Environmental Defense Thanks Farmers in National Ad Campaign, Brings Them to Lobby Congress on Pending Farm Bill

March 13, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Meg Little, mlittle@environmentaldefense.org, 202-572-3387
Sharyn Stein, sstein@environmentaldefense.org, 202-572-3396

(Washington, DC – March 16, 2007) – Environmental Defense will thank eight farmers, ranchers and forest landowners from California, Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin, Ohio, North Carolina, Washington, and Wyoming in a series of advertisements starting this Sunday. The ads feature agricultural producers who have taken steps to provide cleaner air and water, protect farmland from sprawl, and protect wildlife habitat.

“The farmers, ranchers and forest landowners featured in these advertisements represent tens of thousands of farmers taking steps to meet our nation’s environmental challenges,” said Scott Faber, Farm Policy Campaign Director for Environmental Defense. “These farmers, ranchers and forest landowners are ‘everyday environmental heroes’ who deserve our thanks for their stewardship.”

The farmers, ranchers and forest landowners from California, Ohio, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming featured in the ads will join other producers from Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Vermont and Environmental Defense staff on Capitol Hill Thursday. They will urge Congress to reform farm policies to provide new incentives for land stewardship when Congress renews the Farm Bill. Farmers, ranchers and forest landowners from these states are available to speak with the media. 

Thursday also is when Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) are expected to introduce legislation that would dramatically increase voluntary USDA conservation programs.  Next week, Reps, Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) and Adam Putnam (R-FL) are expected to introduce a specialty crop bill that also would do the same thing.

“We cannot hope to meet some of the nation’s biggest environmental challenges unless we reward land stewardship,” Faber said. “Farmers, ranchers and forest landowners are doing their part. Unfortunately, as a result of our misplaced spending priorities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture rejects three-out-of-four farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who offer to share the cost of clean water, clean air, open spaces, and wildlife habitat. Renewal of the Farm Bill this year is a chance to help our farmers, ranchers and forest landowners when they offer to help the environment.”

The following producers will be featured in the advertisements: