-------- 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]