WASHINGTON, D.C.–May 6, 2013–The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and a group of major agricultural, environmental and conservation groups have joined together in support of a non-partisan agreement to provide a common-sense farm and natural resource safety net through relinking crop insurance premium assistance to conservation compliance. The recommendations were submitted to Senate Agriculture Committee Leadership earlier today.
“We are pleased to join with agriculture and environmental groups in a common-sense, non-partisan agreement to ensure the equitable implementation of conservation compliance tied to crop insurance,” said NACD President Earl Garber. “This agreement will further the conservation of natural resources, while protecting producers’ bottom line.”
The groups do not support changes to current conservation compliance requirements. Instead, the recommendations would be applicable only to the linkage of conservation compliance and crop insurance premium assistance or availability. Under the recommendations, crop insurance would continue to be available to all, but premium assistance would be eliminated when certain circumstances occur.
The recommendations represent a compromise position that supports the linking of conservation compliance with crop insurance premium assistance, and opposes means testing, payment limitations or premium subsidy reductions for the crop insurance program.
The full text of the letter is as follows:
May 6, 2013
The Honorable Debbie Stabenow
Chairwoman
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry 328-A Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Thad Cochran
Ranking Member
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry 328-A Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Cochran:
The undersigned organizations are writing to share a position paper we drafted to provide an effective farm and natural resource safety net. The draft is a good compromise position supporting linking conservation compliance with crop insurance premium assistance and opposing means testing, payment limitations or premium subsidy reductions for the crop insurance program.
In the spirit of compromise and in the interest of completing a 2013 Farm Bill this year, each of the groups has committed to not support amendments beyond this compromise that might weaken the crop insurance program or amendments that might not link conservation compliance with crop insurance premium assistance.
We would appreciate the opportunity to review draft language on this issue or to be helpful to you in any way you deem appropriate.
The position paper can be found here:
http://capwiz.com/afb/utr/1/MWECTAOPUH/LWSGTAOPVN/9542285896
Sincerely,
American Association of Crop Insurers
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Farmland Trust
American Society of Agronomy
American Soybean Association
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Audubon
Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau
Crop Science Society of America
Ducks Unlimited
Environmental Defense Fund
Land Improvement Contractors of America
National Association of State Conservation Agencies
National Association of Conservation Districts
National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils
National Conservation District Employees Association
National Corn Growers Association
National Cotton Council
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Farmers Union
National Wildlife Federation
Pheasants Forever
Pollinator Partnership
Quail Forever Soil and Water Conservation Society
Soil Science Society of America
Southern Peanut Farmers Federation
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
The Nature Conservancy
USA Rice Federation
Wildlife Mississippi
World Wildlife Fund