Faith and Innovation in Stewardship

As prepared for delivery.
Remarks by Bruce I. Knight, Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Grazing Grass-Fed Beef Field Day Frank Petty Farm

Geneva County, AL
April 23, 2005


Thank you, Rev. Battle, and the Wiregrass Farmers Cooperative, for hosting this field day.

I’m so pleased you and Finest Miles, President of the United Farmers Organization of Alabama and Rev. Lacornia Harris, President of The United Christian Community Association, could be here at the Frank Petty Farm.

We appreciate the work your three organizations have done in partnership to support and encourage limited resource farmers throughout Alabama—especially at the three demonstration farms you’ve created. I understand one more is almost completed.

I also want to commend James Currington, our NRCS district conservationist for Geneva County, and Janie Howell, administrative coordinator for the Geneva County Soil and Water Conservation District. They’re the ones who’ve actually worked with you on the three acres featured at today’s field day.

And special thanks to Frank and Hope Petty and their grandchildren Kristar Petty and Saray Lamar for investing in conservation and inviting us to your farm. We’re eager to see what you’ve accomplished with management intensive grazing—and how other local farmers can apply these innovative techniques to their own operations.

Soil and Water Stewardship Week

Tomorrow marks the beginning of Soil and Water Stewardship Week. This year’s theme is “Celebrate Conservation.” And I can think of no better way to celebrate than to share practical strategies for conserving the land. And what better place than a demonstration site developed through a partnership dedicated to responsible care and use of all the good gifts we have received. I know TUCCA has a clear vision of what it means to be a steward for a Creator who owns the cattle on a thousand hills and all the Earth as well.

The National Association of Conservation Districts has been sponsoring Soil and Water Stewardship Week for 50 years. The week draws attention to the value of conservation—
and the simple everyday things we can all do to conserve natural resources.

Conservation is a matter of personal and social responsibility. It’s taking seriously our role to preserve and protect the resources we have for those who will come after us.

The good news is that we are making a difference. Despite population growth and a much larger economy, our air and water are cleaner, fewer toxic chemicals spoil the land and pollute the streams, and wildlife once on the edge of extinction is returning.

NRCS 70th Anniversary

At the Natural Resources Conservation Service, our commitment to safeguarding the land and water goes back 70 years. We’ve been a partner in conservation since 1935—helping people help the land.

Our focus is conservation on working lands—scientifically based, locally led, voluntary conservation. We help farmers and ranchers provide the environmental benefits that all Americans have come to value.

Profitability and environmental quality are indeed compatible goals. It is possible to produce food and fiber while maintaining—and even improving—the environment.

Conservation Innovation Grants

One of the tools NRCS uses to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative approaches and technologies is Conservation Innovation Grants.

TUCCA has one of these grants, which are part of our Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Conservation Innovation Grants were created by the 2002 farm bill. We offered the grants for the first time last year, and TUCCA received one of the first grants nationwide.

I’m excited about this program because Conservation Innovation Grants leverage Federal investments. For each grant, at least 50 percent of the funding comes from other sources.

The goal here is technology transfer. CIGs provide benefits over a broad geographic area.

The demonstration sites that TUCCA and its partners have developed each serve a number of counties. There’s also another CIG in Alabama, which focuses on low-cost alternatives for temporary litter storage facilities for poultry operations.

In 2004, NRCS awarded 41 of these grants in 29 states for just over $14 million.
However, including the cost sharing from nonfederal partners, the total investment in conservation totals more than $63 million.

In 2005, we have $15 million allocated for CIG. Competition for 2005 funds closed last month, and more than 200 proposals came in. We’re evaluating them now. We plan to announce awards in June.

TUCCA Grant

As you know, the Conservation Innovation Grant that TUCCA received focuses on sharing management intensive grazing practices. The goal is to reach 60 to 80 limited resource farmers.
Most of these producers operate farms with 20 to 50 acres.

We’re hoping that farmers will like what they see here today—and at the other demonstration sites. Then, we hope that many of them will sign up to participate in EQIP and institute these practices on their farms.

This is an example of partnership and stewardship at its best. TUCCA involved the United Farmers Organization of Alabama and the Wiregrass Farmers Cooperative. I understand others collaborated on the project as well:

• Heifer International—training and development of the grazing model

• Edmunite Mission Corps—part-time volunteer to help with management

• Alabama Sustainable Agricultural Network—training and technical assistance

Faith-Based Partnerships

To me, one of the most satisfying aspects of this grant is that TUCCA is a faith-based organization. President Bush has long supported a level playing field for grant competitions—to ensure that faith-based groups have the same opportunity to seek Federal grants and benefit from Federal programs as other applicants.

Too often in the past, the government has ignored or impeded the efforts of faith-based and community organizations. Yet it is the commitment to spiritual principles and purposes—and acknowledgment of a higher authority—that makes faith-based groups particularly successful.

Last month, the President reaffirmed his commitment to full inclusion and participation of faith-based and community groups in government programs. He said:

“I recognize the great work faith organizations are doing in this country….
I’m a results-oriented guy, and faith organizations are achieving results we want….
We ought to judge faith-based groups by results, not by their religion.”

The President noted that since 2003, Federal grants to faith-based organizations have increased by 20 percent. In 2004, more than 10 percent of Federal grants that weren’t formula-based grants to States went to faith-based groups. That’s a total of about $2 billion in grants to groups that are doing good things because of their religious commitments.

TUCCA and its partners, NRCS and Frank Petty have done good work here. I trust other farmers will recognize that the management intensive grazing practices they’ve installed make sense—and will work on other farms as well. I can only say “Amen” to that!

Small-Scale/Limited Resource Farmer Initiative

Last month, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced a special initiative to help small-scale/limited resource farmers overcome barriers in reaching their conservation goals. A team of State conservationists developed this initiative, with some guidance from the United Farmers USA, Inc.

Our goal was to find ways to improve technical services and participation in USDA voluntary conservation programs by increasing outreach to small-scale and limited resource farmers. We want to augment efforts already in place to ensure that our programs are accessible and workable for small farmers.

Our focus for this initiative is 11 states—mostly in the South—including Alabama. NRCS offices in these States and Puerto Rico will each set aside up to $500,000 in appropriate program funds to use in assisting underserved farmers.

In announcing the initiative, Secretary Johanns said:

"Small farms and ranches are part of the fabric of American life.
This initiative will help us to better serve small farmers who play an important role in ensuring a safe, abundant and affordable food supply, while conserving our land."

The rules under the initiative are fairly simple:

• At least 10 percent of the overall cropland covered by this initiative must be planted to alternative crops.

• Producers must have 100 acres or less of cropland.

• Cost-share rates will be up to 90 percent for all practices.

• Contracts will be limited to $10,000.

We will use these special set aside funds to help small-scale farmers implement cost-effective and economical conservation practices such as:

• Erosion control
• Water management
• Grazing land planting and management
• Livestock watering facilities
• Fencing
• Irrigation systems

We’re also going to give NRCS field personnel the training they need to

• Increase their understanding of the conservation needs of small-scale/limited resource farmers
and
• Ensure they have the technical skills to help farmers participate in this initiative.

NRCS has hard data that show participation in farm bill conservation programs by small-scale farmers is lower than it should be. This initiative will help correct that.

Cooperative Conservation

Preserving and protecting the environment is a complex effort—and many groups need to integrate their efforts to achieve common goals. Last August, President Bush signed an Executive Order on Cooperative Conservation, asking Federal agencies to work in partnership with the American people to protect this Nation’s environment.

Some of the best conservation and environmental improvements result when landowners and communities work together. We support this culture of responsibility and respect private landowners by being good neighbors and good environmental partners.

Last week, the White House announced that it will host a Cooperative Conservation Conference, August 29-31 in St. Louis. The goal is to facilitate the exchange of information and advice on ways we can work together—at all levels of government—in concert with communities and landowners to enhance and protect the environment.

NRCS will be part of that conference—as will other USDA agencies—and other departments including

• Interior,
• Defense,
• Commerce and
• EPA.

Most importantly, our customers will be part of this conference.

This is the first cooperative conservation conference in about 40 years. Only three similar national conferences have been held--

President Teddy Roosevelt held the first.

President John Kennedy held the second.

And Lady Bird Johnson, President Lyndon Johnson’s wife, hosted the third.

We are looking forward to this conference as a special opportunity to foster relationships and forge alliances that will enable us to move forward in voluntary conservation activities.

2002 Farm Bill

The conservation title of the 2002 farm bill promised a massive investment of $17.1 billion in additional funding to restore, protect and preserve working lands. Under this Administration, funding has nearly doubled for conservation programs.

The farm bill rounds out the conservation portfolio with a new program—the Conservation Security Program. CSP represents a new concept—rewarding the best and motivating the rest.

Again, the emphasis is on working lands—producing food and fiber while protecting the environment. It is a program that recognizes outstanding conservationists and encourages and enables them to do more.

CSP is available in 2005 to producers in 220 watersheds across the country, including Wheeler Lake watershed in Alabama. Over the next eight years or so, every farmer and rancher in every watershed will have the opportunity to participate in this program. I want you to know that if funding is tight, limited resource farmers receive top priority.

2007 Farm Bill

We’re still implementing the programs established by the 2002 Farm Bill. We have a lot of conservation to get on the ground this year and in 2006 and 2007.

But it’s not too soon to start thinking about the 2007 farm bill.

That bill will likely continue—and expand—the emphasis on conservation on working lands.
Ongoing, effective, integrated stewardship—as envisioned in CSP—will remain a key concept.
There will be continued strong efforts to balance production and environmental concerns.

Conclusion

For 20 years, this farm has been home to the Petty family. They’ve invested toil, sweat—and no doubt a few tears—in this land.

As a farmer myself, I understand how deeply they care about their farm. It’s home—and it’s much more. It is not only in your blood, it’s in your roots.

Now the Pettys have been willing to lead the way, stepping forward to try some new techniques and to share their efforts with others. Frank, we appreciate what you, TUCCA and others have done here. We’re proud to partner with you.

It’s a time for all of us to be grateful for the gifts we’ve received and for the opportunities we have to work together for the benefit of others as well.