10/17/07 "Commit to Conservation" call-in today

Farm and Ranch October 17, 2007 About 30 conservation, wildlife and environmental groups have organized "Commit to Conservation" a call in to U.S. Senators today. Ralph Grossi, President of American Farmland Trust, says callers need to tell Senators that the farm bill being marked up next week needs to do more for conservation on working lands. About five billion dollars more. Grossi: "When you are competing for dollars you need to get your message up on the screen. This is a time for people to speak up if they really believe we need to do more for conservation and the environment. The farm bill is the biggest environmental funding bill that the federal government passes. So this is the opportunity to do something for the environment and help farmers and ranchers who are under a lot of pressure to meet increasingly higher environmental standards." Grossi says the American public is supportive of farmers and ranchers and wants to help them. Grossi: "We think a good way to help farmers and ranchers is through helping them through conservation rather than through traditional commodity programs. There isn't enough money to do everything but certainly helping them through conservation is a win-win." The American Farmland Trust website www.farmland.org has information about participating in today's call-in or call the Senate switchboard for your Senator's number, 202-224-3121. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.