A coalition of more than 125 organizations, including American Farmland Trust and representing agricultural, conservation, forestry, energy, hunger, and rural stakeholders, sent a letter to Senate leadership on May 7 urging them to quickly bring to the Senate floor the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012, which recently passed out of the Senate [...]
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American Farmland Trust President Testifies to House on Farm Bill Conservation Programs
On April 26, American Farmland Trust President Jon Scholl appeared in front of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy and Forestry to testify on Formulation of the 2012 Farm Bill: Conservation Programs. In describing farm bill conservation programs, Scholl explains: “These programs are critically important tools for meeting conservation challenges. Our farmers [...]
American Farmland Trust Backs Timely Draft of 2012 Farm Bill
PRESS RELEASE Washington, D.C., April 23, 2012— American Farmland Trust (AFT) welcomed the 2012 farm bill draft unveiled late last week by the Senate Agriculture Committee. AFT President Jon Scholl commended Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and Senator Pat Roberts ofKansas, the committee’s Ranking Minority Member, for their efforts [...]
Posted in Blog Posts Tagged conservation, farm bill, farmland protection, u.s. senate Leave a comment
Urging Congress to Consider Environmental and Conservation Impacts of New Farm Bill
PRESS RELEASE Washington, D.C.—American Farmland Trust (AFT) urged Congress to consider the environmental impacts of farm safety-net reform and reiterated key AFT policy positions in support of a strong and equitable farm support system. The group’s comments came in response to the Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, “Risk Management and Commodities in the 2012 Farm Bill.” [...]
Also posted in News Items Tagged compliance, conservation, environment, farm support Leave a comment
Conservation Compliance: A Key Part of Incentive-Based Conservation
PRESS RELEASE Washington, D.C.—“I appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s support of conservation incentives, but I believe that he has created a false choice between incentive-driven conservation and conservation compliance,” said Jon Scholl, President of American Farmland Trust (AFT). “Conservation compliance is nothing more than an incentive for farmers with highly sensitive lands to follow a few basic [...]
Also posted in News Items Tagged conservation compliance, crop insurance, environment, farm bill, Tom Vilsack, USDA Leave a comment
You Can’t Go Wrong With Conservation
PRESS RELEASE Washington, D.C.—“Today’s Senate Agriculture Committee hearing confirmed something America’s farmers have known for a long time: you can’t go wrong with conservation programs,” says Jon Scholl, President of American Farmland Trust (AFT). “The panelists gave a strong defense of the conservation programs that we have in place today and also provided thoughtful suggestions [...]
Posted in Blog Posts Tagged conservation, conservation title, environment, farm bill, farmland protection, senate, stabenow Leave a comment
More Than 640 Organizations Stand Strong for Conservation Title in 2012 Farm Bill
PRESS RELEASE Washington, D.C.—“I am proud to stand with conservationists from all 50 states as we call for a strong Conservation Title in the 2012 Farm Bill,” says Jon Scholl, President of American Farmland Trust (AFT). “We must have the most robust conservation spending possible to give farmers the programs they need to protect [...]
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Where are we now with the farm bill?
In Washington, the Senate Agriculture Committee is in the midst of hearings for the next farm bill. Changes to the reauthorization process, spurred by efforts of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction last year, have slowed the typical gait of public hearings. At this point, the process appears to still be on track for [...]
More than 60 Organizations Urge Congress: U.S. Agriculture Needs a Farm Bill Now
American Farmland Trust joined more than 60 organizations to tell Congressional leaders that U.S. agriculture needs a farm bill now. The letter, addressed to the leadership of the House and Senate agriculture committees, urged a rejection of calls to extend the current farm bill and instead proposed the critical need to “aggressively act to ensure [...]
Also posted in News Items Tagged agriculture committee, conservation, farm bill, federal policy, sequestration Leave a comment
Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Announces Hearings
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairof the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, has announced the Committee’s Farm Bill hearing schedule for February and March. Wednesday, February 15: Energy and Economic Growth for Rural America Tuesday, February 28: Strengthening Conservation through the 2012 Farm Bill Wednesday, March 14: Healthy Food Initiatives, Local Production and [...]