Big Ag Agrees to Conserve Cropland, But At What Cost?

Taxpayers help subsidize crop insurance premiums for farmers to the tune of about , a figure that's growing each year. These policies protect farmers from major losses, and help support their income even if there's no loss of crops. And in return? Well, environmentalists argue that farmers who receive this financial support should be required to be good stewards of the land. In fact, for years, conservation groups have fought to attach some strings to these subsidies to require farmers to take steps aimed at protecting soil and wetlands. But farmers have resisted, until now. As lawmakers on Capitol Hill begin drafting a new $500 billion farm bill next week, the American Farm Bureau Federation has signaled that farmers are ready to compromise on the issue of conservation compliance. A position paper from the AFBF outlines a new strategy that proposes linking conservation requirements to crop insurance subsidies (as it used to be from 1985 through 1996). So why the sudden reversal? Well, a coalition of environmental and conservation groups has made a deal with Big Ag. They've agreed to oppose cuts to the subsidy program (ensuring farmers continue to benefit at the same levels from the crop insurance premium subsides). And in return, farmers will agree to the conservation compliance. In a letter sent to lawmakers this week, signed by dozens of organizations party to the deal, the coalition presented its position as a "good compromise." Groups including Audubon, American Farmland Trust, and National Wildlife Federation are also party to the compromise...more