Farm Bill

Challenge:

The conservation title of the Farm Bill is the single-largest source of federal funding for conservation on private lands in our country. This periodically renewed legislation provides an unparalleled opportunity for sportsmen to partner with the farming and ranching community to encourage conservation of fish and wildlife habitat. Programs like the Conservation Reserve Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program and Wetlands Reserve Program have made millions of acres on America’s farms and ranches more attractive to fish and wildlife. Sportsmen in particular have seen firsthand the increases in the numbers of game species and other wildlife since their inception.

Every five years when the Farm Bill’s renewal is considered by Congress, American hunters and anglers must fight to ensure that these critical conservation programs are strongly funded.

Strategy:

The Agriculture and Wildlife Working Group, a coalition of representatives from the TRCP and the nation’s leading conservation and sportsmen organizations, is focused on the critical process of reauthorizing the 2012 Farm Bill. The TRCP and our partners have developed recommendations to maximize the positive impact of the 2012 Farm Bill on critical fish and wildlife resources.

Action:

The AWWG continues to work with policymakers to ensure the 2012 Farm Bill maintains a proactive conservation title that delivers on-the-ground results. Given the tight budget, we’ll be working to inform policymakers of the importance of funding for Farm Bill conservation programs. Every dollar put toward these programs is an important addition to fish and wildlife habitat around the country. The TRCP also will continue championing the VPA-HIP program and seeking to maintain funding for states to increase their access programs.

Useful Links

• Growing Conservation in the Farm Bill (PDF)
• An overview of 2008 Farm Bill Programs

Additional Media

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