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Bad News for Future of CRP
The following memo was sent to all state game and fish directors from the International Association of Fish & Wildlife Management:
Memorandum
To: State Directors of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
From: Jen Mock, IAFWA Farm Bill Coordinator
Cc: John Baughman, IAFWA Executive Vice President
Gary Taylor, IAFWA Legislative Director
Date: 11 October 2005
Subject: Action Requested on Senate Agriculture Committee’s Budget Reconciliation Package
Background
The Senate is scheduled to take action on the “Agricultural Reconciliation Act of 2005” upon their return from Columbus Day recess on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 at 9:30am. The Senate Agriculture Committee was charged with finding $3 billion in savings for budget reconciliation and proposed the following cuts for savings. For your information, the funding for the Conservation Title is approximately 8% of the total funds authorized under the 2002 Farm Bill.
Title 2006 2006-2010________
o Commodity Title -$180 million -$1,145 million
o Conservation -$7 million -$1,1054 million
o Nutrition -40 million -$574 million
o Other (Ag Research) -$8 million -$227 million
Total -$235 million -$3,000 million
Proposed Cuts to Conservation Programs
o Provisions in the bill drastically cut the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) from 39.2 million acres to 36.4 million acres.
o Provisions in the bill will slightly reduce funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) by $104 million for FY2006-2010 ($1.2 billion authorized). The provision will limit spending to $1.017 billion in FY2005 and $1.185 billion in FY2006. Funding would be limited to $1.270 billion each year for FY2007-FY2010.
o Provisions in the bill would limit the Conservation Security Program (CSP) to about $2 billion/year, achieving a savings of $821 million over 5 years. The CSP baseline would be limited to $1.954 billion for FY2006-FY2010 and would be limited to $5.2 billion for fiscal years 2006-2015, allowing the program minimal growth.
What This Means to You
o CRP: If enacted this would HALT all Continuous-CRP enrollments, all new CRP enrollments and projects (such as CREPs), and cancel the next general CRP sign-up. There is also concern that the provisions would cause the Farm Service Agency to suspend all approval authority of any CRP contract, which means no new CRP contracts of any kind whether it’s a continuous practice, CREP, or re-enrollment of expiring acres, and all of the 27 CREP proposals submitted by the states that are currently being considered would be rejected.
o EQIP: Reduction of EQIP funds available by $104 million over 5 years.
o CSP: Funds would be available for current contracts and allow for minimal growth from FY2006-2010.
ACTION REQUESTED
Please contact each of your U.S. Senators immediately by calling or faxing a letter and tell them to OPPOSE the “Agriculture Reconciliation Act of 2005” and these drastic cuts to the Conservation Title and to CRP. Tell them how important CRP/CREP/CCRP is to your agency, to the farmers and landowners, and to the health of fish and wildlife resources and the environment in your state.
Talking points include:
CRP’s benefits to songbirds, game birds (grouse, waterfowl, quail), and other wildlife
CREP’s societal and environmental benefits of improved water quality and quantity
CRP’s income provides financial diversification and stability for farmers and landowners
The need to keep on schedule for a fully enrolled CRP with new signups, buffers, and CREP’s
The CRP helps to reduce farm commodity payments by taking marginal lands out of production. High fuel and input costs equate to the need for more CRP, not less.
If you are communicating with Republicans, remind them of the President’s commitment to a fully enrolled CRP of 39.2 million acres.
Thank you for your assistance with this matter. Your time and energy is greatly appreciated.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jen Mock at 202-624-3688 or at jenmock@iafwa.org.
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