Congress is currently putting together the 2007-2012 Farm Bill, a massive bill of taxpayer subsidies and incentives that will have a major impact on food and farming in the U.S. over the next five years. Next week (May 21), the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation will decide whether to make cuts in the Conservation Security Program, an innovative program that helps sustainable and organic farmers protect the environment and preserve wetlands. Congress has already cut this program by $4.3 billion and is considering making further cuts.
We need to send a strong message to Washington that it's time to move our food and farming system away from chemical and energy-intensive industrial agriculture towards conservation, organic practices, and less dependence on petroleum-based inputs. Contact your Congress person now and tell them that you want them to use taxpayers' money wisely by restoring full funding to the Conservation Security Program.
Members of the Subcommittee will be presented with a farm bill proposal,
including conservation, from full Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) on
May 17 or 18, and will then meet the following week to consider amendments and
ultimately to vote to approve a new conservation title.