A new report from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition shows that Minnesota and South Dakota would lose the most in funding if the Conservation Stewardship program is eliminated. Minnesota Land Stewardship Project Federal Policy Organizer Ben Anderson says that’s called for in the House version of the farm bill which conferees will be considering starting next month.
He says that loss would be over a 10 year period if the House version of the farm bill is adopted by the conference committee. Anderson says LSP members are urging conferees to keep CSP in the farm bill and have been asking Minnesota Congressman Colin Peterson who’s a conferee to help lead the charge on the issue.
Anderson says LSP’s major priority for the farm bill is retaining the Conservation Security Program.
Anderson says Minnesota farmers have over 3.3 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Stewardship Program representing over 13 percent of the state’s farmland.
