The CSP Takes a Victory Lap
Posted by Susan Ponsolle on 04-30-07House and Senate conferees on the Supplemental Appropriations Bill agreed this week to lift the cap on Conservation Security Program funding for 2007. The CSP is a Conservation Title program that rewards farmers for undertaking conservation practices on working farmland. Lifting the funding cap paves the way for a 2007 CSP sign-up in 51 watersheds and ensures funding for contract modifications to enhance conservation measures.
The Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, NESAWG, the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and the National Campaign organized state level and regional sign-on letters to key House Democratic conferees urging them to adopt the more generous Senate treatment of the CSP. Thirty seven local and regional farm and environmental organizations signed letters to their Member on the conference committee. Thanks to all those organizations that on very short notice lent their support to the CSP. It made all the difference. And thanks to the House Democrats who yielded to the Senate.
Unfortunately, the $2.9 billion taken from the CSP in an earlier supplemental appropriation was not restored so we still have a difficult 2007 Farm Bill funding fight ahead of us.
The expectation is that the Supplemental Appropriations Bill will be vetoed by President Bush over the Iraq withdrawal provision. The prospects are good, however, that the CSP provisions will remain intact in the next, re-negotiated version.
Source: National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture - April 30, 2007
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