National Association of Conservation District leaders are weighing in on their conservation appropriation priorities with members of Congress. NACD President Lee McDaniel says they want $ 846 million in base funding for NRCS programs, $85 million for the watershed rehabilitation program and maintenance of all mandatory conservation program funding as outlined in the 2014 Farm Bill.
McDaniel says while some budget leaders want to cut conservation, it’s time for other areas of the federal budget to step up to the plate and take their share of cuts. He says that’s especially true considering that agriculture already contributed $ 23 billion in deficit reduction in the last farm bill.
McDaniel also cautioned budget leaders that any continued cuts to conservation programs would set a dangerous precedent at a time when voluntary, incentive based conservation of the nation’s natural resources are of upmost importance.