Hearings to examine perspectives from the field, focusing on conservation.

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

2025-05-13

Source: Congress.gov

Summary

This hearing focused on the critical role of conservation in American agriculture, emphasizing its importance to producers, the environment, and the national economy, particularly in the context of the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization[ 00:12:43-00:13:20 ] . Speakers highlighted the need for continued investment in voluntary, locally-led, and incentive-driven conservation programs that support farmers and ranchers in their stewardship efforts[ 00:13:25-00:13:34 ] .

Themes

Importance of Voluntary, Locally-Led Conservation

Farmers and ranchers are at the forefront of conservation efforts, as their livelihoods depend on the health and sustainability of their lands[ 00:12:51 ] . These efforts benefit all Americans by providing clean water, clean air, healthy soils, and abundant wildlife habitats[ 00:13:08 ] . Successful conservation programs are locally led, voluntary, and incentive-driven, and this approach must continue in the next Farm Bill, recognizing the diverse and unique needs of each producer and operation[ 00:13:25-00:13:34 ] [ 00:52:29 ]

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. It is important not to impose rigid, one-size-fits-all conservation practices or tie eligibility for other incentives, like crop insurance, to specific implementations[ 00:13:48-00:13:56 ] [ 00:26:21 ]

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Farm Bill Funding and Program Challenges

There is strong bipartisan support for robust conservation initiatives in the Farm Bill. However, current demand for conservation programs consistently outpaces available funding, as seen with EQIP and CSP applications often being oversubscribed. The potential reinvestment of unspent Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds into existing conservation programs is seen as a necessary step to ensure producers have access to these vital initiatives[ 00:15:05 ] . Concerns were also raised about proposed cuts to food assistance, which could complicate the passage of a bipartisan Farm Bill.

Critical Role of Technical Assistance and Staffing

Technical assistance is the foundation of the conservation delivery system, with cultivating relationships being key to successful outcomes. The loss of 2,400 NRCS employees and concerns about returning to insufficient staffing levels from FY 2020 threaten the ability to meet producers' needs, especially with the increased workload from IRA funds[ 00:27:28 ]

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. Fewer staff at local USDA offices will likely lead to longer delays and struggles for farmers seeking services. Partnerships between USDA, local conservation districts, and private organizations like Pheasants Forever are crucial for supplementing staff and providing essential expertise and resources.

Need for Flexibility and Innovation

Conservation needs vary significantly by region and type of operation, meaning a "one size fits all" approach is ineffective[ 00:13:25 ] [ 00:26:21 ]

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. There is a need to streamline program implementation and move more decision-making to state and local levels to save time and money for both producers and the USDA[ 00:14:30 ] . Modernizing practice standards, incorporating innovative tools like nutrient efficiency technologies, and leveraging data to provide insights to growers are essential for increasing conservation adoption and scalability[ 01:07:42-01:07:51 ]

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. Programs like RCPP and the Agriculture Innovation Act aim to support these efforts by fostering strategic public-private partnerships and analyzing farm data.

Economic Realities and Land Preservation

Farmers are facing economic challenges, including high input costs and declining commodity prices, which threaten their financial viability. The loss of agricultural land to development, especially in states like Texas, is a significant concern, emphasizing the need for programs like the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) to protect working lands. Conservation programs, such as CRP, can also serve as a safety net, allowing farmers to put less productive ground into conservation while improving overall farm profitability[ 00:59:33 ]

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Tone of the Meeting

The overall tone of the meeting was serious and earnest, reflecting the critical importance of conservation programs to American agriculture[ 00:12:43-00:12:48 ] . There was a strong sense of bipartisan collaboration and shared commitment to passing a strong Farm Bill, particularly the conservation title[ 00:15:18 ] . Speakers expressed appreciation for the dedication of farmers and agricultural professionals. However, undercurrents of concern about funding shortfalls, staffing cuts, and bureaucratic hurdles were evident, accompanied by a call for increased efficiency, flexibility, and investment. Despite these challenges, speakers maintained a hopeful and resilient outlook, emphasizing the ingenuity of farmers and the potential for strategic partnerships[ 01:39:32 ]

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Participants

Transcript

Thank you.
Good afternoon and welcome.  It's my privilege to call this hearing to order to discuss the importance of conservation to our nation's producers.  I would like to thank our witnesses for taking time away from your families and your work responsibilities to share your expertise with our committee today.   When it comes to conservation, farmers and ranchers are at the forefront of this effort because their livelihoods depend on the health and sustainability of their lands.  American producers' commitment to conservation while producing the food, fiber, and fuel our nation needs benefits all Americans by providing clean water, clean air, healthy soils, and abundant wildlife habitat.   Through reauthorization of the Farm Bill, Congress can play a role in supporting this commitment by improving the conservation programs implemented by USDA and investing in these initiatives.  The conservation needs of agriculture are diverse and unique to each producer and operation, and we must ensure that the Farm Bill supports the wide range of needs.   Farm Bill conservation programs are successful because they are locally led, voluntary and incentive driven, and this must continue in the next Farm Bill.  We must not tie the hands of our producers by requiring the implementation of certain conservation practices in order to be eligible for other incentives like crop insurance.   The heavy hand of government does not know better than an individual producer regarding what resources, what resource concerns they need to address locally.  Just looking at the producers here before us, we know that the needs of rice producers in the Arkansas Delta are not the same as what corn producers in Illinois or ranchers in Texas need.  The Senate Republican framework released last year highlighted many of these priorities and the need for this flexibility.
The framework made common sense improvements to the conservation programs in the Farm Bill by streamlining their implementation and moving more decision-making to the state's and local level.  These improvements will save time and money for both producers and USDA.  It's also supported the technical assistance that producers need to help implement and design conservation   on their operation and embraced innovation through precision agriculture and the support of new conservation practices.  Finally, the framework also included the reinvestment of the Unspent Inflation Reduction Act funds into existing conservation programs to ensure producers have access to these programs for generations to come.   Ranking Member Klobuchar has always been a strong champion of conservation programs at USDA.  I look forward to working together to craft a strong conservation title while we work to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill this year.  Our producers need certainly not another one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill.  I'm confident the testimony provided by our witnesses today will prove invaluable as we write the Farm Bill   And I thank you again for your participation today.  Senator Klobuchar.
Well, thank you.  Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing today.  Thank you to our witnesses who've come to share their perspectives.  I have a lot of respect for them.   I will say that as we are working on this important buildup to what I hope will be a bipartisan farm bill, on the other side of the Capitol, we have some cuts proposed to food assistance, well near $300 billion.  That could make it very difficult to do a farm bill, but I continue to believe in the work of this committee, and I hope that we will find a way through this.   I strongly support our work that we've done together on improvements to conservation.  Conservation programs and their many supporters are a critical part of the broad bipartisan coalition needed for a farm bill.   USDA voluntary conservation programs, and I emphasize voluntary, are open to producers across the country, big and small operations, row crop, livestock, and specialty crop farms.  They assist farmers, ranchers, sportsmen, and many others to improve soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat.   I've long championed these conservation programs and have seen how they can make farms more profitable and resilient while supporting the communities around them, wildlife, hunters, and fishers in my home state of Minnesota.  I've also led efforts to improve conservation programs, including with Leader Thune in the last Farm Bill, to increase the number of acres in the Conservation Reserve Program   and to create a pilot program to study innovative approaches to improve soil health.  I want to thank USDA for reopening sign up for CRP without major changes to the parts focused on wildlife that I have long championed and will continue to champion.
I'm also looking forward to again joining with the Majority Leader this week to introduce an updated version of the Agriculture Innovation Act with the support of farmers and conservation groups.  This is part of my commitment to ensure strong conservation initiatives are in place.  Since the last Farm Bill, Congress has made historic investments in voluntary conservation programs.   Despite this investment, demand from farmers and conservationists continue to outpace available funding.  It's my hope that there will still be an opportunity to create increased long-term funding   for the USDA voluntary conservation programs in the Farm Bill baseline.  I am concerned about the recent loss of 2,400 employees from NRCS, the pauses in funding, the cuts to technical assistance, and a troubling budget proposal, which are pushing us in the wrong direction.   Connecting farmers with conservation, voluntary conservation programs involves critical partnerships between USDA, local conservation districts, wildlife organizations, states, and businesses.   These partnerships and NRCS staff in rural America are important for operating the programs that the farmers rely on.  Funding disruptions are unfortunately impacting these partners and uncertainty has meant furloughs for many staff.  I've heard from farmers across my state that they need certainty, the certainty of their USDA experts and partner organizations like the ones that are here today.   We are glad that some funds are slowly being released and programs like CRP reopened.

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