1990 Farm Bill Forum 



Proceedings 



benefits in terms of soil erosion, watershed 

 protection, and wildlife habitat restoration 

 would be exceptional. 



Finally, as a way of complementing the CRP, 

 we recommend that the 1990 Farm Act adjust 

 the annual set-aside program to allow farmers 

 to sign multi-year contracts. At present, the 

 conservation benefits of the set-aside program 

 are minimal, since lands are frequently enrolled 

 for one year and plowed the next, even as other 

 lands are put into the program. By permitting 

 farmers to set aside such lands for a p>eriod of 

 years, other benefits in terms of wildlife and 

 watershed protection would be greatly im- 

 proved. 



Conclusion 



I would like to say that N\\T and M\VF are 

 only now formulating positions on the 1990 

 Farm Bill reauthorization. We recognize that we 

 don't have all the answers, and are anxious to 

 work with both farm and non-farm organiza- 

 tions in developing legislative solutions that 

 provide for both a stable farm economy and a 

 healthy rural environment. 



1 In most instances, the justification for plant- 

 ing crested wheatgrass has been that it rapidly 

 establishes itself and thus stands as a barrier to 

 weed infestations. While planting to native 

 species can also fulfill this goal, it is interesting 

 to note that preventing weeds was not a listed 

 goal of the CRP. According to the legislative 

 record, a successful conservation reserve 

 would: 



— Protect our long-term capability to produce 

 food and fiber, 



— Reduce soil erosion on land in the program 

 by as much as 20 tons a year, 

 — Reduce sedimentation in streams and along 

 roads, 



— Improve water quality, 

 — Create better habitat for fish and wildlife 

 through improved food and cover and better 

 moisture conditions, 



— Curb production of surplus commodities, 

 and 



— Provide some need income support for 

 farmers. 

 H. Rep. 99-271, Park 1, 99th Cong. 1st Sess., 81. 



Northern Plains Resource 

 Council 



Monte MIekush 



Chairperson 



I think we arc all here because we are deeply 

 concerned about soil and water conservation. 

 But how can we conser\'e our soil and water? 

 We can make sure that the 1990 Farm Bill does 

 four things: 



1) increases farm income by raising commodity 

 price support levels, 



2) manages production on a bushelage-basis 

 instead of using acreage controls, and 



3) targets incentives to family-sized farms, 



4) provides incentives for moving toward low 

 chemical input, sustainable production. 



Increase Farm Income 



If we want to protect our soil and water, we had 

 better not leave it to huge corporate farms and 

 insurance companies. Family farmers have 

 more than a financial stake in the land; they feel 

 a moral obligation to it. My farm has been in the 

 family for three generations, and I plan to pass 

 it on to my children, so I farm with conserva- 

 tion in mind. 



But no one can stay in business long when the 

 price you receive is less than the cost of produc- 

 tion. Between the time that the 1985 Farm Bill 

 was enacted and 1988, 484,000 farmers left the 

 land. That's just three years. If we want our soil 

 and water to be conserved, we must increase 

 net farm income for family farmers by increas- 

 ing price supports to cover the cost of produc- 

 tion with a profit so our most conservation 

 conscious farmers can survive. 



Another advantage of raising the loan rate on 

 farm commodities is an estimated annual 

 savings to the U.S. government of $14 billion in 

 direct subsidy payments. 



Bushelage-Based Supply Management 

 TT»e 85 Farm Bill attempted to control supplies 

 by using acreage set-asides. Simply put, if the 

 secretary of agriculture determines that only 80 

 percent of our nation's productive capability is 

 needed, he requires an approximate 20 pjercent 

 acreage set-aside. Consequently, farmers leave 



29 



MootuM Ctiapttr, SoD ind Watsr ConttrvaOoD loclety 



Angott 28, 1888 



