Last week House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway released his panel’s draft of the new farm bill. Minnesota Land Stewardship Project members are disappointed with the measure in regard to conservation. LSP Policy Program Organizer Ben Anderson says the elimination of the Conservation Stewardship Program is not acceptable.
He says EQIP is a strong enough program to stand on its own but it’s a mistake to cut funding for conservation programs. Anderson also says they wanted some reforms to existing programs like crop insurance to make it more effective.
Anderson says his group will speak with House members as the farm bill debate progresses and ask for changes. He says they’ll also lobby Senate Ag Committee members as they craft their version of the farm bill.
He says they’re also disappointed that the House Farm Bill draft creates unneeded requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Anderson says that will make it more challenging for millions to obtain the food assistance they need.
