The Conservation Programs of the Future

Outline of Remarks by Bruce I. Knight, Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service at the Agriculture Policy Roundtable, Arlington, VA

February 2, 2005

Thank William Motes for invitation and introduction

Acknowledge fellow speakers
• Kendall Keith, President, National Grain and Feed Association
• Kenneth Cook, President, Environmental Working Group

Mention “CRP: Planting for the Future” conference in Fort Collins in July
(same title as Kendall Keith’s presentation)

We are in the midst of a revolution in conservation

The 2002 farm bill
• Makes a record investment in conservation
President Bush has followed up in his annual budgets
• Places greater emphasis on working lands
• Rewards good stewardship and stimulates more conservation
• Demands greater accountability

The next farm bill is only 3 years away!

Conservation will occupy center stage in the next farm bill, even more so than in 2002

Former Secretary of Agriculture Clayton Yeutter wrote an article recently, in which he said that even the European Union seems finally to be convinced that all nations need to diminish production stimuli that simply result in additional product being dumped on the world market.

Yeutter’s article calls for finding creative ways to shift additional resources to conservation and environmental programs in rural areas.

Conservation will be an integral part of policy negotiations, given the importance of trade, WTO agreements, public support for environmental programs, and increasing demands on the Federal budget dollar

There is growing support for a shift from commodity- or production-based agricultural policy to a stewardship-based policy.

But there will also be a need for a real safety net to protect producers from market downturns and uncontrollable events.

What Landowners Want in Conservation Programs

• Common sense program criteria – not arbitrary rules
• Programs that contribute to sustainability -- not just environmentally, but also economically and culturally
• Programs that help meet regulatory requirements – and avoid new regulations
• Programs that are easy to use

Policy Perspectives

The farm bill should
• Support overall farm policy
• Help American agriculture meet world trade obligations
• Consider all conservation programs in a portfolio approach
• Keep easement programs in perspective relative to financial assistance programs
• Be based on measurable results
• Get the most bang for the buck

Management Perspectives

• Clear, mission-oriented responsibilities
• Efficient delivery (watershed approach and producer self-assessment in CSP have potential for transfer to other programs
• Synergy, rather than friction, between Departments and Agencies

Adapting to Market Forces

• We need to keep as much land as possible in production -- continue the emphasis on working lands
• We need to be competitive internationally

Sometimes, the choice is between conservation here in the United States versus exploitation overseas

Emerging Environmental Issues

We also have to look at emerging environmental issues
• Today’s programs do not approach environmental issues in a unified way
• We need to look at a more comprehensive approach

Some of the emerging issues include
• Carbon sequestration – Particularly grasslands
• Water issues – Opportunities to do more and take new approaches
• Wetlands – The President issued a strong wetlands challenge
• Habitat for critical and declining species – More ways to improve habitat and avoid further regulation. A good example is the recent decision of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service not to list the greater sage grouse
• Open space. This is why we have the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program and the Grasslands Reserve Program and, perhaps, some of the Conservation Reserve Program

Overall, we need a balanced approach

Changing Expectations

Federal policy makers increasingly
• Favor incentives over entitlements.

Example: Conservation Security Program
– A working lands program
– Only program that recognizes and reward ongoing stewardship
– Provides strong incentive for others to follow their example

• Demand measurable results

We need to demonstrate that tangible benefits come from our actions

• Expect that conservation programs serve as enablers of market-based solutions


Conclusion

I am hopeful that investment in conservation will continue to grow

We have shown that
• Programs can be administered efficiently
• Incentives stimulate more conservation
• Many partners are interested in leveraging the Federal dollar
• Both urban and rural constituents support private lands conservation
• Programs work well in a portfolio approach

World trade obligations are nudging us toward greater investment in conservation

I feel the next farm bill will produce shifts in several areas:

Even more emphasis on
• Working lands – economic sustainability
• Incentives
• Voluntary efforts to avoid additional regulation
• Efficient program administration
• Measurable results
• Meeting wetlands and forest health objectives

This summer, the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality will be convening a White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation to facilitate the exchange of information and advice relating to cooperative conservation

The conference will be funded by the Departments of Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency

We expect the opinions expressed at the White House Conference will be useful in designing the conservation programs of the next farm bill