National Association of Conservation District leaders are pleased with legislation introduced in Congress to streamline the regulations hampering conservation programs. Minnesota’s Amy Klobuchar is carrying the measure in the Senate while Agriculture Committee member Rick Crawford of Arkansas is the prime House sponsor. NACD President Brent Van Dyke says if the bills pass it’ll be quicker and easier for farmers to implement conservation practices.

He says making farmers register through the system for award management or SAM and obtain a data universal numbering system or DUNS, complicated conservation delivery.

Van Dyke thinks both measures have a good chance of passing.

He says requiring farmers and ranchers to comply with time consuming regulations like SAM and DUNS can discourage landowners from participating in NRCS cost share programs.