Larry Holden, Monsanto AG, lrhold@ccmail.monsanto.com
=====================
/* Written 6:37 PM Dec 9, 1994 by gain in igc:gain.alerts */
/* ---------- "Conservation Initiatives in Jeopard" ---------- */
======= GAIN ALERT: Save Conservation Budget ======
Funding for Conservation Reserve Program
and Other Conservation Initiatives in Jeopardy
* * * GLOBAL ACTION AND INFORMATION NETWORK * * *
740 Front Street, Suite 355 Santa Cruz, CA 95060
phone: 408-457-0130 email: gain@igc.apc.org
* * * * * * * * *
The annual investment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) --
$1.8 billion or over half of the entire next conservation budget -
- will be reduced to zero as existing contracts run out over the
next few years. The CRP compensates farmers for taking highly-
erodable cropland out of production and putting it into soil-
saving grass and trees. No money for new CPR sign-ups or
extensions of existing contracts, or for other conservation
investments that may be authorized in the 1995 Farm Bill, will be
available unless the Clinton Administration acts quickly to
announce a new policy extending the CRP for another multiyear
period. Announcements of such a new policy are absolutely
necessary before the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) can restore
the budget "baseline" represented by the CRP.
If the funding baseline is not restored, then the only way
Congress can fund new, more targeted CRP enrollments and fund
possible new watershed, total farm plan, or farmland preservation
initiatives in the 1995 Farm Bill will be to reduce other existing
discretionary agriculture spending. With severe budget pressure
already, this is very unlikely.
TIMELINE: The CBO is preparing its budget baseline for the next
five years during December. The Administration must act quickly to
get the CRP baseline adjusted by CBO in time for the beginning of
the 1995 Farm Bill budget debates. Also, Secretary of Agriculture
Mike Espy, who has on several occasions promised to take care of
this problem, steps down at the end of December. This also makes
it critical that action occur quickly.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
ACTION ALERT:
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
ACT NOW TO SAVE THE CONSERVATION BUDGET BASELINE
Comments by Early Next Week - Preferably Monday
Call or fax a brief letter today to your representative, your
Senator, Secretary of Agriculture, and White House budget director
Alice Rivlin.
Ask them to act immediately to announce a new policy extending the
CRP in a manner that will maximize the amount of budget baseline
funding that Congress Budget Office will restore. Tell them the
funding is critical for a more targeted future CRP and for other
important conservation initiatives that address water quality,
wetlands, comprehensive farm planning, etc.
Capitol Switchboard: (202) 225-3121. Ask for your member's office.
If you want the fax number, they can give that to you. Otherwise,
ask to speak to the legislative assistant who works on agriculture
and/or budget.
Secretary of State Mike Espy:
Phone: (202) 720-3631
Fax: (202) 720-2166
Director, Office of Management & Budget Alice Rivlin:
Phone: (202) 395-4840
Fax: (202)395-3746