Action Alert: Call Your Senators TODAY - Ask Them to Fully Fund Conservation Programs

The Senate Agriculture Committee is in the midst of Farm Bill negotiations, and key conservation funding is poised to be on the chopping block. Call your senators TODAY and ask them to support these two key amendments to the Senate Farm Bill:

1. Fully Fund Conservation: The Senate Farm Bill, as currently written, would cut around $2.4 billion from USDA conservation programs that Wisconsin farmers rely on, including approximately $500 million from the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Wisconsin ranks among the top 10 states in CSP participation and the bill, as written, would result in significant cuts for Wisconsin farmers. Ask your senator to support an amendment to the Senate Farm Bill that fully funds conservation programs.

2. Fund the State Assistance for Soil Health (SASH) Program Through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP): We were happy to see the House Farm Bill create a new state soil health program. However, as written, the House version risks compromising CSP, a consistently oversubscribed program with a strong track record of success in Wisconsin. Instead of limiting CSP's ability to serve farmers, a better solution would be to include SASH in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which is already designed to provide federal support for conservation work led by non-federal partners.

How do you reach out to your Senators?

A phone call is probably the most powerful way to reach out. An email is the second most powerful way. Both will be logged officially by the Senator's office. If you have a personal story to share, go ahead and do it. Otherwise, just express your general support for these two amendments. FIND YOUR SENATORS' PHONE AND EMAIL HERE. Click your state on the map, and your senators' information will pop up.