An alliance of environmentalists and family farmers succeeded in getting more conservation dollars into the recent farm bill. But will Congress now pay for the new programs? The jury is still out on this. 

The House Appropriations committee just approved the FY 2003 Agriculture Appropriations bill last week, but vote on the bill by the full House may be pushed back until Congress reconvenes after summer recess on September 3rd. Judging from what has been approved by the House Ag. Subcommittee, the $74.3 billion bill for the most part maintains the conservation funding that was authorized by the farm bill, with one major exception: it reduces the Conservation Security Program to an Iowa-only pilot program. 

It's unknown where this attack came from, but it's hopeful that the Senate will rectify the problem. Conservation funding may still face a threat, however, when the House bill goes to the floor. It is rumored that the final bill will contain a $400 million livestock disaster assistance provision that would be offset by taking money out of EQIP, the Nevada lakes program, and other conservation programs. An attempt by Representative Kaptur (D-OH) to add payment limitation language to the appropriations bill was cut short after leaders of both parties threatened to eliminate funding from 18 Ohio projects in retaliation. Get more information about the appropriations process. 

Rural UPdates and www.familyfarmer.org are looking for farm conservation success stories. We want to know how farmers have used farm conservation incentive programs to improve wildlife, biodiversity or water conservation, and need your help. With a huge influx of federal money into farm conservation incentives, you can help others envision what is possible by telling your story. If you have used programs such as EQIP, (Environmental Quality Incentives Program), WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program), WRP (Wetlands Reserve Program), CRP (Conservation Reserve Program), or any other state or federal conservation incentive programs, drop us an email and let us know. We want to hear from you. If you want more information about new and existing conservation incentive programs see Defenders Conservation Programs in the Farm Bill: A Brief Guide.

3. ACTIVIST RESOURCE: GRACE GUIDE TO CONFRONTING A CAFO

When it comes to front line work helping rural communities and family farmers mobilize against large factory farms, GRACE (Global Resource Action Center for the Environment) has been a consistent and dedicated leader. Now GRACE has released a "Guide to Confronting a Confined Animal Feeding Operation." This internet publication contains information and tools to help communities oppose new CAFOs in their area and to deal with existing CAFOs that are causing problems for local residents. The guide contains education resources and organizing tips to get you started. It also teaches you how to gather information about how the CAFO is impacting land values and air and water quality. The guide also includes campaign strategies, media and fundraising pointers, and advice on when to consider legal action. Read "The GRACE Guide to Confronting A CAFO". 

The nations struggling farm economy will get worse before it gets better according to a new report released by the University of Missouri based Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, (FAPRI). These conclusions come despite an election-year farm bill that subsidizes thousands more producers. The report predicts that net income for farmers will plummet $7 billion this year before rebounding somewhat in 2003, according to the at the University of Missouri. Speaking to the Dow Jones Newspapers Margaret Kay Thatcher, national lobbyist for the American Farm Bureau said,

"Farm prices are not getting any better, and therefore the price of the bill is going up. Agriculture is going to continue to be hurting, and it's going to continue to need that safety net." This year Congress continued and expanded farm price supports but failed to address what most farmers see as the reason farm prices stay depressed - market control and price manipulation by the grain trade and meat packers. To better understand the roots of the rural crisis see the Defenders  publication, "Addressing the Crisis in Rural America".

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