1. AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION IN THE NEWS: CRP MAKES THE NEW YORK TIMES

A front page article in the New York Times (August 27) describes the benefits of the Conservation Reserve Program for waterfowl and family farmers. In the Prairie Pothole Region of the Dakotas and Montana, the program is credited for "the revival of a North American duck population that a decade ago was in serious decline." The article also profiles two farm families whose income from CRP has helped them to continue farming their land. The success of CRP in traditional farm program states like North Dakota serves as an example for "lawmakers promoting more subsidies for conservation and less for traditional row crops like wheat and corn." Unfortunately, these lawmakers face opposition from "large farmers, backed by powerful agribusiness lobbies [who] oppose increases for conservation programs" and from the House Agriculture Committee, whose version of the Farm Bill would severely weaken provisions that discourage farmers from draining wetlands on their land. 

The House Agriculture Committee's version of the Farm Bill may come to the floor as early as September 10th. Www.familyfarmer.org is spreading the word about all the things that are wrong with this bill (H.R. 2646). Preliminary responses to a survey of problems with the bill include: it subsidizes large farms and helps them become even larger; it weakens program eligibility requirements so that large corporations could receive payments; it does nothing to stop agribusiness control of prices and markets; it cuts technical assistance funding and NRCS authority for implementing conservation programs; it weakens the focus of important programs such as CRP, WRP and EQIP; it guts the critical Swampbuster provision; and it subsidizes large confined animal feeding operations. A full list of the problems with the bill, plus recommended revisions, will be available at www.familyfarmer.org by September 5. If you have recommended additions to the list of things we hate about H.R. 2646, please send them to adelach@defenders.org

3. CORN GROWERS OPPOSE FAST TRACK LEGISLATION

Saying that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has "devastated farmers from the wheatfields of Canada to the Cornfields of Mexico', the American Corn Growers Association (ACCA) is officially opposing current legislation before Congress that would grant President Bush "fast track" or "trade promotion authority." In a press release dated August 21, 2001 ACCA spokesman David Senter said that "until we can accomplish a major overhaul of NAFTA, to insure that it is fair for farmers, farm workers and helps sustain family farms and the rural economy, ACGA will oppose the negotiation and ratification of the expansion of that trade agreement." In opposing fast track authority ACCA has joined a broad alliance of consumer, conservation, religious and farm organizations who demand fundamental reform in trade policy. The American Corn Growers Association is not to be confused with the National Corn Growers Association who are generally considered to represent the interests of the grain commodity groups over that of the family or independent farmer. 

4. FARM BILL ACTIVISM - A QUICK TUTORIAL FOR EVERYONE WHO EATS

Keeping up with the shenanigans in Washington regarding farm policy legislation can be as much fun as sorting socks, but anyone who grows, or eats food should be paying close attention right now. For both a "big picture" overview on what changes are needed in federal farm policy, and a quick tutorial regarding what is happening in Congress right now, go to a http://www.familyfarmer.org/sections/next.html#ONE.

Whether you live in rural America, or are an urban consumer, your democratic participation is needed. Let's help create agriculture and food production that works for Earth and the families that live on it. Stay tuned and stay involved with Rural Updates! weekly electronic publication.

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