FW: ACTION NEEDED!!! Conservation Security Act To Be Reintroduced!

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> From: National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture
> <campaign@sustainableagriculture.net>
> Date: Sun, 06 May 2001 09:16:13 -0400
> To: NE community food systems <nefood-l@listproc.tufts.edu>
> Subject: ACTION NEEDED!!! Conservation Security Act To Be Reintroduced!
> Resent-From: "Julie Meyer" <northeastfood@tufts.edu>
> Resent-To: nefood-l@listproc.tufts.edu
> Resent-Date: Mon, 7 May 2001 10:41:35 -0500
> 
> 
> THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
> 
> IMMEDIATE ACTIONS NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION SECURITY ACT
> 
> Action needed by May 14th!
> Please forward this e-mail widely!
> 
> The Conservation Security Act would reward producers for good stewardship
> in appreciation of the many non-market environmental and social benefits
> that these practices provide society.  Through the Conservation Security
> Act, very substantial federal farm bill dollars would be available to
> farmers and ranchers of all manner of crops and livestock to support
> conservation farm practices and environmental protection on land that is in
> active production.   If passed by Congress, it would represent both a
> dramatic re-orientation of farm programs and a major ramping up of
> conservation assistance. This bill was first introduced in 1999 and again
> last year.
> Congressional sponsors plan to reintroduce a new, revised version of the
> Conservation Security Act on May 15th!
> 
> This legislation is a key farm bill initiative for the National Campaign
> and it has been endorsed by many leading farm and environmental
> organizations. Your help is urgently needed to help build a groundswell of
> support within Congress.
> 
> A brief description of the provisions of the Conservation Security Act is
> included at the end of this alert.
> 
> 1.  Urge Co-Sponsorship By Your House Member And Senators!
> Please call your congressional delegation (2 Senators and 1 House Member)
> and urge them to co-sponsor the Conservation Security Act. The Capitol
> Switchboard number is 202-224-3121. Ask for your Senator or Representative
> by name and they will connect you. Ask to speak with the legislative aid
> who handles agriculture. If you get voice mail, leave a short message
> and/or ask to be called back. Simply tell them you support the Conservation
> Security Act, that you understand the bill will be introduced on May 15th,
> and ask them to become co-sponsors. Senators who would like to be a
> co-sponsor should be directed to contact Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) or
> Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR).  House (Representatives) members who would
> like to be a co-sponsor should be directed to contact Representative John
> Thune (R-SD).
> 
> You can help us keep track of how things are going by sending the National
> Campaign a very brief e-mail to action501@sustainableagriculture.net to let
> us know you have called your House member and Senators.
> 
> 2.  Have Your Organization Endorse The Bill!
> If you are part of an organization that supports the Conservation Security
> Act and have the authority to do so, indicate your organization's
> endorsement of the bill by:
> * calling the National Campaign at 845-744-8448
> * e-mailing us at action501@sustainableagriculture.net, or
> * faxing us at 845-744-8477.
> Your endorsement can simply consist of the name of the organization, your
> position with that organization, and the words "CSA endorsement."
> 
> Of even greater impact is a brief letter of support on your organization's
> letterhead addressed to Senators Tom Harkin and Gordon Smith, US Senate,
> Washington, DC 20510.  Fax us a copy of this letter at 845-744-8477 and we
> will make certain that the Senators receive your correspondence. This
> letter can be very simple.  The following is sample language.
> "Our organization, (name of your organization here), endorses the
> Conservation Security Act.  The (your thoughts) provisions are particularly
> relevant to our constituency.  Thank you for your support of this important
> legislation.
> 
> Sincerely,
> name
> name of organization
> Be sure to provide contact info."
> Time is of the essence! While we can continue to add co-sponsors over the
> next couple of months, we need to have as big a showing as possible at the
> kick-off event on the 15th.
> 
> Attached is a one page summary of the bill.  For more information go to
> www.mnproject.org or www.sustainableagriculture.net.
> 
> 
> 
> Conservation Security Act 2001
> 
> Summary:  The Conservation Security Act (CSA) of 2001 provides financial
> assistance to help farmers and ranchers find viable solutions to
> agricultural, environmental, and economic concerns.  The CSA helps
> agriculture respond to site-specific environmental challenges on a
> voluntary basis with a flexible program designed to address these
> challenges in a cost-effective and results-oriented fashion.  The CSA
> rewards producers for good stewardship in appreciation of the many
> non-market environmental and social benefits that these practices provide
> society.
> 
> Conservation Purposes:  The Conservation Security Program (CSP) created by
> the CSA addresses the full range of conservation concerns related to
> agriculture, including:
> 
> -- conservation of soil, water, energy, and other related resources
> -- soil, water, and air quality protection and improvement
> -- on-farm conservation and regeneration of plant germplasm
> -- wetland and wildlife habitat restoration, conservation, and enhancement
> -- greenhouse gas emissions reduction and carbon sequestration
> -- and other similar conservation goals
> 
> Participation:  Participation in the program stipulates that land practices
> must achieve resource and environmental benefits, but does not require the
> removal of land from production.  In addition, practices do not need to be
> newly introduced to the farm/ranch; producers can be rewarded for good
> stewardship practices implemented prior to enrollment in the
> CSP.  Participants are responsible for developing conservation security
> plans that identify targeted resources, practices, and implementation
> schedules.  Participants are granted maximum flexibility for choosing land
> management practices suitable for individual farms.  In certain instances,
> the plan may include an on-farm research or demonstration component.
> 
> Tiers:  Participants have the choice of enrolling in one of three tiers:
> 
> -- Tier I participants address priority resource concerns on all or part of
> their farms/ranches.  Practices may include soil and residue management,
> nutrient management, pest management, irrigation management, grazing
> management, wildlife habitat management, contour farming, strip cropping,
> and related practices.
> 
> -- Tier II participants address priority resource concerns on the whole
> farm/ranch and meet applicable resource management system criteria.  Tier
> II practices entail adoption of land use adjustment practices such as
> resource-conserving crop rotations, rotational grazing, conservation buffer
> practices, restoration of wildlife habitats, prairies, and/or wetlands, and
> related practices.
> 
> -- Tier III participants satisfy the requirements of tiers I and II, while
> integrating land use practices into a whole-farm, total-resource approach
> that fosters long-term sustainability of the resource base.
> 
> Payment and Eligibility:  Payments are based on the natural resource and
> environmental benefits expected from plan implementation, the number and
> timing of management practices established, income forgone due to land use
> adjustments, costs related to on-farm research, and several other
> factors.  Bonuses are also offered to beginning farmers and for joint
> participation by operators within a small watershed.  Payments may not
> exceed $20,000, $35,000, and $50,000 for Tier I, II, and III contracts,
> respectively.  Payment contracts are for 5 years for Tier I and from 5 to
> 10 years for Tier II and III.
> 
> Funding:  The program is funded out of the Commodity Credit Corporation and
> all eligible producers will receive contract payments for the requisite
> number of years.  CCC funding is also provided for technical assistance,
> education and outreach, and monitoring and evaluation.
> 
> 
> 
> Chris Campany, Farm Bill Coordinator
> National Campaign For Sustainable Agriculture
> P.O. Box 396
> Pine Bush, New York  12566
> Phone: 845-744-8448   Fax: 845-744-8477
> e-mail: chris@sustainableagriculture.net
> www.SustainableAgriculture.net
> If you would like to join our free Action Alert Network, please e-mail us
> your name, address, phone, fax, and e-mail.  Please let us know if your
> contact information changes!
> 
> Keep the faith!


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