National Association of Conservation Districts Farm Bill Priorities

This is Tim Hammerich of the Ag Information Network with your Farm of the Future Report.

Many agriculture and conservation groups are outlining their priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill, including the National Association of Conservation Districts. Chris Young, NACD Director of Government Affairs says maintaining investments in conservation programs is a top priority.

Young… “We want to keep at least level funding for farm conservation programs within NRCS and FSA. We also are looking integrating the investments provided by the Inflation Reduction Act into the farm bill. And we do want to see those investments, there's about $18 billion included in there for NRCS farm bill conservation programs. We wanna see that money kept within the conservation title.”

Young says there’s already an oversubscription for these programs, and more funding and streamlined processes could help.

Young… “We think there are a lot of opportunities to streamline and simplify application and administrative processes. Definitely some opportunities within RCPP. We hear continuously from members that, that processes is really cumbersome and needs to be simplified. Same within, EQIP and CSP.”

Young says they would also like to have more local program development.