ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE PANS HOUSE PASSAGE OF FARM CONFERENCE REPORT

(2 May, 2002 — Washington) Environmental Defense today expressed regret that the House of Representatives agreed to pass an enormously expensive and environmentally damaging farm bill that will help the nation’s largest agricultural operations continue to swallow up family farmers.

“This Farm Bill fails the environment, taxpayers and the average farmer,” said Environmental Defense senior attorney Tim Searchinger.
“Congressman Ron Kind deserves enormous thanks for the courage to stand up for conservation and family farmers,” said Searchinger in praise of the Wisconsin democrat. “The strong vote for his motion shows how many Congressmen recognized the farm bill’s terrible flaws. Unfortunately, many of these same members of Congress feared that the Agriculture Committee would delete their own favorite programs if they voted to reject this bill and send it back to the conference.”

“Farms occupy half the land in the U.S., and a meaningful farm bill would have rewarded farmers for how they protect the land instead of pushing overproduction and increased dependence on government aid,” said Environmental Defense water resources specialist Scott Faber. “It is particularly unfortunate that the so-called compromise between the House bill and the Senate bill actually combined the worst elements of both.”

“While it is true that the farm bill increases funding for conservation — it does far less than what is being claimed by Congressman Combest and Senator Harkin,” Searchinger said. “Much of the spending is too poorly focused to gain real environmental benefits, nor can it make up for the terrible effects of huge farm subsidies. These payments will only drive farmers to plow up valuable habitat and use more chemicals in order to meet the bill’s demands for more overproduction.”

“The real loser today is the nation’s environment and all those farmers and ranchers who are committed to being good stewards of the land. Farmers who want to play a role in protecting water quality, improving wildlife habitat or preventing sprawl have now been passed over in favor of large commodity crop producers in a handful of states,” said Faber. “Under this bill, the majority of farmers wishing to protect the environment will continue to be left empty-handed when they seek federal aid for conservation.”