New Farm Bill Poised for Passage Soon - Help Ensure that Conservation is Included in Final Bill!

The federal Farm Bill (HR 2419) represents the largest single federal investment in conservation, with many of the legislation's programs providing critical protections for soil and water quality, fish and wildlife habitat and quality angling and outdoor recreational opportunities. This is why it's critical to renew this legislation as soon as possible!

Budgetary disagreements have stalled farm bill negotiations since the House and Senate passed their different versions of a new five-year bill last year. Facing an April 18 deadline to combine the two different pieces of legislation, lawmakers are considering an extension that would continue current law, but potentially bring to a halt any expansion of important land and water protection programs.  An agriculture conference committee, on which Senator Max Baucus serves, is hashing out the final negotiations and details this week.

Key wildlife programs depend on the renewal of the Farm Bill, including the Wetland Reserve Program and the Grassland Reserve Program, which protect and improve key habitat for grassland and wetland dependent wildlife, bird and plant species.  Unfortunately, a final agreement among the House, the Senate, and the Bush Administration on funding levels for these programs has not been reached yet.  In fact, the Bush Administration has repeatedly threatened to veto this vital legislation, ignoring the need to protect the nation's soil and water quality and wildlife habitat.  

But the Montana delegation knows how important these funding measures are to both the state's agricultural community and the conservation of our precious water and lands.  Please contact Senator Max Baucus today!

Ask him to ensure that conservation-funding measures remain in the Farm Bill extension and final version of the bill. 

We also encourage readers to contact Senator Jon Tester and Representative Dennis Rehberg.  Ask them to support conservation funding in the Farm Bill, when it's time to vote on the floor.

For more information about land and water conservation-specific measures in the Farm Bill, visit:          

National Wildlife Federation                          http://www.nwf.org