Farmers, ranchers, sportsmen, and conservationists are calling on Congress to follow through on historic investments in sustainable, climate-smart ag practices.

“If we want to strengthen our agricultural producers, protect our fish and game habitats, and ensure continued recreation, we need to recognize the seriousness of the moment. We need to demonstrate our commitment to the cause. And we need to invest in the solutions that are crucial to sustainable agriculture, wildlife and recreation across our state.”
– John Bradley, Executive Director of the North Dakota Wildlife Federation
“The need for conservation funding is now“

“It is clear that America’s success depends on the strength of agriculture; and the success of our agriculture industry depends on on-farm conservation and sustainability practices.”
“If we want to ensure that farmers, ranchers and foresters of the future can meet the needs of the moment, we need to engage now to ensure the resources that make our way of life possible can endure.”
– Paul Mugge, award-winning independent farmer
“Build the agriculture industry for the long run“

“The Congressional proposal to invest $27.15 billion in on-farm conservation and USDA conservation programs underscores the central role that farmers, ranchers and private forest owners play in addressing the climate crisis. This transformative investment into popular and effective USDA conservation programs and practices will create jobs, support rural communities, reduce emissions, and create benefits for soil, water, and wildlife.”
-Aviva Glaser, Senior Director of Agriculture Policy at the National Wildlife Federation

“The inclusion of $27B for voluntary conservation programs in the reconciliation bill marks a historic acknowledgment of the importance of US agricultural producers’ positive role in building resilience and addressing our climate challenges. This investment would help to lay the foundation for rebuilding our nation’s soils, securing our food supply, mitigating floods and drought, and sequestering carbon.”
– Aria McLauchlan, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Land Core

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to increase conservation funding. We believe that agricultural land is essential infrastructure for the future of our nation, just as much as any road or bridge, and that any infrastructure improvements should include incentives for private conservation.”
– Tim Fink, Policy Director, American Farmland Trust

“Climate-smart agricultural investments are absolutely necessary to tackle the climate crisis. Agricultural conservation programs are consistently oversubscribed, and the reconciliation bill investment is a huge opportunity for Congress to allow farmers and ranchers to be part of the climate solution.”
– Madeleine Foote, deputy legislative director for the League of Conservation Voters

“It’s a really unique opportunity, because very rarely do you get a chance to do that outside of the farm bill. There would be immediate climate benefits.”
– Ben Lilliston, Director, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

“Conservation programs that should be a central tool in our efforts to address the climate crisis are oversubscribed and already forced to turn away eligible producers.”
– Wes King, senior policy specialist at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

“NSAC strongly supports additional investment in agriculture’s working lands conservation programs. It represents a substantial commitment to putting American farming on track toward becoming an important part of US climate solutions. Farmers and ranchers are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and they need and deserve support as they transition to more climate-friendly practices, like management intensive grazing practices, continuous living cover on fields, reduced use of fertilizers and pesticides, and more diversified growing systems. This suite of actions will reduce agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions and raise its capacity to sequester carbon, allowing US agriculture to take a leadership role in the transformation toward net-zero emissions.”
– Eric Deeble, policy director for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

“Climate change deserves a whole-of-government approach, and we encourage Congress to invest in conservation programs and community-driven solutions in our food and farming sector — an opportunity that will set us up for success for years to come.”
– Ranjani Prabhakar, Senior Legislative Representative at Earthjustice

“The budget reconciliation bill provides a once-in-a-generation chance to make better farmland stewardship, not unlimited subsidies, our top priority. Farmland conservation practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and store carbon also have the added benefit of reducing the amount of farm pollution that is fouling our drinking water.”
– Scott Faber, SVP, Environmental Working Group

“Land access challenges are preventing a new generation from taking on the important task of growing food for our country. Importantly, $200 million is included in the reconciliation bill to help with land ownership challenges, such as heirs’ property, fractionated land, and supporting young farmers in accessing land. We look forward to working with USDA on creative ways to use this investment to secure affordable, equitable access to land for a next generation of farmers.”
– Holly Rippon-Butler, National Young Farmers’ Land Campaign Director

“Climate-friendly farm and ranch practices can provide benefits for our soil, air, woods, waters and wildlife, but they often require an investment of money, time and expertise. As Congress debates new investments in infrastructure and climate change mitigation, agriculture conservation provides an opportunity too important to pass up.”
– Duane Hovorka, Agriculture Program Director, Izaak Walton League of America

“Over a century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt said, “There can be no greater issue than conservation in this country.” This statement is doubly true today. Demonstrating our nation’s leadership in addressing climate change by ramping up climate-smart agriculture and conservation assistance to farm, ranch and forest communities holds multiple benefits. The North American Grouse Partnership fully backs this historic proposed investment.”
– Ted Koch, Executive Director, North American Grouse Partnership.

“If we want a secure, healthy and affordable food supply, clean water, wildlife habitat and the many other essential values working lands provide, we need to do a better job of partnering and investing with farmers and ranchers. Farm Bill conservation programs remain critically oversubscribed in the face of mounting challenges to producers’ bottom line and our ecosystems. These agriculture conservation provisions are designed to help producers keep these lands intact, healthy and productive for the benefit of us all. With a national conversation on the future of conservation as the backdrop, Congress should act swiftly to support this investment.”
– Lesli Allison, Executive Director, Western Landowners Alliance

“Agriculture also offers unique opportunities to advance climate solutions. Cultivating healthy soil with regenerative and organic practices—including cover cropping, crop rotation, composting, polycultures, and farming without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers—can draw down carbon from the atmosphere while also increasing the capacity of farms to survive droughts, floods, and other extreme weather.”
– Allison Johnson and Matthew Kaplan, National Resource Defense Council

“Congress has proposed once-in-a-generation investments in conservation programs, positioning farmers and climate-smart agriculture practices as key strategies to mitigate climate change and build resiliency. Investments in conservation and climate resilience such as EQIP, as well as investments in
programs beyond the farm gate like affordable college, immigration, and farmworker health and safety are essential to the functioning of our agriculture system. We applaud the inclusion of $200 million for farm workers and food worker relief.”
– Vanessa Garcia Polanco, Federal Policy Director of National Young Farmers

“We need new investments in agricultural conservation that will make our food system more resilient, sustainable and equitable, while helping the U.S. meet climate goals to reduce heat trapping emissions and transition to a net-zero economy.”
“Such investments are also critical to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers at a time when many USDA conservation programs are oversubscribed, underfunded and often overlook underserved communities. Over the past decade, programs like the Conservation Stewardship Program have had to
turn away more than half of applicants. And we continue to underinvest in support for those most affected by climate change, namely communities of
color and frontline communities.”
“Our food and farm system has an essential role to play in confronting the climate crisis. By fully investing in critical agricultural conservation programs, Congress can make U.S. agriculture a global leader in climate-resilient agriculture, while giving farmers, ranchers and their partners the tools they need to adapt to a changing climate.”
– Marcia DeLonge, Research Director at Union of Concerned Scientists Food & Environment Program

“These core, voluntary-incentive programs are ripe for investment, particularly as we evaluate how to enhance climate resilience through habitat improvements and meet our land conservation goals in the years to come.”
– Andrew Earl, Director of Private Lands Conservation, TRCP

“The reconciliation bill provides critical funding for conservation programs that will protect natural and working lands while making our country more resilient to the impacts of climate change. These historic investments are good for our environment, our communities, our health and our economy. On behalf of the Land Trust Alliance and its nearly 1,000 member land trusts, I call on the Senate to pass this historic legislation that includes these additional investments.”
– Lori Faeth, Senior Director of Government Relations, Land Trust Alliance

“These historic investments are essential to climate mitigation, with dedicated funding for climate change and agricultural research. These investments advance soil carbon storage and build resilience into our food and farm system, relying on long-standing conservation programs to funnel support to farmers and ranchers across the country at a time when they need it most. Vocal champions of the ag sector, including Chairwoman Stabenow, know the importance of delivering robust and deeply researched mitigation programs and we urge the Senate to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity and pass this important piece of legislation.”
– Giana Amador, Policy Director and Co-founder at Carbon180