wildlife Federation is America's conservation organization
inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.

Although we cannot distribute attachments through this listserve, i
wanted you to know that we have posted a copy of a 3-page summary of
the key conservation provisions of the new Farm Bill on our Yahoo
listserve site for your use.
(http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FarmingforWildlife_USA/)

If you have questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me
at HovorkaD@....

It has been a long, long journey. Thanks for all your support of good
conservation in the new Farm Bill!

Duane Hovorka
National Wildlife Federation

Thanks Duane.

Needless to say that I am very  disappointed about theis farm bill.  I
look forward to seeing the summary.

Spencer


> The President vetoed the Farm Bill Wednesday morning (May 21).  The
> House voted hours later to override the veto on a 316 to 108 vote (a
> two-thirds vote is needed in each house).
>
> However, it was discovered that through a clerical error the bill
> that arrived on the President's desk (and was vetoed) was missing
> Title III (Trade) from the bill passed by Congress.
>
> House and Senate leaders are now discussing how to fix the problem.
> The House re-passed the Farm Bill (complete with Title III, and under
> a new number, HR 6124) on a 306-110 vote Thursday morning. The Senate
> voted 82 to 13 to override the veto of the original (flawed) bill
> Thursday afternoon.
>
> House Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson and Ranking
> Republican Bob Goodlatte issued a statement indicating that with the
> veto override votes, 14 of the 15 Farm Bill titles are now law.
> Senator Saxby Chambliss warned Senators that they might have to re-
> pass the corrected legislation as the House did.
>
> One way or another, we expect to have a final Farm Bill in the next
> few days, including the trade title (sooner or later).
>
> As we noted last week, NWF opposed the final version of the Farm bill
> because it will reduce funding for land conservation programs and
> fails to enact either the House or Senate-passed "Sodsaver" provision
> to eliminate incentives to break out even the most marginal of native
> grassland areas. We are putting together a summary of the final bill
> and will share that with you soon.
>
> Duane Hovorka
>
>
>

The President vetoed the Farm Bill Wednesday morning (May 21).  The
House voted hours later to override the veto on a 316 to 108 vote (a
two-thirds vote is needed in each house).

However, it was discovered that through a clerical error the bill
that arrived on the President's desk (and was vetoed) was missing
Title III (Trade) from the bill passed by Congress.

House and Senate leaders are now discussing how to fix the problem.
The House re-passed the Farm Bill (complete with Title III, and under
a new number, HR 6124) on a 306-110 vote Thursday morning. The Senate
voted 82 to 13 to override the veto of the original (flawed) bill
Thursday afternoon.

House Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson and Ranking
Republican Bob Goodlatte issued a statement indicating that with the
veto override votes, 14 of the 15 Farm Bill titles are now law.
Senator Saxby Chambliss warned Senators that they might have to re-
pass the corrected legislation as the House did.

One way or another, we expect to have a final Farm Bill in the next
few days, including the trade title (sooner or later).

As we noted last week, NWF opposed the final version of the Farm bill
because it will reduce funding for land conservation programs and
fails to enact either the House or Senate-passed "Sodsaver" provision
to eliminate incentives to break out even the most marginal of native
grassland areas. We are putting together a summary of the final bill
and will share that with you soon.

Duane Hovorka

Negotiators announced late Wednesday that they had reached agreement
on a final Farm Bill. An overview of the agreement will be presented
by Senator Tom Harkin, Rep. Collin Peterson, and other conferees
Thursday afternoon at 1:30 pm eastern, and will be webcast on the
House and Senate Agriculture Committee web sites
(http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/audio.html or
http://agriculture.senate.gov/.)

We understand the estimates we provided last week for various
conservation program levels are generally close, but may not all be
exactly right. When we have official details we will provide them.

What is clear is that the bill, as Senate Agriculture Committee Chair
Tom Harkin noted on the committee's web site, "shifts the focus in
conservation strongly in the direction of working land conservation."

We understand both the Conservation Reserve Program and Wetlands
Reserve Program will see substantial cuts from the acreage provided
under the 2002 Farm Bill. In contrast, the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program, Conservation Security Program, and Farm and Ranch
Protection Program will all see substantial increases in funding.

The result is a shift of several billion dollars, and millions of
acres, from programs that provide wildlife habitat (and other
benefits) to programs that primarily address other kinds of
environmental concerns on farms and ranches. The bill may also fall
short in other ways.

"Both the House and Senate recognized the importance of including a
provision in the Farm Bill to halt federal incentives that encourage
the destruction of native grasslands," said NWF President and CEO
Larry Schweiger Wednesday. "Yet, the Farm Bill Conference Committee
has taken it upon itself to water down this provision until it is
toothless."

"The General Accountability Office has cited the availability of Crop
Insurance and Disaster Payments as a key factor in decisions by
farmers to destroy native grasslands to plant crops. This Farm Bill
greatly ups the ante by providing a new permanent disaster program
that will make it even more attractive for farmers to destroy our
nation's rapidly diminishing native grasslands; even where such lands
would not be economically viable to convert without a taxpayer-backed
safety net," said Schweiger.

"Beyond the immediate threat to native habitats and the wildlife that
depend upon them, weakening this provision in the Farm Bill could
have a resounding negative impact on our country by exacerbating
global warming. In the Great Plains region alone, conversion of
grasslands to cropping would add 468 billion pounds of carbon dioxide
to the atmosphere - the equivalent of putting nearly 41 million new
cars to the road.

"Our nation cannot afford a Farm Bill that will both increase global
warming and escalate the destruction of one of our nation's most
endangered ecosystems. This is the wrong approach for our nation and
for the future of our planet."

President Bush has threatened to veto the Farm Bill over concerns
about the lack of reform in the commodity title and the amount of
spending in the bill. That could set up a showdown with Congressional
leaders who would be pressing to override the veto.

Senate and House Farm Bill conferees met again Thursday evening,
after more than a week of private meetings designed to hammer out a
final agreement on the Farm Bill. The conferees cleared nearly all of
the major Titles of the Farm Bill.

Although we have yet to see the official language, based on the
discussions, rumors, and press and other reports the key conservation
provisions would appear to:

Cut the Conservation Reserve Program to just 32 million acres, from
39.2 million acres in current law (a cut of $2.5 billion over 10
years);

Continue the Wetlands Reserve Program, but cut it to 185,000 acres
per year, from the current 250,000 acres per year. A change in the
WRP payment structure that will stretch out when farmers get paid
would also make it much harder to attract landowners to participate
in larger restoration projects;

Continue the Grasslands Reserve Program, but at about 0.9 million
acres over five years, which is less than the 1.0 million acres
enrolled under the 2002 Farm Bill;

Continue the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, but at the current
level of $85 million per year with no increase for inflation;

Increase funding for the Conservation Security Program, allowing it
to boost enrollment in this multiple-resource working lands program
to 80 million acres (from the current 16 million acres), and rewrite
major parts of the program;

Substantially increase funding for the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program, which provides cost-share for a variety of
conservation practices on working farms and ranches;

Substantially increase funding for the Farm and Ranch Protection
Program, which provides funding to protect open space but includes no
requirements that the contracts provide for wildlife habitat;

Provide about $372 million over five years for a new cost-share
program to fund conservation in the Chesapeake Bay watershed;

Create a new `Open Fields' program to provide grants to states and
tribes to reward farmers willing to open their conservation lands to
public access;

Provide a very weak SodSaver provision, which would reduce incentives
to break out native prairie, but only in a few states in the Prairie
Potholes region, and then only with approval from the state's
governor.

The tax and revenue Title of the Farm Bill has yet to be finalized,
but we believe that incentives for landowners who take conservation
measures to benefit rare and endangered species are included in the
final package, but we don't know about the funding level.

We will provide further details as information is released.

Duane Hovorka
National Wildlife Federation

I'm taking this news very seriously, and if you see any
possibility of it happening, you may want to start
preparing for your family.

http://www.theamericannightmare.org/FOOD_SUPPLY__AAD.html

Several news outlets are reporting that negotiators reached a deal
Friday on a framework for a new Farm Bill that will allow conferees
to complete their work ironing out the details of a new Farm Bill in
the next couple weeks. Senator Tom Harkin announced that the package
will be presented to other conferees on Monday.

ONE ISSUE STILL OUTSTANDING IS A PROPOSED NEW SODSAVER PROVISION THAT
WOULD REDUCE TAXPAYER-FUNDED INCENTIVES FOR FARMERS TO PLOW UP NATIVE
PRAIRIE TO PLANT CROPS. KEEP THOSE CALLS AND FAXES COMING, THERE IS
STILL TIME TO CONTACT YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND ASK THEM TO
SUPPORT A STRONG SODSAVER PROVISION IN THE NEW FARM BILL!

For conservation, Reuters News reports that the deal includes $4
billion in new funding (less than the $5 billion NWF and other
conservation organizations have been asking for). Chris Clayton at
DTN News reports that the conservation provisions include "a $1.1
billion increase in spending over 10 years for the Conservation
Security Program that will allow USDA to enroll as much as 80 million
acres in the program within five years. The Environmental Quality
Incentives Program, or EQIP, also got a boost in spending of $2.4
billion over 10 years."

Reports are that the Senate proposal for $2.4 billion in tax
incentives would be trimmed, but we have no word yet on whether NWF-
supported tax incentives to private landowners who take actions to
protect listed species on their land is still in the bill or not.

Reuters says the deal includes $900 million in new funding for
biofuels development. DTN's Clayton says the tax provisions include a
reduction in the federal credit for corn-based ethanol, shifting some
of the incentive to promote cellulosic ethanol production.

We will provide more details as we learn them.

Over the past two weeks, conferees have agreed on most of the
provisions of 5 Titles of the Farm Bill (trade, credit, research,
forestry, and the Commodity Exchange Act), plus many specialty crop
and insurance provisions. Yet to be completed are titles covering
conservation, energy, rural development, nutrition, livestock, most
of the commodity provisions, tax provisions, disaster assistance and
miscellaneous issues.

Negotiators have not released details of the provisions that have
been agreed to, and have emphasized that all of the provisions remain
subject to change until the final bill is agreed to.

On Thursday, the Senate has passed a one-week extension of the farm
bill, extending current farm law until May 2, 2008. The House of
Representatives also passed the legislation, and the President signed
it Friday.

Duane Hovorka
National Wildlife Federation

Late last week, Congress and the President agreed to extend the
current Farm Bill by one week to April 25, to give conferees more
time to find an agreement on a final Farm Bill. Conferees reached
agreement on most of the provisions of three Farm Bill titles last
week (Credit, Research, and Trade), but have been at an impasse over
funding provisions.

Conferees are scheduled to convene again Tuesday, April 22, at 4:30
pm Eastern time. Key decisions on the final Farm Bill will likely be
made in the next few days.

That could make this your LAST CHANCE to weigh in on key Farm Bill
conservation issues.

We ask you to contact your members of Congress one more time, and
urge them to:

1. Support a strong SodSaver provision in the Farm Bill, one that
would reduce taxpayer-paid incentives for farmers to plow up
grasslands to plant crops;

2. Support mandatory funding for a new Open Fields program that would
support state efforts to reward farmers willing to open their
conservation land to recreational access;

3. Support at least $5 billion in new funding for conservation
programs that help farmers and ranchers adopt wildlife-friendly
practices that protect our natural resources.

Make a difference! Contact your members of Congress today!

Conference meetings are being broadcast live on the internet at
www.agriculture.senate.gov.

-- Duane Hovorka, National Wildlife Federation

House and Senate conferees on the Farm Bill have been meeting this
week to try to reach agreement on a final Farm Bill.

Late last Friday (April 11), Senate negotiators provided their House
counterparts with a framework outline of a new Farm Bill, and this
week House negotiators indicated that much of the general outline was
acceptable to them. The framework would provide $4 billion in new
funding for conservation programs, but would cut in the size of the
Conservation Reserve Program by millions of acres.

$4 billion is less than the $5 billion in new funding that NWF and
other hunting, fishing, conservation and environmental organizations
have pressed for. The framework does not indicate how the funds would
be split within the conservation title. $4 billion would be enough to
reauthorize programs like the Wetlands Reserve Program and Grassland
Reserve Program that would otherwise expire, to continue most current
conservation programs at roughly their current level, and to restore
some of the cuts made to conservation programs since 2002.

Still unresolved is the proposed SodSaver provision, and whether some
version of it will be included in the final bill. The House and
Senate bills included differing versions of a provision that would
reduce taxpayer-funded incentives for farmers to break out native
prairie and other grasslands to plant crops.

Also at issue are the means to pay for the $10 billion in new funds
proposed to be spent over the $597 billion 10-year budget baseline
for USDA Farm Bill programs, and whether a $2.5 billion package of
tax incentives proposed by the Senate will be included in the bill.
That includes about $0.8 billion in tax beaks for private landowners
who address endangered species habitat.

The conference committee is working through each title, and
conservation is likely to be one of the last. But, as Senator Saxby
Chambliss said, "nothing is settled until the whole deal is done."

On April 16, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5813, a bill to
extend farm programs until April 25, 2008, in order to give conferees
time to resolve remaining issues. The Senate is expected to pass the
bill as well. White House has expressed reservations about signing
another short-term extension unless Congress is closer to agreement
on a final Farm Bill. The latest extension of the Farm Bill expires
April 18.

Duane Hovorka

News from the House Agriculture Committee
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Announces Farm Bill Conferees

WASHINGTON, DC - Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson today
announced the list of Representatives appointed by the Speaker
of the House of Representatives to participate in the conference
committee that will negotiate the 2008 Farm Bill.

"The Members serving on this conference committee have a challenging
job as we work to come to an agreement that will move the Farm
Bill forward," Chairman Peterson said. "I'm confident that if
everyone comes to the table willing to negotiate and compromise, we
can pass a new Farm Bill that will expand important nutrition and
conservation programs and provide new resources for fruit and
vegetable producers and renewable energy programs while improving the
farm safety net."

The Democratic Members of Congress selected to serve on the
conference committee are:
From the Agriculture Committee:
Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota
Congressman Tim Holden of Pennsylvania
Congressman Mike McIntyre of North Carolina
Congressman Bob Etheridge of North Carolina
Congressman Leonard Boswell of Iowa
Congressman Joe Baca of California
Congressman Dennis Cardoza of California
Congressman David Scott of Georgia

Conferees on Farm Bill provisions with jurisdiction beyond the
Agriculture Committee:
Congressman George Miller of California (Education and Labor)
Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy of New York (Education and Labor)
Congressman John Dingell of Michigan (Energy and Commerce)
Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey (Energy and Commerce)
Congressman Paul Kanjorski of Pennsylvania (Financial Services)
Congresswoman Maxine Waters of California (Financial Services)
Congressman Howard Berman of California (Foreign Affairs)
Congressman Brad Sherman of California (Foreign Affairs)
Congressman John Conyers of Michigan (Judiciary)
Congressman Bobby Scott of Virginia (Judiciary)
Congressman Nick Rahall of West Virginia (Natural Resources)
Delegate Madeline Bordallo of Guam (Natural Resources)
Congressman Henry Waxman of California (Oversight and Government
Reform)
Congressman Edolphus Towns of New York (Oversight and Government
Reform)
Congressman Bart Gordon of Tennessee (Science and Technology)
Congressman Nick Lampson of Texas (Science and Technology)
Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez of New York (Small Business)
Congressman Heath Shuler of North Carolina (Small Business)
Congressman Jim Oberstar of Minnesota (Transportation and
Infrastructure)
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia
(Transportation and Infrastructure)
Congressman Charles Rangel of New York (Ways and Means)
Congressman Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota (Ways and Means)

The Republican Members of Congress selected to serve on the
conference committee are:
From the Agriculture Committee:
Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Bob Goodlatte of Virginia
Congressman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma
Congressman Jerry Moran of Kansas
Congressman Robin Hayes of North Carolina
Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave of Colorado
Congressman Randy Neugebauer of Texas

Conferees on Farm Bill provisions with jurisdiction beyond the
Agriculture Committee:
Congressman Todd Platts of Pennsylvania (Education and Labor)
Congressman Joe Barton of Texas (Energy and Commerce)
Congressman Spencer Bachus of Alabama (Financial Services)
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida (Foreign Affairs)
Congressman Lamar Smith of Texas (Judiciary)
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers of Washington (Natural Resources)
Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio (Oversight and Government Reform)
Congressman Michael McCaul of Texas (Science and Technology)
Congressman Steve Chabot of Ohio (Small Business)
Congressman Sam Graves of Missouri (Transportation and Infrastructure)
Congressman Jim McCrery of Louisiana (Ways and Means)

The Members of Congress selected from Leadership to serve on the
conference committee are:
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut
Congressman Adam Putnam of Florida

The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture web site
http://agriculture.house.gov     has additional information on this
and other subjects.

With two weeks to go before the latest extension of the Farm Bill
expires April 18, it is still not clear whether Congress will come
through with a new Farm Bill this year.

National Wildlife Federation continues to press for passage of a Farm
Bill this year that includes $5 billion in new funding for
conservation programs. We encourage you to contact your members of
Congress again in support of conservation funding, because key
decisions may be made in the week ahead.

In mid-March, House and Senate agriculture committee leaders
announced agreement on a framework for a new Farm Bill that included
$4.95 billion in new funds for the conservation title. However, that
framework was immediately attacked by Senators who want more funds
for a new permanent disaster assistance program.

AgricultureOnline reporter Dan Looker reported that "Senator Max
Baucus, Chairman of the Finance Committee, reportedly wants more than
$4 billion in new spending to pay for a permanent disaster program
over the next 10 years. That would benefit wheat farmers in his state
and other regions of the Great Plains."  North Dakota Senator Kent
Conrad has also been vocal in his support of the disaster program.

"Representative Charles Rangel, a New Yorker who heads the House Ways
and Means Committee, is reported to be upset that a $9.5 billion
increase in funding for food stamps is being considered, not the
$11.5 billion passed in the House Farm Bill last summer," writes
Looker.

Senator Baucus and Representative Rangel chair the committees that
were asked to find $10 billion in new funding to complete the bill,
so they have considerable influence over the debate.

Meanwhile, House members Ron Kind (D-WI), Paul Ryan (R-WI), Earl
Blumenauer (D-OR), and Jeff Flake (R-AZ), issued a press release
objecting to a proposal last week by farm bill negotiators "to
eliminate nearly $1 billion from conservation programs to provide
more money for a permanent agricultural disaster assistance fund."
Kind said "increasing conservation funding is vital to address a
tremendous unmet need and help more farmers be better stewards of the
land."

-- Duane Hovorka

Earlier this week, House and Senate agriculture committee leaders
released a framework for a Farm Bill that appears to have moved
Congress a step closer to having a Farm Bill finalized by April 18,
when the current extension of the Farm Bill expires. However, the
initial reaction from several key senators and the Bush
Administration indicate there is still a long ways to go to get a
final agreement.

The framework was released by Senate Agriculture Chair Tom Harkin (D-
IA), Ranking Republican Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), House Agriculture
Chair Collin Peterson (D-MN), and Ranking Republican Bob Goodlatte (R-
VA). It calls for a $607 billion Farm Bill over ten years, which is
$10 billion over the `baseline' budget for Farm Bill programs.

For conservation, the framework would mean $4.95 billion in new
money, a cut in the Conservation Reserve Program cap to 32 million
acres (from 39.2 million acres currently), and a new Sodsaver
provision. Much of the "new money" is needed to fund programs like
the Wetlands Reserve Program and Grassland Reserve Program, which
would otherwise expire, and to restore conservation program funds cut
by Congress since the 2002 Farm Bill. The framework also includes an
additional $1 billion for the energy title.

National Wildlife Federation joined 21 other national conservation
and environmental organizations in a letter to Congressional leaders,
asking for their "strong support of the March 18, 2008, Farm
Bill "Framework's" $4.951 billion increase in new funds above
baseline for the Bill's voluntary, incentives-based conservation
programs." The letter said "while substantially more is truly needed
to address the country's conservation needs, this level of investment
is essential.  Any less risks irreparable damage to our agricultural
lands and other natural resources."

However, Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-MT) quickly
issued a statement saying "this new farm bill proposal is dead on
arrival. I won't vote for or help to fund any
agreement that does not do disaster assistance right for our farmers
in need. I bet other Senators will feel the same."

Sen. Baucus was a leader in ensuring that the Senate Farm Bill
included a new $5.1 billion disaster assistance program, and said the
new framework's proposal to provide $2.2 billion for disaster
assistance "isn't good enough."

Meanwhile, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer reiterated in a news
conference that the President won't sign a new Farm Bill that is paid
for with new taxes, or that does not include reforms in commodity
programs. "The President has said, 'If we're going to go forward with
increases in spending, they have to come with reforms.'" Schafer
said "we've identified and agreed with $6 billion worth of spending,"
and that they had outlined ways for Congress to provide $10 billion
in new funding.

An Associated Press story noted that lawmakers also have disagreed on
who has control over the legislation. Sen. Baucus and Iowa Sen.
Charles Grassley, the top Republican on the finance committee, "want
their committee to control some farm programs along with finding the
money for it. But Harkin has said his committee should have total
control over the bill." On that point, Sen. Harkin has support from
House Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson, who has said he
wants the House Agriculture Committee to retain jurisdiction over the
whole Farm Bill.

Members of Congress return from recess March 31.

Before leaving for a two-week recess, Congress passed, and the
President signed, an extension of the current Farm Bill through April
18. In signing the extension, the President said "if a final
agreement is not reached by April 18, I call on Congress to extend
current law for at least one year. While long-term extension of
current law is not the desired outcome, I believe the government has
a responsibility to provide America's farmers and ranchers with a
timely and predictable farm program -- not multiple short-term
extensions of current law..."

"I am eager to sign a farm bill that provides a safety net for
farmers, includes significant farm program reform similar to the
Administration's farm bill proposal, and does not include tax
increases," said the President. "I have made clear the framework of
an agreement that will garner my signature and urge Congress to pass
a bill that meets these criteria."

With House and Senate members home for two weeks on recess, now is an
excellent time to try to schedule meetings with Senate and House
members, and to urge them to support stronger funding for
conservation programs in the Farm Bill.

Conservation programs remain on the chopping block. A proposal to cut
the Conservation Reserve Program from 39.2 million acres to just 32
million acres, and to cut the Wetlands Reserve Program from 250,000
acres to just 200,000 acres per year, is still a very real threat.

House Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Ranking
Republican Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) initially said their committee would
work on a Farm Bill that would spend no more than the current budget
baseline ($280 billion over five years, or $597 over 10 years). That
would likely mean no increase for conservation and most other
titles.

However, Greenwire reported Friday afternoon that Senate negotiators
have talked them out of that approach -- at least for now. Rep.
Goodlatte said "we are going to work with how we can reach agreement
on a $10 billion-above-baseline bill, but if in a week or so we don't
see the money forthcoming, we are going to continue to work on what
to do if we don't have the money -- and that's a baseline bill,"

A continuing dispute is between the Senate Finance Committee and
House Agriculture Committee. Senate Finance provided a package of
revenue that helped fund increases in conservation and other funding
for the Senate Farm Bill. That package included tax credits for the
Grassland Reserve Program, Conservation Reserve Program and Wetlands
Reserve Program that would replace cash payments for some producers.
But, House Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson has said the
committee is unwilling to give up jurisdiction over farm programs to
another committee.

Senate and House members need to hear from individuals and
organizations who care about conservation funding in the Farm Bill
over the next two weeks. If you would like help with updates or
materials, or information for reporters or editors, feel free to
contact us.

Duane Hovorka

USDA Proposes Changes to Conservation Reserve Program Haying &
Grazing and Nesting Season Provisions

	 The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced this week that
it will hold public meetings in 13 states on proposed changes to
managed haying and grazing provisions on Conservation Reserve Program
(CRP) land.

	 The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is proposing rule changes
that would allow more frequent managed haying and/or grazing on land
that is enrolled in CRP contracts. The 13 states are Idaho, Kansas,
Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South
Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The public comment
meetings are being scheduled in the coming weeks.

	 USDA will also take comments on changes to primary nesting
season dates, during which managed haying and grazing are not
permitted (USDA has proposed shortening the designated nesting
seasons in Idaho and Montana).

	 The proposed changes are in response to a 2006 settlement
between the National Wildlife Federation and six NWF state
affiliates, and USDA, that resolved complaints that USDA had set
managed haying and grazing frequencies and nesting season dates that
did not adequately consider the impact on wildlife. The settlement
covered 19 states, including the 13 states above plus Arizona,
California, Indiana, Nevada, New York, and Wisconsin. USDA does not
appear to be considering changes in those six states at this time.

	 FSA will consider public comments when it prepares state-
specific environmental assessments that will evaluate the effects of
the proposed changes. The environmental assessments will aid USDA
decision-makers and the public with an analysis of the benefits and
potential impacts of the proposed changes to managed haying and
grazing on CRP land.

	 Public comments can be submitted both electronically and by
regular mail. They must be received by the close of business on April
27, 2008. Direct comments to: MHG EAs, Geo-Marine Incorporated, 2713
Magruder Blvd., Suite D, Hampton, Va. 23666-1572 or send them through
the Web site: http://public.geo-marine.com.  Information on meeting
dates and locations, and the proposed changes in each state, is
available on the project Web site as well. Below are the public
meeting dates posted so far. I have a charg summarizing the current
and proposed haying and grazing frequencies, and nesting season
dates, by state, contact me if you'd like a copy.

Duane Hovorka

Idaho
Meeting not yet posted

Kansas: Hays, March 28
Kansas State University Ag Research Center
1232 240th Avenue
Hays, Kansas 67601
(785) 625-3425
March 28, 2008, 9:00 am

Montana: Great Falls, March 20
Hampton Inn
2301 14th St. SW
Great Falls, Montana 59404
(406) 453-2675
March 20, 2008, 1:00 PM

Nebraska, Lincoln, March 27
Lancaster Event Center
4100 North 84th Street
Lincoln, NE
(402) 441-6545
March 27, 2008, 1:00 pm

New Mexico
Meeting not yet posted

North Dakota, Bismarck, March 17
Radisson Hotel
605 E. Broadway
Bismarck, North Dakota 58501
(701) 255-6000
Date of meeting: 3/17/2008 9:00 AM

Oklahoma, Woodward, March 27
High Plains Technology Center
3921 34th Street
Woodward, OK  73801
(800) 725-1492
March 27, 2008, 1:00 pm

Oregon, Pendleton, March 12
Pendleton Convention Center
1601 Westgate
Pendleton, Oregon 97801
(800) 863-9358
March 12, 2008 1:30 PM

South Dakota, Huron, March 18
Huron Event Center
100 4th St. SW
Huron, South Dakota 57350
(800) 876-5858
Date of meeting: 3/18/2008 1:00 PM

Texas
Meeting not yet posted

Utah
Meeting not yet posted

Washington, Ritzville, March 11
American Legion Hall
106 W. Broadway St.
Ritzville, Washington 99169
(509) 659-0543
Date of meeting: 3/11/2008 1:30 PM

Wyoming
Meeting not yet posted

Friday, the USDA gave House and Senate Farm Bill negotiators the
Department's list of changes that the White House wants to see in a
new Farm Bill before President Bush will support spending $10 billion
over ten years above the current budget baseline for Farm Bill
programs. Most of the changes involve reforms to the commodity
programs in the Farm Bill.

In a news release, the Farmers Union said House Agriculture Committee
Chairman Collin Peterson told more than 600 Farmers Union members
meeting on Sunday that he is optimistic a farm bill funding agreement
will be reached in the coming week and a bill signed into law by mid-
April.

"We're moving slowly ahead, at least not backwards and we're close to
getting a final resolution," Peterson said.

But Chris Clayton (DTN.ag) reported Rep. Peterson also said there was
not much time left to reach agreement, and "at some time, we have got
to fish or cut bait."

The current Farm Bill extension expires March 15, and House and
Senate leaders have discussed a further extension to April 15 to
complete negotiations on the bill.

Still on the table is a proposal floated by House Agriculture
Committee Chair Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Ranking Republican Bob
Goodlatte (R-VA) to cut the Conservation Reserve Program to just 32
million acres (from 39.2 million authorized in current law), and to
cut the Wetlands Reserve Program annual enrollment to 200,000 acres
(from the 250,000 acres allowed under current law).

Meanwhile, Jerry Hagstrom (DTN.ag) quoted Secretary of Agriculture Ed
Schafer saying some troubling things about the Conservation Reserve
Program at the Farmers Union national convention. Responding to a
question, Schafer reportedly said "I'd like to see all the CRP acres
out there growing switchgrass" that could be used for bioenergy.
Greenwire reports that Secretary Schafer made similar comments at a
renewable fuels conference Tuesday.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA) responded,
saying "land in the CRP is producing critical benefits in greater
wildlife habitat, a cleaner environment and conservation of our
precious soil and water.  CRP land is not simply idle or
nonproductive.  We have to keep in mind our conservation goals and
our responsibility to future generations."

"There are already big challenges in CRP as contracts on millions of
acres expire and landowners face decisions whether to reenroll," said
Harkin. "So we must be very careful about the consequences of abrupt
or sweeping policy changes affecting land in CRP.  I'm a big advocate
of producing energy from biomass, yet I believe that with care and
forethought we can have both more biofuels and more conservation."

In recent years, the Conservation Reserve Program has put a priority
on growing mixed stands of native grasses and forbs. Those diverse
mixes provide better habitat for a variety of wildlife, and they
stand up better under rainfall and weather conditions that can change
substantially from year to year.

Replacing mixed stands of native grasses and forbs with a single-
species stand of switchgrass would substantially reduce the value of
the program for upland birds and other wildlife.

The Farm Bills passed by the House and Senate already include
versions of a proposal to help farmers grow plants like switchgrass
that could be turned into energy.

Duane Hovorka

Jerry Hagstrom and Chris Clayton, reporting for DTNag.com, reported
today that "Democratic Congressional leaders Tuesday agreed to find
ways to pay for new spending in the farm bill by Friday, so a bill
might be finished this spring. House Ag Committee Chairman Collin
Peterson said the bill likely will not be fully done by March 15, but
lawmakers should be able to get the major policy decisions hammered
out by then."

The reporters said "an agreement to bring this farm bill to
conclusion was one of the main goals of a meeting between agriculture
and tax-writing committee leaders and top Democratic Congressional
leaders Tuesday night. Besides finding a cost figure that members of
Congress could agree upon, lawmakers have to find a way, which
appeals to the House and Senate, to pay for added expense, and that
then can be sold to the White House."

They quoted House Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson (D-MN)
saying "the biggest thing that happened was a general agreement to
try to have the offset done by Friday. The White House is getting
involved in trying to define what the offset should be."

The House has not yet named its conferees on the Farm Bill, and based
on press reports House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will not do that
until they are closer to reaching a final agreement on the bill.

See the whole story at: www.dtnag.com/dtnag

--Duane Hovorka

House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders are working hard to
craft a compromise between the Farm Bills passed by the House and
Senate last year. President Bush has said "if Congress sends me
legislation that raises taxes or [does] not make needed reforms, I'm
going to veto it." Things are changing by the minute, but here is a
quick update.

House Proposal Would Slash CRP, WRP

House Committee Chair Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Ranking Republican
Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) released the outline of a proposal this week
that they said is designed to meet the White House demand for a Farm
Bill that does not raise taxes. The outline includes about $6 billion
more in spending overall than the `budget baseline' for the Farm Bill
over the next 10 years.

Included in the outline were "programmatic changes that illustrate
how the outline could be applied," saying the program ideas
are "purely illustrative" and the details would be decided in
conference (the letter and 3-page outline are posted on the House
Agriculture Committee web site,
http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/FarmBill.html). However, the
outline seems to show what the two are thinking in terms of
conservation. The proposed outline sets out funding for a 10 year
farm bill, but has failed to expand funding accordingly for several
conservation programs, which would only receive funding for the first
five years.  Included, as we understand the outline, are:

* A major cut in the Conservation Reserve Program from the current
39.2 million acres authorized to 32 million acres by 2010, a $1.2
billion cut over ten years. The reduced cap would allow continuous
signup and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program enrollments to
continue, but essentially eliminate the possibility of whole-field
enrollments to replace expiring contracts in the next several years.
In October, contracts expired on over 2 million acres of CRP
nationwide, leaving about 34.2 million acres of CRP contracts in
place.

* A major cut in the Wetlands Reserve Program from the 250,000 acres
per year (included in both the Senate and House bills) to 200,000
acres, a cut of about $400 million over five years, and no funding in
the second five years of the ten year bill.

* $1.3 billion less for the Conservation Security Program over ten
years than in the Senate bill.

* The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program would continue at current
levels, and the Grassland Reserve Program would be reauthorized at
$432 million for the first five years, with no funding in years 6-
10.  This would enable enrollment of 1.3 million acres over the next
five years. (USDA enrolled 1 million acres as a result of the 2002
Farm Bill).

* A huge increase in the budget for the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program and Farm and Ranchland Protection Program, two
programs that generally provide the least wildlife benefits per
dollar spent.

In the Senate

Press reports have circulated that Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and
Kent Conrad (D-ND) are circulating a draft proposal for conferees
that would take a different approach than the House.
The proposal reportedly would spend a much larger amount over
baseline (including a 5 billion dollar permanent disaster program),
using tax offsets the administration has threatened to veto. Despite
the increased overall budget, this proposal would include a cut of $1
to $1.5 billion over five years to the Conservation Title included in
the Senate bill, but there is no word on what programs would be cut.

Meanwhile, DTN reports that Senate Agriculture Chair Tom Harkin (D-
IA) says he will respond to the House outline with a proposal for a
five-year Farm Bill, one that includes more of an increase in overall
funding than is included in the House outline.  Harkin also said he
wanted a 5-year Farm Bill, rather than a 10-year Farm Bill.

On Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer signaled the
Administration's support for the budget numbers outlined in the House
proposal, while indicating that the Administration's proposals for
tighter caps on commodity payments were still important.

If no agreement  is reached on an overall funding number for the Farm
Bill today, House Chairman Peterson says it will be nearly impossible
to finalize the Farm Bill prior to expiration of the current bill on
March 15.  At that time, permanent agricultural law would resume,
meaning current conservation obligations could be funded for the rest
of the year, but no new money could be committed until a new Farm
Bill is passed.

House and Senate members are expected to leave for recess at the end
of this week, returning February 25.

Note: for serious policy wonks, posted on the House Agriculture
Committee web site is a side-by-side comparison of the language of
the separate Farm Bills passed by the House last July and the Senate
last December.

The Senate announced its Farm Bill conferees and the House may follow soon, as
conservation program funding looks to be at risk.

On Monday, Agriculture Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced
the 11 Senators who would participate on the Farm Bill conference
committee. They include Sen. Harkin along with Senators Max Baucus
(D-MT), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Blanche Lincoln
(D-AR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ranking Republican Saxby Chambliss
(R-GA), Richard Lugar (R-IN), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Thad Cochran (R-MS), and
Pat Roberts (R-KS).

DTN correspendent Jerry Hagstrom reported Friday that House
Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) said he wants to make an
offer to the Senate on a farm bill compromise next week.

"Peterson said he hopes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., will
appoint conferees on the bill Tuesday so there could be a bicameral
meeting Wednesday," according to Hagstrom.

"In a speech to the National Association of State Departments of
Agriculture, Peterson said he believes the process must move forward
because the current extension of the 2002 farm bill expires on March
15. He declined to provide reporters with details of his proposal,
but said it would be made public after cost estimates are received.
Peterson said he and his staff would work through the weekend with
the Congressional Budget Office to prepare a proposal," Hagstrom
reported.

He quoted Rep. Peterson as saying "we think we have an offer that we
won't like and they [the White House] won't like, but that they'll be
able to sign," indicating the offer would be better than current law
for commodity, conservation and nutrition interests but there will
be "pain for everybody" compared with the House and Senate bills.

Earlier, Hagstrom reported that Senator Baucus is floating a proposal
for the conference that would cut additional funding for the
conservation title to $3.6 billion from the $4.6 billion (over five
years) included in the Senate bill.

-- Duane Hovorka

Ed Schafer was sworn in as Secretary of Agriculture earlier this week
by voice vote in the Senate. Secretary Schafer is a businessman and
former Governor of North Dakota.

At his confirmation hearing last week, Schafer said he hopes to
narrow the differences between Congress and the Bush Administration
over the Farm Bill. The Bush Administration has threatened to veto
the Farm Bill over revenue provisions included in the bill, and over
the Administration's desire for stricter limits on commodity
payments.

Late last year, Congress extended the current Farm Bill through March
15 to give it time to pass a new Farm Bill.

Senate and House leaders have not yet named the members of the
Conference Committee that will resolve the differences between the
Senate and House Farm Bills, but Congressional staff have been
working to identify the key areas of disagreement.

We posted a copy of our chart that compares the major conservation
provisions of the House and Senate Farm Bill, along with current law,
and the Ag and Wildlife Working Group recommendations (the collection
of hunting, fishing and conservation groups that NWF has been working
with on Farm Bill issues through the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation
Partnership).

Visit the Yahoo Farming for Wildlife group site to see
it: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FarmingforWildlife_USA/ Click on "files"
and look for Comparison House Senate Farm Bill.

Duane Hovorka

Hunting, Fishing, Conservation Groups Commend Senate for Passing
Farm Bill, Sturdy Conservation Title

Coalition applauds funding for Wetlands, Grassland and Conservation
Reserve Programs, along with new Sodsaver and Open Fields provisions

WASHINGTON – Upon Senate passage of the country's largest package of
agricultural policies, a coalition of organizations dedicated to
growing conservation in the Farm Bill commended the body's leaders
for getting the job done.

"The leadership of both parties deserves credit for artfully
applying the paint of compromise," said Barton James of Ducks
Unlimited, a co-chair of the Agriculture and Wildlife Working Group,
a coalition of the nation's leading hunting, fishing and
conservation organizations. The working group met for the last two
years to analyze the effectiveness of Farm Bill conservation
programs and to issue recommendations for their future. Those
recommendations were encapsulated in a report entitled Growing
Conservation in the Farm Bill.

While noting that the coalition was dissecting the details of
legislation that spans almost two thousand pages, the working group
praised many aspects of the bill passed today.

"For the first time ever, Open Fields and Sodsaver programs are in
both Senate and House versions of the Farm Bill," noted the Theodore
Roosevelt Conservation Partnership's Geoff Mullins. Open Fields,
originally introduced in the Senate by Sens. Kent Conrad and Pat
Roberts, will boost state programs that expand sportsmen's access
and the use of best management practices for fish and wildlife.
Sodsaver discourages the destruction of native prairie lands by
eliminating crop insurance and disaster payments on grasslands
converted to cropland. "We need Open Fields and Sodsaver to be as
strong as possible, and our coalition is looking forward to working
with the conference committee to ensure that they are," said
Mullins.

Another key component of the Senate package is the expansion and
reconfiguration of the Conservation Security Program. Renaming the
program the "Conservation Stewardship Program," the Senate proposes
to raise the program's budget to $2 billion over five years, while
enrolling 13 million acres per year.

"Bolstering CSP has been a priority for Chairman Harkin, and it
looks like he's managed to improve more than the name, including the
way it works on the ground," said Jen Mock Schaeffer of the
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, a working group co-chair.

Other groups saw positive signs in the refinements made to the
largest Farm Bill conservation program, the Conservation Reserve
Program. "Overall, CRP will be able to continue improving habitat on
39.2 million acres," said Dave Nomsen of Pheasants Forever, the
working group's final co-chair. He continued, "It also includes a
new `Wildlife Habitat Program' from Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss
that by improving stands of pine will stand to improve the success
of species like quail and turkeys."

Two additional initiatives of key importance to fish and wildlife,
the Wetlands Reserve Program and Grassland Reserve Programs, also
receive votes of confidence in the Senate Farm Bill. "The Senate's
reauthorization of both WRP and GRP continues our national
commitment to preserving two fragile ecosystem types," said Brad
Redlin of the Izaak Walton League of America. "The community of
American conservationists applauds them."

The energy title of the bill includes several new incentive programs
to help advance "next generation" biomass energy. "If done right,
biomass energy holds great promise of not only producing more fuel
per acre than corn ethanol, but also of being better for wildlife
and the environment," said Julie Sibbing of the National Wildlife
Federation.  "We are thankful to Senators Wyden, Harkin and
Chambliss for forging a last-minute compromise to add protections
for wildlife and habitat to the Biomass Crop Transition Program."

A final bit of welcome news for the coalition was the inclusion of a
permanent extension of expanded tax incentives for conservation
easements that had been approved by Congress on a two-year basis in
August 2006. "With the temporary extension nearing its end, it was
imperative that the Senate kept this incredibly valuable tool in the
conservationist's toolbox," said Russ Shay of the Land Trust
Alliance. "We greatly appreciate the efforts of Senators Max Baucus
and Chuck Grassley to introduce this measure and move it forward."

On Friday, December 14, the Senate voted 79-14 to pass a new Farm Bill.

After weeks of debate, the only substantial changes made by the Senate
to the committee bill were those included in the manager's amendment
offered by Senator Harkin, who chairs the committee. The package of
changes was approved by both the Democratic and Republican leaders in
advance, and includes some significant provisions.

Thanks to all of you who sent letters, emails, calls and faxes to your
Senators! You helped make a difference!  All amendments that would have
weakened conservation provisions were either voted down or withdrawn,
and several of the provisions we sought were eventually included in the
manager's amendment.

The next step is for Senate and House negotiators to meet to work out
differences between the Senate bill and the version passed by the House
in July.

We have a summary that shows the outcome of the key amendments that NWF
has focused on, which is posted at the Farming for Wildlife USA web
site: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FarmingforWildlife_USA/
(look for NWF Positions Senate Floor Amends RESULTS)

Duane Hovorka
National Wildlife Federation

In a big disappointment for NWF and the many other conservation,
environmental, taxpayer, and sustainable agriculture groups that
supported the amendment, the Dorgan-Grassley amendment fell four
votes short of approval (56-43), after Senate leaders decided
controversial amendments would require 60 votes to avoid the
potential for a filibuster. The amendment would have increased
funding for the Grassland Reserve Program, Farm and Ranchland
Protection Program and other programs with savings from capping the
amount of subsidies a farm can receive at $250,000 per year.

On a more positive note, the Craig amendment that would have
effectively eliminated the right of state and local government to use
eminent domain in acquiring farm land for conservation, parks,
recreation or similar purposes.  The amendment, which needed 60 votes
to pass, only got 37, with 58 voting against.

Other amendments to boost conservation funding through crop insurance
reform (Brown-Sununu), limits on payments to high-income individuals
(Klobuchar-Durbin), or an overhaul of the commodity title (Lugar-
Lautenberg) all failed to gain enough votes for passage.

NWF's top priority amendment, the Wyden-Harkin biomass crop
transition program amendment was withdrawn, after widespread support
for the amendment forced opponents to compromise and put some
conservation safeguards back into the program - including protections
for native habitats, restrictions on planting of invasive species,
and requirements for each participant to have a conservation plan
that includes wildlife considerations.

The Domenici-Craig amendment to add Renewable Fuels Standard language
from the Energy Bill to the Farm Bill is still pending, but Senate
passage of a stripped-down Energy Bill that includes the provision
Thursday night seems to make it irrelevant.

A successful vote late last night to limit debate on the Farm Bill
means that a final vote on the Farm Bill should occur today (Friday),
after votes on other pending amendments.

We will provide additional details after the dust settles.

Reminder: you can see previous messages and review documents posted
through this listserve at:
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Duane Hovorka

Debate has begun on amendments to the Senate Farm Bill. Voting on
amendments is expected to start Tuesday afternoon, following debate.
We have identified the following key amendments that we believe will
be voted on in the next few days, and that would have a substantial
impact on fish and wildlife in America.

We urge you to contact your Senators as soon as possible, and ask
them to support or oppose the following amendments to create a better
Farm Bill. Your message can be simple:

* Please Support the Wyden-Harkin Biofuels Amendment, to ensure that
subsidies for farmers to grow next generation biofuels really work to
promote cellulosic crops, and do not encourage destruction of native
habitats and wildlife or allow for planting of invasive species.

* Please Support the Dorgan-Grassley Payment Limit amendment, that
would boost funding for the Grassland Reserve Program, Farm and
Ranchland Protection Program and other programs with savings from
reducing the amount of subsidies a farm can receive to $250,000 per
year.

* Please Oppose the Domenici-Craig Renewable Fuels Standard
amendment, which would complicate the Farm Bill by including energy
provisions that belong in the Energy Bill. The amendment would put
both a new Energy Bill and the 2007 Farm Bill at risk.

Additional amendments may be offered on Tuesday. We will post a
summary of NWF's position on the various key amendments offered as
soon as we can, hopefully by mid-day on Tuesday
(www.nwf.org/farmland).

Thanks for working to create a better Farm Bill for farmers,
wildlife, and rural communities!

Duane Hovorka
NWF Farm Bill Outreach Coordinator

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Tom Harkin announced Friday
morning that an agreement had been reached that will allow debate on
the Senate Farm Bill to move forward.

Under the agreement, Democrats and Republicans will offer up to 20
amendments from each side, plus a Manager's Amendment that will be
offered by Senator Harkin. The amendments offered will come from
among the nearly 300 amendments filed to the bill before Thanksgiving.

Debate and discussion is already underway, with the first votes on
amendments expected to start Tuesday, December 11.

As we obtain information on the amendments offered that will impact
fish and wildlife, we will pass that information on.

Two amendments that are strongly supported by NWF will likely be
included in those going to a vote:

* Wyden-Harkin Amendment to ensure that subsidies for farmers to grow
next generation biofuels really work to promote cellulosic crops, and
do not encourage destruction of native habitats and wildlife or allow
for planting of invasive species.

* Dorgen-Grassley amendment to cap the total amount of subsidies a
farm can receive at $250,000 per year, and use the savings to fund
conservation and other programs.

Duane Hovorka

Some recent press reports capture where things are at on the Farm
Bill:

Congressional Quarterly reported Monday that "Senate leaders are
zeroing in on a deal to limit amendments to the 2007 farm bill,
meaning the measure could be back on the floor as early as next
week....If Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, succeed in
reaching an agreement on amendments, the Senate could complete work
on the bill in as little as two days, an aide said. Nevertheless,
chances are bleak that House-Senate negotiators could reconcile the
two chambers' very different versions by year's end, let alone get
the measure cleared for President Bush in the short pre-Christmas
session."

Reports conflict, but the deal could involve each side offering, for
example, up to 10 amendments. Some 280 amendments to the Farm Bill
were proposed by Senators before their Thanksgiving break.

Reuters reports that a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid sent an email saying "In an effort to complete Senate action on
the farm bill this session, Senators and staff are working over the
Thanksgiving recess to reach a deal that allows debate and votes on a
limited set of amendments."

The Grand Forks (ND) Herald reports that Rep. Collin Peterson, who
Chairs the House Agriculture Committee, told farmers Monday that he
won't support an extension of the current Farm Bill if Congress can't
finalize a new one. From The Herald: "Peterson said he's hopeful that
the Senate will produce a bill in December, and differences with the
House could be hammered out quickly in conference committee....'We
could get this all done in January,' Peterson said."

Columnist Alan Guebert wrote Sunday that "Even if the public pressure
works and the Senate approves the farm bill shortly after it returns -
- a massive `if' given the bitter partisanship in that chamber -- it
must be meshed with a very different House farm bill before the
entire, rancorous process begins again."

The implications if Congress does not pass a new Farm Bill? As the
Los Angeles Times reported recently, "subsidies would continue for
the major crops: rice, wheat, cotton, corn and soybeans. But funding
for other smaller programs, including two conservation programs for
wetlands and grasslands, would run out."  The Wetlands Reserve
Program and Grassland Reserve Program are two of USDA's most
successful conservation programs that benefit wildlife, but both are
set to expire without a change in current law.

Duane Hovorka

Senate blocks $286B farm bill, likely stalling it until next year
Posted on Nov. 16

By MARY CLARE JALONICK of the Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The Senate blocked a $286 billion farm bill Friday, a
blow to farm-state lawmakers who wanted to give their constituents
expanded subsidies before next year's elections.

Though politically popular, the bill stalled in a dispute between
the parties over unrelated amendments that Republicans wanted to
add. Democrats failed to get the 60 votes they needed to cut off
debate on the measure. The final vote was 55-42.

The vote could push consideration of the legislation into 2008 or
beyond. Senate Agriculture Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said
Thursday that the bill may fare better after next year's elections,
with a new Congress and a new president.

The Bush administration has issued a veto threat against the bill,
saying it is too expensive and would pay wealthy farmers too much.

Farm state Democrats headed home for the Thanksgiving recess are
preparing to blame Republicans for slowing down the legislation.
Some Republicans wanted to offer amendments dealing with the
alternative minimum tax, immigration and other nonagricultural
issues.

"I need to explain why the farm bill has been obstructed," said
South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson, a Democrat who is up for re-election
next year. "That is no harm to me. I'm afraid the Republicans have
some explaining to do."

Republicans blamed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., for
attempting to limit the amendments.

"The Senate will pass a farm bill - that is certain - but only after
an open and fair debate on the Senate floor," said Senate Minority
Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

The five-year bill would extend the 2002 law that governs farm
subsidies and nutrition programs, including food stamps. Most of
those programs are operating under a temporary extension now.

The Senate legislation, like a similar bill passed by the House in
July, has come under fire from taxpayer and government watchdog
groups because it would expand subsidies for some crops and still
allow some wealthy farmers to receive government payments.

Supporters of the bill point to an attempt to scale back some
subsidy programs, including limits on the amount of money paid to
those who don't make a large portion of their income on farming. The
bill also increases nutrition benefits for the poor and for rural
communities, and adds dollars that protect environmentally sensitive
farm land.

As the Senate bill languished, the top Republican on the House
Agriculture Committee said Thursday that he would support extending
current law until Sept. 30, the end of the current budget year.

"The consequences of the Senate's inaction are already impacting the
planning decisions of our farmers and ranchers," said GOP Rep. Bob
Goodlatte of Virginia.

But House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn.,
said it is too early to talk about extending the law.

"The budget situation isn't getting any better, and a year from now,
we may have less money available to write the farm bill," he said.

The Department of Agriculture agreed.

"There is still time for Congress to pass a new farm bill," Acting
Agriculture Secretary Charles Conner said in a statement.



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Copyright © 2007 Missoulian

The Senate Farm Bill includes several programs that will
promote next generation biofuels. One of these, the Biomass Crop
Transition Assistance Program, is intended to help farmers begin to
grow biomass energy crops like switchgrass, poplar trees, or jojoba.
As originally introduced, the program would have helped farmers adopt
sustainable, wildlife-friendly methods of growing biomass energy
crops.

However, the version of the program approved by the Senate
Agriculture Committee has serious flaws. Those flaws would mean
inadequate conservation requirements, no protections for wildlife,
and even incentives to destroy nature prairie, mature forests, or
wetlands to plant biomass crops. The flaws also make it much less
likely that the program will succeed in actually producing viable
biomass energy. Attached is a Fact Sheet on the amendment.

We urge you to fax or call your two Senators, and ask them to co-
sponsor and support the Wyden-Harkin Biomass Crop Transition
Assistance Program Amendment.

To fix the program, the Wyden-Harkin amendment would:

*  Protect native prairies, wetlands, and mature forests by limiting
land eligible for program payments to land already in agricultural
production;

*  Restrict harvest on program land until after the bird nesting and
brood rearing season;

*  Require reasonable minimum conservation practices, and target the
program to land where perennial bioenergy crops could improve
conservation on the land;

*  Make success more likely by providing grants for feasibility
studies of local bioenergy projects, and giving farmers more
flexibility to field test new perennial crops.

Please fax or call your two Senators today! Help make sure the
Biomass Crop Transition program in the Senate Farm Bill is good for
wildlife and farmers!

Duane Hovorka
Farm Bill Outrach Coordinator
National Wildlife Federation