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What's new?
In December 2007, the Senate passed a version
of the Farm Bill does note include any funding for FRPP (see
this linked document from the American Farmland Trust).
The House of Representatives' version of the Farm
Bill would increase funding for the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection
Program to $300 million a year over five years and add 1 million
acres to the Grassland Reserve Program.
In January and February, the House and Senate
will meet by Conference Committee to resolve the differences in
their two versions of the Farm Bill. Stay tuned!
What's happened so far?
On October 4, the Senate Finance Committee passed
a $16-billion agricultural tax package, calling it the "Heartland,
Habitat, Harvest, and Horticulture Act of 2007" or the "4-H
Bill."
On July 27, 2007, the House passed their version of the Farm Bill, which now goes on to the Senate. Under the House version of the bill, the Farm and Ranch Land Protection program (FRPP) is increased from $83 to $280 million annually.
Click here for FRPP details on the House-passed Farm Bill »
The Farm Bill also makes FRPP grants much more accessible to land trusts, and provides funding for the Grassland Reserve Program. The Land Trust Alliance is working with the Senate Agriculture Committee on its version. Keeping increased funding for FRPP will be hard – most conservation programs will be lucky to keep level funding, given the tight budget under which this farm bill is being written. The Senate should have their version of the Farm Bill passed by the end of September. Keep tuned in!
Background
USDA's Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
(FRPP) provides matching funds to buy permanent conservation easements
on farm and ranch land. Over the life of the program, Wisconsin
groups have successfully competed to receive $10 million in financial
assistance through FRPP. This money has protected over 9,200 acres
(64 farms) in 11 counties around the state.
And while these are important strides for protecting
Wisconsin’s working farms, demand for FRPP dollars to protect
working farms is more than double the amount that has been received.
Policy Alert - October 17, 2007
Policy
Alert - April 19, 2006
Gathering
Waters' letter to Wisconsin's Senators - April 19, 2006
Policy Alert
- March 18, 2006
Gathering Waters'
letter to Wisconsin's Representatives - March 23, 2006
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