As what may be the next farm bill moves through the U.S. Senate, The American Farmland Trust hopes the leadership’s engagement will build on the strong bipartisan effort begun by Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Roberts.  AFT has frequently urged Congress to address crucial conservation and farm production issues this year rather than delay the legislation any further.

AFT says – American farmers and ranchers are under continued pressure from growing global demand to produce food, fiber and fuel while also maintaining healthy soils, protecting water quality, improving water conservation and providing wildlife habitat.  Renewing the farm bill this year is fundamental to meeting that challenge.

AFT points to two program proposals as being positives. The first would establish the Regional Conservation Partnership Program which would give producers and conservationists a tool to come together to address natural resource concerns. And the second program would merge the functions of the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program with the Grassland Reserve Program.