12/16/08 Tapping Into Funds

Tapping Into Funds. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. Oregon's farmers and ranchers are among the nation's leaders when it comes to tapping into federal conservation programs. In the last eight years, the amount of government payments for federal conservation programs to Oregon producers has grown by a whopping 400 percent, reflecting the commitment Oregon agriculture has for protecting the state's natural resources. Larry Ojua (OH-you-wah) of the Oregon Department of Agriculture says the state itself has historically shown a strong conservation ethic. OJUA: The fact that there's 93 million dollars of conservation programs that come to Oregon, that couldn't happen if Oregon wasn't stepping up and providing the investment in natural resources that they are. Working with local organizations like soil and water conservation districts and watershed councils, these conservation funds help farmers and ranchers implement on-the-ground projects and management practices that sustain the land, water, and more. OJUA: Absolutely, it's making a difference. We're reducing erosion. We're protecting water quality. Lots of practices that have multiple benefits- not only water quality benefits, but actually help improve and enhance wildlife habitat. Some of the federal programs pay rent for environmentally-sensitve land that is taken out of agricultural production. Other programs offer funds for techincal assistance and projects. In both cases, financial incentives are drawing a high percentage of Oregon farmers and ranchers who want to do the right thing. Ojua says providing federal funds for voluntary conservation efforts provides a financial incentive for farmers and ranchers to practice good stewardship of natural resources. OJUA: If a producer wants to keep a piece of his or her land in wetlands production or riparian buffer or field border or wind break, that is really their local decision. The fact that we have the ability to compensate them for that is great. Ojua says Oregon wouldn't be receiving so much of the federal conservation funding if it wasn't already demonstrating natural resource protection in the first place. OJUA: Historically, Oregon has got a very strong conservation ethic. Part of it is the commitment of the state. The local conservation districts and watershed councils go out and sell these programs and inform folks, through outreach and education, of the opportunities that exist in these programs. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.