Environmental Defense Praises New Lugar, Bush Administration Farm Bill Position

Environmental Defense today praised Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) and the Bush administration for supporting a major increase in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation spending.

The national environmental group also praised Lugar, ranking Republican on the Senate Agricultural Committee, and the administration for proposing farm subsidy reforms that would reduce incentives to convert wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas to corn, soybean, or other row crop production.

“Farm policy should help all farmers and all regions, including Midwestern grain farmers, and reward farmers when they help the environment. Senator Lugar’s bold proposal reflects these principles and we look forward to these ideas being incorporated into farm legislation as it moves through the Senate,” said Environmental Defense senior attorney Timothy Searchinger.

According to Searchinger, only 30% of farmers are currently eligible for federal subsidies, and large producers collect most of these payments. By contrast, under the new Lugar proposal all U.S. farmers are eligible for conservation payments and other assistance.

“Revamping subsidy programs to discourage the production of huge crop surpluses and the conversion of environmentally sensitive lands is a courageous step for which Senator Lugar deserves a great deal of credit,” Searchinger said. “We hope that Senator Lugar will be able to work together with Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA), who has championed USDA conservation programs and has pledged to make conservation the centerpiece of the next Farm Bill.”