-------- Original Message --------
Subject: please spread the word on our CSP win
Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 10:37:38 EDT
From: [log in to unmask]
To: undisclosed-recipients:;

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE COALITION

For Immediate Release
Contact: Ferd Hoefner
April 30, 2002
202/547-5754

COALITION APPLAUDS SENATOR HARKIN FOR HIS VICTORY ON CSP

WASHINGTON, DC -   The Sustainable Agriculture Coalition today applauded
Senate Agriculture Chairman Tom Harkin for his hard fought victory on
the Conservation Security Program.  Under the negotiated farm bill
agreement, the program will operate with entitlement status rather than
be subject to a spending cap, which puts it on par with existing
commodity programs.

"By giving the Conservation Security Program entitlement status, farm
bill conferees are saying we want a new framework for farm programs, one
that recognizes and rewards farmers for implementing conservation on
working lands," said Ferd Hoefner, Washington Representative for the
Coalition.  "This represents a milestone in the history and evolution of
federal agricultural programs," added Hoefner.

The Senate-passed CSP was an entitlement program, but late last week the
farm bill conferees announced a deal withdrawing entitlement status in
favor of a budget cap.  The Coalition launched an action campaign, and
that decision was reversed in the intervening days.  As an entitlement,
any eligible farmer or rancher with an approved conservation security
plan will be eligible for payments, without the need for an allocation
and bidding system and the inevitable waiting list and backlog that has
been a common problem in other conservation programs.

"This is strictly a voluntary program and does not limit participation
to ' program crops' such as corn, wheat and cotton," said Hoefner.  "It
allows farmers to think out side of the box when it comes to good
stewardship of the land."

CSP payments to farmers are based on conservation outcomes.  The program
promotes practices that improve surface and groundwater quality, soil
quality, greenhouse gas emission reduction and carbon sequestration, air
quality, fish and wildlife habitat, wetlands, and energy conservation.
Multi-year farm plans are developed to reach a level that will not
degrade the resource base, with progress measured by definitive
outcomes.  Both current conservation practices and newly implemented
practices are rewarded.  Experimentation, on-farm research, and on-farm
monitoring and evaluation are encouraged.  Big environmental pay-off
conservation practices such as diversified resource-conserving crop
rotations and conservation buffers are eligible for enhanced payments.

Unlike EQIP, CSP does not make payments to large confined animal feeding
operations for manure storage structures.  Unlike commodity programs,
CSP does not contain any payment limitation loopholes.

"Unlike some elements of commodity programs, CSP is also fully compliant
with World Trade Organization rules," added Hoefner.  "As the next trade
round is negotiated, CSP's stock may rise even higher."

The Sustainable Agriculture Coalition represents Midwest-based farm,
rural and conservation organizations that advocate public policies
supporting the long-term economic and environmental sustainability of
agriculture, natural resources and rural communities.

-30-

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT
to [log in to unmask]