NAWG on Farm Bill Pt 2
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. National Association of Wheat Growers President, Nicole Berg believes how the next Farm Bill addresses Title II conservation programs in terms of environmental benefits and options for farmers is crucial.
During her recent testimony before the House Ag Committee, the Patterson, Washington wheat farmer said adequate funding is necessary, but there’s another critical factor …
BERG … “We were more kind of talking about the volunteer incentive-based programs, the work it does. And then the other part was staffing size. NRCS doesn’t quite have the staffing support they need to implement these programs.”
And another big concern, Berg says is in he Inflation Reduction Act …
BERG … “I am a little bit concerned with the IRA and the large funding for conservation in that bill. How are they going to implement the funds and get the conservation on the ground? If we’re at a certain funding level right now, how do we get enough people to implement these programs?
Berg says things are looking a little better of late …
BERG … “So, in the Farm Service Agency part, it took over a year to get a state executive director appointed. And so that was a big, big issue of trying to get that person at the helm in place so then he can start working on some of these programs. Once we have that, it seems the ships starting to go in the right direction.”
To that end, Berg says, will be the big campaign push for possible Senate hearings in November.
