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

This morning, by a vote of 55-42, the Senate failed to invoke cloture
on the Farm Bill. The cloture motion, which required 60 votes, would
have allowed debate and votes on relevant amendments to the Farm Bill
without further delay.

After two weeks of discussing the Farm Bill, without voting on any of
the nearly 300 amendments proposed to the bill, Democratic and
Republican leaders in the Senate could not reach agreement on which
amendments to allow to be voted on during Farm Bill consideration..

NWF's Julie Sibbing said "we are very disappointed that the Senate
did not move forward today with consideration of a new Farm Bill."

"The Farm Bill that was advanced by the Senate Agriculture Committee
would make very important strides in addressing key conservation
issues and programs, but we believe the full Senate needs to adopt
amendments that improve both the policy and the funding provisions
with respect to conservation and energy."

The Senate will now go home for the Thanksgiving Holiday break, and
will have only a few weeks left before year-end when it returns.
Continued delay of the Farm Bill will make it difficult to complete
action on the Farm Bill by the end of this year, because the Senate
Farm Bill -- when finally passed -- must be merged with the House
Farm Bill passed in July.

Delay will likely lead to calls to simply extend the 2002 Farm Bill,
and NWF believes that would be bad news for wildlife.

We plan to wade through the pile of amendments that have been offered
in the last few days, and sort out which are the most important for
fish and wildlife. Look for an update on that next week, and THANK
YOU to all the people who have been writing, faxing and calling their
Senators on these important issues!

Duane Hovorka

Debate on the Senate Farm Bill slowed this week over a disagreement
about which amendments would be allowed to be offered to the bill.

The first votes on key Farm Bill amendments are now not expected
before Tuesday, November 13. There is still time to let your Senators
know how you feel about key amendments!

In addition to amendments NWF has identified earlier as being key
votes for fish and wildlife, Senator Kit Bond from Missouri said he
will offer an amendment that would open up Conservation Reserve
Program lands to harvest for biomass. That would completely undermine
one of the CRP's key purposes of providing wildlife habitat. There is
already included in the Energy Title of the bill a program that would
help farmers grow `next generation' biofuels.

We urge you to contact your Senators and ask them to oppose the Bond
amendment to open up the Conservation Reserve Program to biomass
harvest.

Our updated list of key amendments that we expect to be offered next
week that NWF has taken a position on is posted on National Wildlife
Federation's web site, www.nwf.org/farmland .

Meanwhile, the Bush Administration has threatened to veto the Farm
Bill over the overall price tag, the lack of commodity program
reforms, and tax provisions included that make more funding available
for USDA programs.

Feel free to contact me if you would like more information, and look
for more updates next week.

Duane Hovorka
NWF Farm Bill Outreach Coordinator

The Senate began debate on the Farm Bill on Monday with opening
statements.

Votes on amendments could begin on Wednesday and continue into next
week.

The National Wildlife Federation has taken the following positions on
key amendments that we expect to be offered and voted on in the next
few days.

We encourage you to call, fax, or email your two Senators, expressing
your position on the following amendments, as soon as possible!
Please help us ensure a wildlife-friendly Farm Bill.

NWF Supports These Senate Farm Bill Amendments:

We Support the Dorgan-Grassley Payment Limit Amendment.
The amendment would provide additional funding for the Grassland
Reserve Program, by putting in place a $250,000 per farmer overall
payment cap on Farm Bill commodity program payments. The Grassland
Reserve Program provides funds to help farmers restore and protect
rare native prairies and other grasslands important for grassland
birds. The Committee bill funds this program lower even than in the
last Farm Bill, despite enormous unmet farmer demand for the program.

NWF Supports Amendment to Strengthen the Biofuels Transition
Assistance Program. The amendment would make the program more
workable for farmers, and would ensure that the program does not
subsidize the destruction of native habitats, and ensure that farmers
who receive the payments do not harm wildlife. The program is
designed to help farmers willing to grow plants that can be turned
into next-generation biofuels (like switchgrass that could be turned
into ethanol).

NWF Supports Amendment to Improve Conservation Provisions.
The amendment includes a number of small but important, changes to
the conservation provisions of the bill. They include language to
make the appraisal process for the Wetlands Reserve Program fairer
for farmers; ensure that state fish & wildlife conservation plans are
considered in implementing USDA conservation programs, and ensure
that the Conservation Security Program better addresses wildlife.

NWF Supports the Wyden-Alexander Illegal Logging Amendment.
The amendment would prohibit the importation of timber and timber
products that are illegally harvested in other countries. Recently,
hardwood trees harvested in Asia, Africa and South America in
violation of national and local laws are being imported into the USA,
undercutting the market for legally harvested trees.


NWF OPPOSES This Senate Farm Bill Amendments

Amendment to Weaken SodSaver
The Committee bill includes a modest Sodsaver provision, that would
deny subsidized crop insurance, and future disaster assistance
payments, on native prairie land broken out to produce crops.
Currently, subsidized crop insurance, disaster assistance, and other
commodity program payments provide a strong taxpayer-funded incentive
to plow up native prairie to grow farm program crops. NWF believes
the Sodsaver provision should be strengthened, not weakened.

Duane Hovorka
National Wildlife Federation
11/5/2007

The Senate Agriculture Committee completed markup of the Farm Bill
yesterday, and voted by voice vote to advance the bill. Committee
leaders hope to debate the bill in the full Senate as early as next
week.

There were no further changes to the conservation title, and no
amendments proposed to the energy title. (The only conservation title
amendment, approved Wednesday, increased the payment cap on
Environmental Quality Incentive Program contracts to $450,000, from
$240,000 in the bill).

We are hopeful that there will be amendments on the Senate floor that
will boost funding for conservation programs, and to fix some of the
legislative language included in the bill. As soon as we can identify
specific proposals, we will circulate that information.

Below is National Wildlife Federation's statement on the passage of
the bill.

******************************

Senate Agriculture Committee Shows Some Progress on Conservation, but
Misses Boat on Bioenergy

Statement of Julie Sibbing
Senior Program Manager for Agriculture Policy
National Wildlife Federation
Washington D.C. (October 24, 2007)

"Senator Harkin has, through dogged determination, kept conservation
from being forgotten in this Farm Bill.  We salute his efforts, while
expressing our hopes that the full Senate can improve on funding
levels in the committee bill in order to ensure conservation programs
are on solid footing.

"National Wildlife Federation and 33 other conservation groups
requested that the committee dedicate an additional $6-billion to the
conservation title.  The committee bill includes only about $4-
billion in additional funds, and $2 billion of that is needed just to
restore the Grassland Reserve Program and Wetlands Reserve Program to
recent levels.  The House Farm Bill dedicated around $4.5 billion in
additional funds for the title.  Currently, 4 out of every 5
producers who apply to participate in conservation programs are
turned away due to a lack of funding.  Even if the entire $ 6 billion
had been provided, there would still be substantial backlogs for
these programs, but we could have begun to assist farmers waiting to
address soil, water, and wildlife issues on farms, forests and
ranches across the country.

While the Senate Agriculture Committee's Farm Bill conservation title
passed today represents a good start, the Committee is short-sighted
on energy and next-generation biofuels.

"Despite strong statements in support of developing next generation
biofuels, the Senate committee bill falls far short in nearly every
measure. There is too little money, too little consideration given to
supporting the most efficient biofuels technologies, and too few
safeguards to ensure that USDA does not subsidize production of
invasive species or destruction of native habitats.

"The bill especially falls short in helping farmers begin to grow
next-generation biofuels like switchgrass and poplar trees.  Only
$130 million is dedicated to this purpose, and funding is only
available to those producers who have already entered into an
agreement with an energy facility. The bill also treats all non-corn
biofuels as equal, instead of providing larger subsidies for the most
energy efficient technologies.  This could mean that sorghum,
soybeans, and other conventional crops could quickly deplete the
limited subsidies, leaving little for more experimental, but far more
promising technologies such as cellulosic ethanol from grasses and
trees that are beneficial to wildlife."

The National Wildlife Federation is America's conservation
organization protecting wildlife for our children's future.
www.nwf.org.
###
Contact:

Julie Sibbing 202 797-6832, sibbing@...
Duane Hovorka NWF 402-804-0033 hovorkad@...

Agriculture Committee Looks to October 23 Markup.


On October 4, the Senate Finance Committee approved a bill that
includes a series of tax credits and incentives related to
agriculture and energy. The bill could provide $15 billion in
additional funds to help the Senate Agriculture Committee complete
its work on the Farm Bill, but adequate funding for conservation
programs is still at risk.

The package includes an option for Conservation Reserve Program
contract holders to obtain a tax credit, instead of a check from
USDA, for their annual rental payment. A tax credit option would also
be available under the Wetlands Reserve Program and Grassland Reserve
Program.

Yet while the $3.075 billion in tax credits was provided specifically
for these three conservation title programs, supporters of other Farm
Bill titles are asking that money freed up by the tax credits be used
to fund their priorities.  It will be up to the Senate Agriculture
Committee to decide whether overall funding for vital conservation
programs will be increased or cut in the next Farm Bill.

National Wildlife Federation, and its colleague conservation and
wildlife groups, believe the Senate Agriculture Committee needs to
invest at least $6 billion more than the current budget over the next
five years in the conservation programs of the Farm Bill. The House-
passed Farm Bill invested $4.5 billion over the current budget, but
nearly eliminated the Conservation Security Program. The $6 billion
is needed to ensure that all conservation programs are adequately
funded – although even at this level, the funding will not go far in
addressing the enormous backlog of producers waiting to enroll in
programs.

The funds would enable continuation of the Wetlands Reserve Program
and the Grassland Reserve Program, as well as enabling a streamlined
Conservation Security Program that is available to farmers and
ranchers nationwide.

Without this commitment of funds, the Farm Bill will fall far short
of meeting the needs for conservation on America's farms and ranches.

Unfortunately, with other competing interests for the limited supply
of Farm Bill funds available, funding for conservation programs is at
risk.

The Senate Agriculture Committee has tentatively scheduled an October
23 meeting to write its Farm Bill.

Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner announced September 28
that USDA "will not offer penalty-free early release from
Conservation Reserve Program contracts at this time."  Earlier this
year, former Secretary Mike Johanns announced that USDA was
considering the move because of pressure ethanol markets were
creating for corn supplies.

However, in making the announcement, Conner noted that "more than 2
million CRP acres expire under existing contracts this weekend, on
September 30, 2007."  USDA did not hold a general CRP signup in 2007,
and last March USDA reported that 2.9 million acres of CRP contracts
would expire September 30, 2007. The net result is a loss of about 8
percent of the 36 million acres of habitat that had been protected by
the Conservation Reserve Program.

Acting Secretary Conner also hinted that USDA may not offer a general
CRP signup in 2008, either, saying "I would not anticipate offering a
general signup while grain stock levels remain historically low and
prices continue at unprecedented levels. Acres under continuous CRP
signup, such as filter strips and riparian buffers, are not affected
by general signup decisions. Enrollment of acres that qualify for
continuous signup is ongoing."

If that decision stands, then even more acres of habitat will fall
out of the Conservation Reserve Program next September.

(In case you missed the announcement, President Bush named Deputy
Secretary Chuck Conner as Acting Secretary of Agriculture September
20, after former Secretary Mike Johanns announced his resignation.
Johanns gave Conner credit for leading the USDA's efforts to craft
its farm policy proposals, so the change seems unlikely to result in
major change to the Administration's positions on Farm Bill issues.
According to USDA, Conner grew up on a farm in Indiana, worked for
Senator Richard Lugar, served on the staff of the Senate Agriculture
Committee for 12 years, served as president of the Corn Refiners
Association, and served as a White House farm advisor before becoming
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture in 2005.)

The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a markup session on
Thursday, October 4, to take up the "Heartland, Habitat, Harvest and
Horticulture Act of 2007". Among other farm- and energy-related
provisions, the bill would give Conservation Reserve Program,
Wetlands Reserve Program, and Grassland Reserve Program contract
holders the option of taking their payments in the form of a tax
credit, instead of a payment from USDA.

Overall, the bill would also free up some additional funding that
could be used by the Agriculture Committee in writing a new Farm
Bill, and would provide for a new permanent disaster assistance
program for farmers and ranchers, along with a number of new farm-
related and energy-related tax credits and benefits.

Although I have not seen an official announcement, I understand
Senate Agriculture Committee members are being told that markup of
the Senate Farm Bill may start at 5:00 or 5:30 pm Thursday, October
4, following the Senate Finance Committee action.

National Wildlife Federation has supported increased funding of at
least $6 billion over the current 'baseline' budget over the next
five years of the Farm Bill. The Congressional 'baseline' assumes
that programs like the Wetlands Reserve Program and Grassland Reserve
Program will end, so without a significant increase in funding from
the 'baseline' for conservation, America will be taking a step
backwards from our current commitment to conservation on farms and
ranches.

If you would like to see the bill the Senate Finance Committee plans
to take up tomorrow, it is available on the committee web site,
http://www.senate.gov/~finance/  click the "legislation" link to get
to the summary of the bill.

Senate hearings are sometimes broadcast on the internet; check the
two committee web sites tomorrow if you are interested.

A new US Government Accountability Office report highlights the need
for a new Sod Saver provision in the next Farm Bill, and the need to
support programs like the Grassland Reserve Program and Conservation
Reserve Program that protect and restore grassland habitat.

The report, "Farm Program Payments Are an Important Factor in
Landowners' Decisions to Convert Grassland to Cropland," said "farm
program payments, including crop insurance, crop disaster assistance,
and marketing assistance loan payments, are important factors in
producers' decisions to convert native grassland to cropland because
they reduce producers' financial risks and, in many cases, increase
producers' profits over maintaining grassland."

The report also said "Sodbuster has had little impact in limiting the
conversion of native grassland to cropland, in part because much of
the native grassland converted in recent years is not highly erodible
and therefore not subject to Sudbuster....even in most cases where
Sodbuster applies, the costs associated with Sodbuster compliance
have not been enough to deter producers from converting the land."

According to the report, programs like the Wetlands Reserve Program,
Conservation Reserve Program, and Grassland Reserve Program that pay
producers to restore and protect grasslands "appear to be at odds
with farm programs that provide incentives for conversion of
grassland to cropland."

The report notes that, while 1.69 million acres of cropland was
enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program from 1982 to 1997 in
South Dakota, 1.82 million acres of grassland in that state were
converted to cropland.

"Data indicate that the nation's private grassland decreased by
almost 25 million acres from 1982 to 2003," according to the report.
The information is a stark reminder of how much worse off grassland
species would be without the Conservation Reserve Program and other
Farm Bill conservation programs.

National Wildlife Federation supports a new Farm Bill that includes a
strong new Sod Saver provision, denying taxpayer-paid commodity
program payments on native prairie, forest, and wetlands broken out
for crop production, and supports increased funding for conservation
programs like the Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve
Program, and Grassland Reserve Program that restore and protect
America's grasslands.

The new GAO report is available at: www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-
1054

The National Wildlife Federation and Planning and Conservation
League of California are co-sponsoring a Western Regional Farm Bill
Summit on Wednesday, September 12, in Sacramento, California.

The Summit meeting will focus on the impact of Farm Bill
conservation programs on fish and wildlife in the western United
States. Programs like the Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands
Reserve Program, and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program provide for
fish and wildlife habitat on more than 40 million acres of land in
the United States.

The meeting is designed to help people who hunt, fish, watch
wildlife, and love the outdoors understand the impact of Farm Bill
conservation programs on wildlife and wildlife habitat, and learn
how they can get involved.

The one-day conference will include presentations on key Farm Bill
conservation programs in the Western U.S., and training sessions on
being an effective advocate for conservation programs and working
with the press and media.

Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Travel
scholarships are available to help pay travel costs for people
attending from outside the Sacramento area and from other states.

The US Senate is expected to take up a new five-year Farm Bill in
late September.

This Farm Bill Summit is the last of four sponsored by the National
Wildlife Federation, held across the country since April.

For more information or to register, contact the Planning and
Conservation League at 714-779-7561, or send an email to
cward@....

We hope to see you there!

Duane Hovorka
National Wildlife Federation

The House of Representatives finished its work on the Farm Bill
today, voting to pass HR 2419 on a 231 to 191 vote.

Overall, the House Farm Bill represents only a few major changes
from the current Farm Bill in terms of conservation programs and
funding.

The bill includes a new Biomass Reserve Program, strongly supported
by NWF, that would help farmers produce `next generation' energy
sources like ethanol from switchgrass and generating electricity
from fast-growing trees.

The Grassland Reserve Program would see an increase in acreage in
the next five years.

The Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program and
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program would all be continued at
roughly the level of the current Farm Bill.

The bill includes a new $20 million Open Fields grant program to
support state efforts to provide recreation access on conservation
lands, and a modest SodSaver provision that would deny subsidized
crop insurance on native prairie broken out for cropland.

On the downside, funding for the Conservation Security Program would
take a big cut under the House Farm Bill, which would prevent USDA
from signing any new CSP contracts until 2012. The bill also
provides a substantial re-write of the program, while honoring
existing contracts in place.

The money cut from the Conservation Security Program would fund
large increases in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and
Farm and Ranchland Protection Program, two programs that have
limited wildlife focus.

Few major changes were made to the bill on the House floor. The
House rejected amendments that would have substantially increased
funding for the Grassland Reserve Program by reforming crop
insurance (Rep. Cooper) or reducing direct payments for cotton (Rep.
Udall), and rejected an amendment (Rep. Kind) to rewrite the
commodity title and boost funding for conservation and other parts
of the bill.

Fortunately, a proposed amendment (Rep. Goodlatte) to change
easement programs was withdrawn, and an amendment (Rep. Manzullo) to
exempt EQIP contracts from new payment limits on conservation
program contracts was defeated.

House Republican leaders raised objections to one of the funding
mechanisms developed by the Ways and Means Committee to offset the
cost of the Agriculture Committee's "En Bloc" amendments. Those
amendments, among other things, provide funding for the new Biomass
Energy Reserve program noted above. (The funding mechanisms include
one that would prevent foreign multinational corporations that are
organized in countries without tax treaties -- including Caribbean
tax havens -- from using the tax treaty system to avoid taxes, which
the objectors characterize as a tax increase).


The Bush Administration has issued a threat to veto the House
version of the Farm Bill, saying it is too expensive and does not do
enough to reform farm commodity programs

In the Senate, Agriculture Committee Chair Tom Harkin has said he
will release his proposed Farm Bill in September.

If you would like more details on the House floor debate, attached
is a summary of the key amendments that NWF supported or opposed,
and the result of House floor action on those amendments.

When the dust settles and the last-minute amendments are sorted out,
we will be posting an updated chart summarizing the bill and its
funding levels.

Thanks for your all your help and your interest in building a better
Farm Bill!

(Apologies for any cross-postings) -- The House of Representatives
worked late last night, but adjourned before completing action on
the Farm Bill (HR 2419). The House plans to continue work this
morning (July 27). Before adjourning:

1. The House approved a number of amendments to the bill, including:

The Hastings amendment to increase research on pollinator declines
and increase emphasis on pollinator habitat in conservation programs
(NWF supported);

The Hodes/Arcuri amendment to create a community wood energy grant
program (NWF supported);

The Shuler amendment to allow non-industrial forests to be eligible
for emergency restoration funds if faced by an imminent threat from
disease or insects (NWF supported);

The Peterson Manager's Amendment that, among other things, would use
conservation funds as incentives for peanut farmers to adopt crop rotations (NWF
opposed the use of conservation funds for this).

In addition, Rep. Goodlatte chose to withdraw his amendment this
morning that would have forced USDA to adopt a single easement
formula for the various easement programs, increased the cost-share
burden of non-profit groups promoting these easements, and allowed
USDA broad authority to terminate conservation easements (NWF
opposed).

2. The House defeated, by a 117-309 vote, an amendment by Rep. Ron
Kind to substantially change commodity programs and use the savings
for nutrition, conservation, specialty crops, rural development and
other programs.

3. House Republicans raised objections to one of the funding
mechanisms used by the sponsors to offset the cost of the
Agriculture Committee's "En Bloc" amendments. Those amendments,
among other things, provide funding for a new Biomass Energy Reserve
program supported by NWF. (The funding mechanisms include one that
would prevent foreign multinational corporations that are organized
in countries without tax treaties (including Caribbean tax havens)
from manipulating the tax treaty system to avoid taxes, which the
objectors characterize as a tax increase).

**********************

THERE IS STILL TIME TO CONTACT YOUR HOUSE MEMBERS BEFORE THEY VOTE
TODAY. WE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IN YOUR PHONE CALL, EMAIL,
OR FAX (go to www.NWF.org/farmland, and click on the Take Action
button to send an email from our site):

As you consider the Farm Bill, HR 2419,

Please SUPPORT amendments that would provide additional funding for
the Grassland Reserve Program, which provides long-term protection
for native prairies and other grasslands (the Udall amendment, and
Cooper amendment).

Please OPPOSE amendments that would create a new conservation
program that would reward farmers who drained wetlands in the past
(Hall amendment).

Thanks for your help and your interest!

Duane Hovorka

There is still time to take action to ask Congress to build a better
Farm Bill !!

This morning, the House Rules Committee issued a rule for debate of
the Farm Bill, HR 2419, listing the amendments that will be allowed
to be considered on the House floor. Fortunately, many of the
amendments National Wildlife Federation and others opposed will not
be considered. However, there are important amendments that would
improve the bill for fish and wildlife, and some that would weaken
the conservation provisions of the bill.

Act today! Call, fax, or email your House Member to urge them to
vote to make the 2007 Farm Bill better for fish, wildlife and
people.

Ask them to please support amendments that would provide additional
funding for the Grassland Reserve Program, which provides long-term
protection for native prairies and other grasslands (the Udall
amendment #42, and Cooper amendment #95).

Ask that they also support amendments that would focus research and
conservation programs on protecting pollinators (Hastings amendment
#75), and allow non-industrial forest land to receive emergency
restoration funds (Shuler amendment #14).

Ask them to oppose the Goodlatte amendment that would force USDA to
adopt a single easement formula for the various easement programs.
This amendment would increase the cost-share burden of non-profit
groups promoting these easements and allow USDA broad authority to
terminate conservation easements.

Ask them to oppose the manager's amendment that would allow the
unprecedented use of conservation title funds to support peanut
growers ( Peterson amendment #73), and an amendment that would
create a special conservation program earmark for farmers of
formerly drained wetland soils (Hall amendment #47).

You can send an email to your Member of Congress directly, or get
more information, at NWF's Farm Bill information page:
www.nwf.org/farmland

Thanks in advance for your help! At that web site, you can also see
an updated summary of the amendments NWF is supporting and opposing,
based on the amendments allowed by the House Rules Committee.

Duane Hovorka
Farm Bill Outreach Coordinator

This morning (Thursday), the House Rules Committee completed action on
the Farm Bill (HR 2419), scheduled for debate today. The Committee
decided which of the many amendments submitted would be allowed to be
offered on the House floor during debate.

National Wildlife Federation has posted a list of key amendments that
NWF opposes and supports, which you can see at the Farming for
Wildlife site:
(http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FarmingforWildlife_USA, the file is called
"NWF Positions House Floor Amends")
or at NWF's Farm Bill information page (www.nwf.org/farmland)

Duane Hovorka
Farm Bill Outreach Coordinator

TAKE ACTION! The House of Representatives will take up the Farm Bill
on Thursday, July 26. Please send an email message, or make a phone
call, to your member of the House of Representatives in support of
better fish and wildlife conservation in the Farm Bill.

The House will be voting on important amendments to the Farm Bill
that could make it much better -- or much worse -- for fish and
wildlife.

National Wildlife Federation has posted an action alert at:
http://online.nwf.org/FarmBillAction
You can send a message to your representative right from that site.

We will attempt to post updates on the NWF web site as we have them.
Those will be posted at: www.nwf.org/farmland, which also has other
background information on the Farm Bill.

You can even watch the proceedings live on CSPAN. The House is
scheduled to convene at 10 am (Eastern). Action on the Farm Bill may
not start until late morning or early afternoon, and could well run
late into the night or into Friday. Pop some corn and enjoy the
debate!

Duane Hovorka
Farm Bill Outreach Coordinator

On July 19, the House Agriculture Committee voted to advance HR
2419, a new 2007 Farm Bill. The Committee also considered an En Bloc
amendment that represents spending for new Farm Bill programs that
the Committee wants to include in the Farm Bill but that require
additional funding.

The full House of Representatives is scheduled to take up the Farm
Bill this Thursday, July 26. As we learn of key amendments that will
be offered on the House floor, we will try to pass that information
along.

Some key amendments related to conservation from the House
Agriculture Committee markup of the Farm Bill:

Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) offered an amendment that was
adopted by voice vote to strengthen the Sodsaver provision in the
bill. Her amendment eliminated language that would have given Farm
Service Agency county committees authority to waive the proposed new
SodSaver provisions that would prohibit farmers breaking out native
grassland not previously farmed from getting crop insurance on that
land for four years.

The Committee approved an amendment by Rep. Jerry Moran (R-KS), that
would allow for dry-land farming and grazing on land enrolled in the
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, in areas where the CREP
was developed to address ground and surface water resource issues,
and provided a conservation plan is in place and the rental rate is
reduced where such farming or grazing is allowed.

We expected amendments that would have even further opened up
Conservation Reserve Program lands to commercial uses, including for
biofuels production and expanded haying and grazing. Fortunately,
the amendments were withdrawn or did not succeed.

Efforts to require the consolidation of several of the conservation
programs remain a threat, and we fear the net result would be a loss
of fish and wildlife benefits from these programs.

Attached is a quick update on the House Agriculture Committee, which
began its formal discussions of a new Farm Bill today, and will
continue with actual votes and decisions on Farm Bill legislation on
Wednesday, July 18. Proposed amendments are flying fast and furious.

If you can call, fax a letter, or send an email to House Agriculture
Committee members early Wednesday, here are some key messages to
tell them on issues dear to the heart of people who love fish and
wildlife:

1.  Conservation needs more money. We urge their support for
additional funding, and if there is going to be an additional $20
billion available for the Farm Bill, then the Wetlands Reserve
Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, Grassland Reserve
Porgram, and especially Conservation Security Program should be
getting more funding.

2.  Please vote against any amendment to expand commercial use of
CRP, such as those that would allow for biofuels harvesting,
expanded haying and grazing, and all other commercial uses approved
by USDA. We need to protect the wildlife purpose of the CRP program.

3. Please vote against amendments that would combine conservation
programs.

**************************

Quick Update on 2007 Farm Bill – House of Representatives Mark Up
July 17, 2007

The House Agriculture Committee began its consideration of the Farm
Bill this afternoon, with opening statements.  Action on amendments
will begin on the morning of July 18 at 10:00 a.m.

House Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson (D-MN) released
his latest "Chairman's Mark" -- the starting place for committee
discussions -- late on July 13, and you can see a summary and the
actual language of each of the 11 proposed Titles on the committee
web site (http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/2007FarmBill.html).
Title II is the Conservation Title. Note that the web site also
includes an "En Bloc Amendment," which is an alternative proposal
that would raise funding for some programs, should additional
funding be made available through tax increases or cuts or other
offsets to other programs.

Amendments:
We expect a number of amendments -- both good and bad -- to the bill
as it moves through the Agriculture Committee and then to the full
House.  Here is what we know of thus far:

Boyda Amendment to allow earlier "emergency" haying and grazing on
CRP lands:  NWF STRONGLY OPPOSES this amendment to allow for
emergency declarations to be made earlier and to allow for haying
and grazing during the key nesting and brood rearing months of June
and July.

Marshal Amendment to allow for more economic use on CRP land.  NWF
is working with Rep. Marshal's staff to simply allow for economic
use of materials harvested during mid-contract management activities
on CRP (such as tree thinnings and hay), but he may still proceed
with an amendment to allow for much broader use of CRP for economic
activities.  NWF opposes additional economic uses of CRP that are
not a part of mid-contract management activities approved by the
agency for management of the resource for soil, water and wildlife.

Amendment to allow harvesting of CRP for Biofuels – NWF STRONGLY
OPPOSES ANY AMENDMENT TO EXPAND BIOFUELS use of CRP

Gilibrand Amendment on CSP – NWF SUPPORTS THIS AMENDMENT to move
some of the CSP funding forward to the next five years so that it
can be used over the next 5 years to add contracts to the program

Waltz Amendment – NWF SUPPORTS THIS AMENDMENT to strengthen organic
provisions in CSP

Amendment to Consolidate Conservation Programs – NWF STRONGLY
OPPOSES ANY AMENDMENT TO COMBINE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

Possible Amendment to Increase GRP Funding – NWF STRONGLY SUPPORTS
AN AMENDMENT TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE GRASSLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM

Possible Amendment to encourage voluntary public access on WRP and
CRP lands by granting priority enrollment, as long as all other
factors are equal, to those willing to provide such access.  NWF
WROTE THIS AMENDMENT AND STRONGLY SUPPORTS IT

Chairman's Mark
A quick summary of the Chairman's proposal for key fish and wildlife
programs:

• Conservation Reserve Program: would continue the program at
current levels (up to 39.2 million acres).

• Wetlands Reserve Program: would continue the program, but at
less than the currently authorized annual level of enrollment
(currently up to 250,000 acres per year).

• Grassland Reserve Program: would continue the program,
allowing 1 million acres of land to be enrolled over the next 5
years (about what was enrolled in the last 5 years). If additional
funding can be found, the level would increase to 1 million acres
per year.

• Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program: would continue the
program at current level (up to $85 million per year).

• Conservation Security Program: would put the program on hold
through 2012, likely killing the program by paying only for existing
contracts.

• "Open Fields": would provide $20 million to support state
programs that purchase/lease recreational access on private land,
although funding priorities would target states that do not
differentiate between in-state and out-of-state hunters in their
migratory bird hunting seasons.

• SodSaver: language would prevent a farmer who plows up
native prairie from getting federally subsidized crop insurance or
disaster payments on that land, for at least four years.

News from the House Agriculture Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 6, 2007

Media Contacts:
April Demert Slayton (202) 225-6872
Scott Kuschmider (202) 225-1496

The House Agriculture Committee reports that Chairman Collin
Peterson's markup documents for the 2007 Farm Bill were released
late on Friday, July 6. They are available online at:
http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/2007FarmBill.html.

The documents have been prepared in anticipation of the business
meeting that will be held by the House Agriculture Committee
starting on July 17 to consider the 2007 Farm Bill. These documents
are intended for use as base text for the markup process and are
subject to change prior to the relevant meeting.

[Note: The full text of each of 11 proposed titles is included on
the web site, along with a 'fact sheet' for each title. In addition,
the web site includes an 'en bloc' amendment, that includes
additional funding for programs that could happen if additional
funding or offsets are found to pay for them. Title II is
Conservation, Title IX is Energy. Note also that in some cases the
Chairman's proposal is different than the language reported from the
House Agriculture Subcommittees earlier this year.]

In July, the Senate and House Agriculture Committes plan to make key
decisions about the 2007 Farm Bill.  We need all conservation-minded
folks to weigh in right now to urge Committee members to ensure strong
wildlife conservation programs as they write this bill.

Please take a minute to go to the National Wildlife Federation's web
site to send a free letter to your Representative or Senator:

http://online.nwf.org/supportfarmbill

Also, please consider forwarding this link to your networks and friends
who care about wildlife so that they too can take action.

For more information, go to: http://online.nwf.org/farmbill

From Senator Max Baucus:
Making The Farm Bill Right For Montana: Agriculture is the backbone of
our state's economy, and our heritage. That's why as a member of the
Senate Agriculture committee, I want to make sure the next Farm Bill is
right for Montana. I'm going to be holding a Agriculture committee
field hearing in Great Falls on July 2nd at 11 a.m. I would encourage
folks to come out so we can work together to make sure the Farm Bill is
right for Montana producers. To read more about this click

See link:
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20070615/NEWS01/706150301/1002

Wayne,

Just checking back in with you to see if you decided whether you can come to the
Farm Bill Summit near Lanesboro next Wednesday.

Attached is our latest agenda. Unfortunately, our friends from Ducks Unlimited
are not going to be able to be there to talk about the Wetlands Reserve Program.
I understand you know pretty much all these programs, and I know this is late
notice, but would you be interested in talking about the WRP and benefits for
fish and wildlife?

I could provide some PowerPoint slides if that would help with information on
acres protected and benefits.



Duane Hovorka
Farm Bill Outreach Coordinator
National Wildlife Federation
409 310th Street
Elmwood, NE 68349
402-804-0033

Duane-I am interested in the Minnesota session.  I went to the website but
couldn't find an agenda or any meeting place details.  Did I miss them some how?

I have a couple of conflicts on those two days, but I'm willing to try to
shuffle my calendar if this is something I should try to attend.  I'd like to
see an agenda before I commit.

Please advise.

Wayne A. Edgerton
DNR Agricultural Policy Coordinator
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN  55155-4020
Phone: (651)259-5223
FAX:     (651)297-7272
Internet: wayne.edgerton@...
Visit the DNR website @ www.dnr.state.mn.us

>>> "duanehovorka" <HovorkaD@...> 5/30/2007 10:31 AM >>>
The National Wildlife Federation is hosting two Regional Farm Bill
Summit Meetings in June. The meetings are designed to educate and
motivate people who have an interest in fish, wildlife, and the Farm
Bill, and who are willing to make a difference in their state as
Congress debates a new Farm Bill.

The two meetings are scheduled for June 12-13 near Lanesboro,
Minnesota, and June 20-21, near Covington, Georgia. The Minnesota
Conservation Federation and Trout Unlimited are co-sponsoring the
regional summit in Minnesota; the Georgia Wildlife Federation is co-
sponsoring the regional summit in Georgia.

People who hunt, fish, or just enjoy wildlife and the great
outdoors, and who want to make a difference, are invited to attend.
Funding is available to help pay for travel costs to and from the
meetings, and food, lodging and meeting costs are free for those
who pre-register.

Additional information on the two summits is posted at
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FarmingforWildlife_USA/
or contact the following for more information:

Midwest/Great Plains Regional Summit (Minnesota)
Kevin Biegler, 952-454-6548, Oc.nwf.mn@...
Duane Hovorka, 402-994-5995, HovorkaD@...

Southeast Regional Summit (Georgia)
Dawn Randolph, 678-471-3804, dawn@...
Glenn Dowling, 770-787-7887, gdowling@...

The National Wildlife Federation is hosting two Regional Farm Bill
Summit Meetings in June. The meetings are designed to educate and
motivate people who have an interest in fish, wildlife, and the Farm
Bill, and who are willing to make a difference in their state as
Congress debates a new Farm Bill.

The two meetings are scheduled for June 12-13 near Lanesboro,
Minnesota, and June 20-21, near Covington, Georgia. The Minnesota
Conservation Federation and Trout Unlimited are co-sponsoring the
regional summit in Minnesota; the Georgia Wildlife Federation is co-
sponsoring the regional summit in Georgia.

People who hunt, fish, or just enjoy wildlife and the great
outdoors, and who want to make a difference, are invited to attend.
Funding is available to help pay for travel costs to and from the
meetings, and food, lodging and meeting costs are free for those
who pre-register.

Additional information on the two summits is posted at
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FarmingforWildlife_USA/
or contact the following for more information:

Midwest/Great Plains Regional Summit (Minnesota)
Kevin Biegler, 952-454-6548, Oc.nwf.mn@...
Duane Hovorka, 402-994-5995, HovorkaD@...

Southeast Regional Summit (Georgia)
Dawn Randolph, 678-471-3804, dawn@...
Glenn Dowling, 770-787-7887, gdowling@...

KUFM Public Radio Editorial  		 May 24, 2007
Ben Deeble, National Wildlife Federation, Missoula, MT

It comes as no surprise to many of us that part of what makes Montana
such a special place to live and work are the wide open spaces and
small communities scattered like stars in a night sky across our vast
landscape.

What might come as more of a surprise are the ways our plants and
animals, human communities, and yes, even government interact with
this landscape to influence and explain the rich patterns we observe
in nature, community, and commerce.  For example, how many of you
know that there is a federal program that pays Montana's farmers to
rest part of their wheat fields for years at a time.  Called the
Conservation Reserve Program, this program pays farmers to plant a
mixture of grasses and wildflowers instead of wheat or other grain,
and step away for a decade or more from those acres to just let it
grow.

Well, turns out this is a little like buying a savings bond.  You
invest a known amount and step back for 10 or 20 years.  At maturity,
your bond yields more dollars…  or in this case resting these fields
yields more soil fertility, more clean water in our streams and
aquifers, and more wildlife than could ever be sustained in wheat
fields alone.  These simple grasslands even pull carbon from the
atmosphere, storing it in roots underground where it can't contribute
to global warming.  The program has additional financial benefits to
farmers… it helps keep the market price of wheat at reasonable
levels, and delivers a stable rental payment from idled lands.

As a result nearly two million acres across Montana, an area nearly
twice the size of Glacier National Park, is growing wildlife habitat,
safeguarding our water and atmosphere, and giving a literal ground-
level financial boost to rural communities.  Yes…  this is by any
definition a subsidy to farmers, but it is a subsidy with spin-off
benefits that extend far beyond private land boundaries.

I'm a bird biologist and hunter, so let me give you a few feathered
examples.  There is a prairie bird called a sharp-tailed grouse,
which has declined dramatically throughout the West.  It used to be
so abundant that the early apple growers near the Columbia River
paid a bounty for the bird because of the damage the flocks did
eating apple tree buds through the winter.  But the sharptailed
grouse population there collapsed after WWII when the once-vast
Palouse Prairie of eastern Washington was converted almost entirely
to industrial-scale wheat fields.  The story was the same for this
bird throughout the intermountain habitats of the West.  But over the
last 20 years, populations have recovered in many places because
farmers began receiving payments to grow grass and wildflowers
instead of wheat in some places. The federal Fish and Wildlife
Service says this program is perhaps the only reason the Columbian
sharp-tailed grouse hasn't been put on the federal Endangered Species
list. As another example… it is estimated that an additional 2
million ducks are produced here and in North Dakota every year
because of the good nesting conditions they enjoy on the grassland
acres secured by federal contracts with farmers.  On fall migration,
these ducks provide improved bird watching and hunting, and enrich
ecosystems from Montana to Mexico.

The Conservation Reserve Program is only one example of nearly a
dozen conservation programs reauthorized by the federal Farm Bill
every four years. These investments in rural communities and
landscapes don't come easy, particularly in an era of wartime budget
deficits. But many of these existing programs have already proven
their value and return on investment, and others hold great promise
for being just as successful…. programs pioneered here in Montana
which purchase irrigation water to keep trout streams flowing, and
others that keep hog and chicken farms and dairies from polluting
lakes and streams.  There are new funds proposed for keeping grazing
lands and native prairie intact instead of subdivided or plowed, for
improving stewardship of private forests, and even to have farmers
grow native plants for energy generation, instead of the corn ethanol
craze currently being driven by big agribusiness. Other low cost
provisions may be introduced where landowners could volunteer free
public access to subsidized acres, and in return be more competitive
in qualifying for subsidy programs.

These programs are being debated in Congressional House committees as
we speak, and debate will continue in the Senate this September.  You
can stay informed by visiting the Yahoo Group list-serve we've
established, entitled FarmingforWildlife_USA.  Next time you look out
across Montana's rich landscape and communities, it might be worth
remembering that it's no accident it looks this way.  And keeping it
this beautiful, productive and rich for future generations will take
commitment from all of us.   This is Ben Deeble.  On behalf of the
National Wildlife Federation in Missoula, thanks for listening.

National Wildlife Federation Praises Introduction of Biofuels Bill

Washington D.C. (May 23) – The National Wildlife Federation today
applauded introduction of an innovative bill in the U.S. Senate by
Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) to help farmers
switch to growing a new generation of biofuel crops. The Biofuels
Innovation Program would enroll up to five million acres of land to
promote the sustainable production of next generation biomass energy.

"Biofuels represent a big part of our energy future, and this bill
represents a groundbreaking new direction," says Larry Schweiger,
President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.  "Native
grasses, trees, and other plants have the potential to double energy
yields per acre, with just a fraction of the energy needed to
produce corn-based ethanol.  As these new technologies come on line,
they will be key to our future clean energy production.  The use of
these fuels will also help stem global warming by decreasing
greenhouse gas emissions and storing carbon."

"We salute Sen. Thune and Sen. Nelson for their vision and
commitment to moving our nation towards a new energy future that
will benefit both wildlife and farmers," says Schweiger.

The Biofuels Innovation Program would provide financial and
technical assistance to landowners to produce native perennial
energy crops and crop mixes in a manner that protects the nation's
soil, air, water and wildlife.  The growing of these dedicated
energy crops would help support the development or expansion of
facilities that use the material for biofuels, electricity, heat, or
bio-based products.  The goal is to enact the bill under the energy
title of the Farm Bill of 2007.

"Farmers, hunters, and anglers will reap the benefits of this
program," says Julie  Sibbing, National Wildlife Federation Senior
Director for Agriculture Policy.  "Our native grasses which are so
important to wildlife have been disappearing but this program
provides an important incentive to plant mixes of natives that can
do double duty for energy and wildlife while lessening our
dependence on foreign oil."

The Biofuels Innovation Program would support a wide variety of
feedstocks and technologies.  In the true spirit of innovation,
while the bill would support production of switchgrass for ethanol,
it would also support jojoba for biodiesel, mixed prairie grasses
for gasification to generate electricity, trees or grasses for "co-
generation" of electricity, and other alternative energies.  The
bill has cost-share incentives for farmers to assist with storage,
transportation, harvest and delivery of dedicated feedstocks as well
as agriculture and forestry wastes.  There are also incentives to
remove exotic species for use as energy.

In order for a facility that uses biomass to be economically viable,
the biomass it utilizes must be grown within a relatively
concentrated area to ensure manageable transportation costs.  Most
experts describe this area as being within a 50 to 70 mile radius of
the facility.  The legislation is designed to address this issue by
requiring groups of landowners to come together to apply for funding
as a project, rather than as individual landowners.

"To avoid the worst impacts of global warming, we need to use energy
more efficiently, and use clean energy technologies," says Kurt
Zwally, National Wildlife Federation Global Warming Solutions
Manager.  "The Biofuels Innovation Program provides an incentive to
grow our energy future in a way that provides multiple benefits for
farmers, wildlife, hunters and anglers and energy users.  It's a win-
win-win plan."

The National Wildlife Federation is America's conservation
organization protecting wildlife for our children's future.
www.nwf.org.
###
Contact:
Julie Sibbing 202 797-6832, sibbing@...
Lisa Swann 703 438-6083, swann@...

News for Immediate Release
May 22, 2007
Contact: Geoff Mullins, Policy Initiatives Manager, gmullins@...

Coalition Sees Progress, Room for Improvement in Farm Bill
Conservation Proposal
Group encouraged by proposed funding levels, improvements for many
key programs, concerned by lack of Sodsaver provisions

WASHINGTON – The Agriculture and Wildlife Working Group (AWWG) of the
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership today commented on the
draft proposals for the conservation programs in the Farm Bill that
were circulated by the House Committee on Agriculture late last week.

The programs contained in the Farm Bill's Conservation Title
represent the single largest federal investment in conservation on
private land, and their scope is of huge importance to fish and
wildlife. The programs' futures are to be discussed today by a House
subcommittee that will be using the draft proposal as a point of
departure.

"The committee's language for the Conservation Title is a good
starting point," said Dave Nomsen of Pheasants Forever, a co-chair
of the AWWG.  "We applaud the proposed reauthorization of these
individual programs and we look forward to working with the
committee to incorporate a few things that did not make this draft –
like Sodsaver and funding for WRP & GRP."

Indeed, funding for programs still remains a top priority to the
AWWG.  Two of America's most popular conservation programs, the
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) and the Grasslands Reserve Program
(GRP) face the reauthorization of the Farm Bill without any
money.  "We were pleased to see that the House bill reauthorizes
these programs, but finding the money to fund them is still a huge
question," said Barton James of Ducks Unlimited, a co-chair of the
AWWG.  "We ask that the House leadership work with members of the
Agriculture Committee to make conservation a top priority in the
budget process so these essential programs can survive."

Sodsaver provisions, which carry the added benefit of being a source
of budget savings in this tight fiscal climate, would make non-
cropland that is converted to cropland ineligible to receive federal
benefits, such as price and income support payments, crop insurance,
disaster payments, conservation program enrollment and Farm Service
Agency loan benefits. "Too much ecologically valuable native prairie
already has been plowed under because government price supports and
insurance programs make it economically feasible to do so," said
Brad Redlin of the Izaak Walton League of America. "We need to
remove the economic incentive provided by the federal government for
destruction of a dwindling resource."

The AWWG strongly backs an Open Fields access provision in the Farm
Bill that would help fund state-managed, voluntary sportsmen's
access programs. Program funds will enhance wildlife management and
improve recreational opportunities on land enrolled in Farm Bill
conservation programs. Landowner assurances that reduce liability
and risk can be provided through the state-managed public access
programs.  "Open Fields is a winner not only because it promotes the
outdoor heritage vital to rural America," said TRCP Chairman James
D. Range, "but also because it will give a needed economic booster
shot in the [arm] to parts of the country that need it."

The AWWG also noted the substantial proposed funding increase in the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).  "We want to be
sure state level priorities and the proper focus are applied to this
funding," said Jen Mock Schaeffer of the Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies and AWWG co-chair.  "It is important that fish and
wildlife see the benefits of this increased funding and the
provision's language should reflect that."

NEWS FROM THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Media Contacts:
April Demert Slayton (202) 225-6872
Scott Kuschmider (202) 225-1496

Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research Forwards
Farm Bill Recommendations to House Agriculture Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on
Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research approved proposals for the
Farm Bill titles under their jurisdiction.

The Subcommittee considered discussion drafts outlining each title
and approved several amendments by voice vote. Copies of the
discussion drafts and the amendments approved by the subcommittee
are available online at:
http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/2007FarmBill.html. A brief
summary of the titles considered and amendments adopted is included
below.

Conservation: The discussion draft considered by the Subcommittee
extends important land reserve programs, simplifies and improves
the Conservation Security Program and substantially increases
funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives and Farmland
Protection Programs.  It also includes several provisions to
encourage cooperation between USDA and producers or other entities
to deliver conservation programs.

Amendments approved by voice vote
o Costa Amendment to prioritize the long-term benefits of grassland
protection
o Walz Amendment to expand the Cooperative Conservation Partnership
Initiative (CCPI) to include projects that simultaneously
address rural community development opportunities and environmental
enhancement
o Graves Amendment to ensure that entities receiving CCPI funds
spend no more than 5% of that funding on administrative costs
o Cardoza Amendment declaring that packing and handling operations
are considered on-farm income for the purposes of calculating
Adjusted Gross Income
o Herseth Sandlin Amendment to add bison to the definition of
livestock for the purposes of the Environmental Quality Incentives
Program
o Cardoza Amendment to allow USDA to encourage the development of
voluntary sustainable practices guidelines for specialty crops

Research: The discussion draft considered by the Subcommittee
reauthorizes many important research programs and establishes new
initiatives for specialty crops and for bioenergy and bio-based
products research. To maximize limited resources, it seeks to ensure
greater integration in research efforts and establishes an
Agricultural Research Institute to coordinate the programs and
activities of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's research agencies.

Energy: The discussion draft considered by the Subcommittee includes
a Federal loan guarantee program for biorefineries and biofuel
production plants. It also reauthorizes and improves several
important existing bioenergy programs.

Amendments approved by voice vote
o Kagen Amendment to establish a pilot program to demonstrate on-
farm energy production systems to help farms become energy
independent using existing technologies
o Herseth Sandlin Amendment to modify the Section 9006 program that
allows farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses to apply for
grants and loans to purchase renewable energy systems and make
energy efficiency improvements in farms or businesses
o Salazar Amendment to clarify that specialty crop waste and
residues are understood to qualify as agricultural cellulosic biomass
o Fortenberry Amendment to establish grants to create models of
energy independence in rural communities
o Cardoza Amendment to create an internship pilot program to train
the next generation of professionals in renewable energy,
ethanol, biomass, and other biofuels.

Credit: The discussion draft considered by the Subcommittee expands
access to farm credit in order to further support renewable
energy initiatives and creates a new loan guarantee program for
producers to carry out conservation projects. It makes improvements
to Farm Service Agency lending programs, updates the population
limit for rural housing lending, and makes changes to stock
requirements and insurance premium payments required for Farm Credit
System institutions.

On Thursday, May 24, the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and
Poultry will hold a markup on Farm Bill issues under its
jurisdiction.

All markups will be broadcast live on the House Agriculture
Committee's website at:
http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/audio.html.

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

The House and Senate Agriculture Committees are moving quickly to
begin to 'mark up' the 2007 Farm Bill.

The House Agriculture Committee has announced that Subcommittees
will take up their respective portions of the Farm Bill beginning
the week of May 21. We have not heard an official announcement, but
expect the Senate Agriculture Committee to take up its version of a
new Farm Bill in the next few weeks as well.

People and organizations who care about conservation programs in the
Farm Bill have a great chance to make their views known when House
and Senate members are back in their home states over the Memorial
Day recess, May 25 through June 4. Members of Congress often attend
public input sessions, and are often available to meet with
constituents in their home state during the recess.

Despite the tremendous popularity of and need for Farm Bill
conservation programs, it appears it will be a struggle to gain an
increase in funding for important programs like the Conservation
Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, and Wildlife Habitat
Incentives Program. In fact, some on Capitol Hill say Farm Bill
conservation program funding is at risk, given the proposals by
others to direct funds to pursue biofuels and other alternative
energy, provide new commodity program payments for fruit and
vegetable growers, and continue existing commodity, food, and export
programs in the Farm Bill.

If Farm Bill conservation programs are important to you, speak up!

Duane Hovorka
National Wildlife Federation