Policy Plate: House Ag Leaders To Cut Conservation, Protect Direct Payments
Environmental Working Group released a statement today opposing the drought disaster package proposed by House agriculture committee leaders that would be paid for with damaging and unnecessary cuts to conservation programs. Livestock and fruit and vegetable farmers who don’t have access to federal crop insurance certainly need assistance during this historic drought. But the proposal would cut the very conservation programs that help farmers mitigate severe weather conditions. This is a shortsighted and counterproductive move.
Click here to read the full statement.
Next week, EWG and Defenders of Wildlife will release a major analysis of land conversion in the farm belt and its devastating impact on land and wildlife habitat.
Table Scraps:
A new Ag Mag post examines how climate change has affected droughts and agriculture.
The Wall Street Journal reports drought-stricken farmers, who have given up on extremely dry crops, will still earn revenue because of rising crop prices and generous crop insurance subsidies.
Tweet of the Day:
@sclubecopause TEDxManhattan – Ken Cook – Turning the Farm Bill into the Food Bill: http://youtu.be/Z6T37m4r3yo via @youtube
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