National Association of Conservation Districts

National Association of Conservation Districts

NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation.

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONSERVATION DISTRICTS URGE SUPPORT OF FARM BILL

NACD President John Redding, a cotton, peanut and pine tree producer from Monroe, Georgia, today issued the following statement as Congress considers the 2008 Farm Bill Conference Report.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—May 13, 2008—“This week the 2008 Farm Bill Conference Report is expected to come before  the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate for final consideration. On behalf of America’s 3,000 conservation districts, I urge members of Congress vote in favor of the legislation.

“Members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees and the Conference Committee have shown diligence and determination to bring the Farm Bill to this point. The process has been challenging, but lawmakers have put together a strong package that we can support.

“The Conference Report addresses the majority of the priorities identified by conservation districts from the early stages of the Farm Bill process. It includes increased commitments for working lands conservation programs, maintains a strong commitment to locally-led conservation, streamlines programs and revises and strengthens the Conservation Stewardship Program (formerly the Conservation Security Program).

“NACD, along with hundreds of conservation, commodity and nutrition organizations today sent a letter to Congress urging their support for the bill, citing the need for sound policy and long-term certainty.

“America’s producers and program delivery system have been in limbo long enough waiting for a new farm bill. Short-term extensions are no longer the answer. A strong Farm Bill will be before Congress this week, and we urge lawmakers to support the legislation.”

# # #

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