49 



The agricultural community sees us right now wresthng with policies that have enormous 

 implications for how they conduct business and carry out their lives. In dealing with such 

 complex and crosscutting issues, we must be watchful that legislation and programs 

 complement, not conflict with each other. I believe the type of cooperation that was evident 

 in these interagency working groups is pan of the answer to meeting this challenge. 



As we consider these policies and changes in legislation, it is also critical that we listen to 

 and reflect the concerns of the people closest to the natural resources we all care about. In 

 many cases, they are the farmers and ranchers of this country, and the Department's 

 employees in the field every day. The agricultural community is looking for 

 understandable and consistent direction as it provides the food and fiber demanded by this 

 country. This is no easy task, given society's evolving expectations for a sustainable and 

 environmentally sound agriculture, and the realities of farming when you have no control 

 over the weather and the forces of the marketplace. 



These are some of the most important challenges we face, and we look forward to working 

 with you Mr. Chairman, and the other members of this committee, to meet them. 



WETLANDS 



Wedands are among our Nation's most critical and productive natural resources. Wedands are 

 the vital link between land and water. They provide a multitude of services to society, are the 

 basis of many thousands of jobs, and contribute billions of dollars to the economy. Wetiands 

 fulfill vital functions within the ecosystem, such as wildlife and aquatic Ufe habitat and food 

 chain support, water quality improvement and flood storage, and shoreline erosion control. In 

 some areas, up to two thirds of our commercial and recreational fisheries are dependent on 

 wetlands. This means that wetiands contribute over $15 billion annually to our-economy for 

 fisheries alone. A high percentage of the Nation's threatened and endangered species rely 



