We do not make larger conservation investments than those provided for in the Federal Farm Bill. It is the largest single investment in environmental protection, totaling approximately $6 billion annually, made by the federal government each year.
Every five years, Congress drafts a up-to-date farm bill. This is a comprehensive piece of legislation that supports agricultural producers and puts food on the tables of hungry families. This legislation includes key conservation programs that encourage habitat creation, sustainable agriculture and even access to private land for hunting and fishing. Reauthorizing and improving these programs is a top priority, not least within Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnershipbut for our agriculture and nutrition partners and communities.
The 2018 Farm Bill expired on September 30, 2023, and was ultimately extended through September 30, 2024. There was increased activity in the House and Senate Agriculture committees earlier this summer. Unfortunately, budget challenges and political differences have so far made it impossible to achieve the consensus necessary to pass any bill in a divided Congress, especially one that traditionally generates broad bipartisan, bicameral support.
Are we in up-to-date territory? What is and what is not hazardous for hunters and anglers? Here are six things you need to know.
Bass fishermen are helping after a plane crash on Lake Inguadona in Minnesota
A Voyageurs park ranger drowned during a rescue operation in northern Minnesota
What will desiccated conditions mean for Minnesota pheasant hunters during Saturday’s opener?
The stakes are high
Reauthorizing and updating farm bill programs is always critical (I don’t think anyone would argue with me when I say the world is a different place than it was in 2018). But for hunters and anglers, and really anyone who cares about a sustainable food system, there is a earnest incentive to pass the farm bill now.
The budget reconciliation act, commonly known as the Inflation Reduction Act or IRA, included nearly $20 billion for climate-smart apply of farm bill protection programs. Currently, all “four corners” of the agriculture committees (chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate committees) are calling for the remainder of these funds to be included in the basic plan for the Farm Bill and environmental apply. The process is complicated, but the bottom line is that it would boost funding for farm account protection programs by almost 25%.
If Congress doesn’t act this year, that number will drop significantly next year and beyond.
This is nothing up-to-date
While the challenges facing this farm bill seem daunting, there are many precedents for delays. Congress is often tardy in passing farm bills. The longest recent trial involved the farm bill signed in 2014; discussions began in 2011 and the bill had to be re-approved in 2012. Both the 2008 and 2018 farm laws were also delayed by several months.
This history of challenges may indicate that passing farm bills is becoming increasingly challenging, but it also shows that while coalition efforts on highly bipartisan bills may be ponderous, they are effective.
Several conservation priorities are unthreatening until 2031
In addition to providing additional funding, the Inflation Control Act reauthorized several protection programs through 2031.
Even if a up-to-date farm bill or extension is not passed, many practices that benefit hunters and anglers will continue under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Environmental Stewardship Program, the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.
Through these programs, wetlands will continue to be restored and protected, mountain habitats will continue to be managed, and buffer fields will continue to be planted to improve water quality.
Other conservation programs have been left out
Not all the programs we care about have been spared. The Conservation Reserve program has expired. It is one of our country’s most effective conservation programs, providing enormous benefits to wildlife and habitats. Existing contracts will continue, but up-to-date acres will not be allowed.
This means that CRP will slowly but steadily decrease until a up-to-date farm law is passed or the current law is extended. This could lead to habitat loss for countless species across the country.
Fortunately, relatively few contracts are set to expire in the coming months, so the overall picture is a little less bleak.
Another key program for hunters and anglers, the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentives Program (VPA-HIP), is also suffering from delays in passing the bill. Funds for VPA-HIP, a key farm tax program that has opened hundreds of thousands of private acres to free access to hunting and fishing, have traditionally been distributed once per farm tax cycle. Last year, the VPA-HIP program received $10 million following the extension of the Farm Bill, but without a up-to-date Farm Bill, private land access programs across the country will suffer from a lack of much-needed resources.
We’re on it
The next few months will be critical for the Farm Bill and the conservation programs we value as hunters and anglers. Congress is in session until the November 5 election, so we will take no action before then, and any progress after the election will compete with the appropriations process on lawmakers’ time.
Passing the Farm Bill in such a compact time will be an uphill battle, but we will continue to pressure Congress to pass this bill to avoid a missed opportunity to fund conservation, and we will work to ensure hunters and anglers’ priorities are met.
You can assist
In the face of the impasse, environmental protection is and should be a common priority, regardless of party affiliation and ideology. Congress needs to hear that this is critical to you. Take action here and stay updated on: trcp.org/farm-bill
Additional notes:
“With each day – or year – without a up-to-date farm bill, our nation’s ability to protect habitat and boost access for sportsmen through CRP and VPA-HIP will suffer. Right now, our opportunity to prioritize agriculture and environmental protection is greater than ever, as is the risk that partisan politics will prevent us from supporting our farmers, ranchers and private landowners with the tools and resources they need to make environmental protections a reality. “.
—Andrew Schmidt, director of government affairs at Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
“The Farm Bill impacts all Americans by investing in protecting the environment and natural resources. Its conservation programs implement beneficial practices across the country, creating wildlife habitats, improving water quality, restoring soil health and protecting human health. Our lawmakers have an opportunity to make a generational investment in these programs and lay the foundations for a more resilient future. However, they must choose the right moment to maximize their impact. “Congress should take this opportunity to protect our natural resources by passing a bipartisan farm bill this year.”
– Kate Hansen, agriculture program director at the Izaak Walton League of America
