News

Concern conservation funding will be “repurposed” during farm bill negotiations

There’s concern money earmarked for conservation could get redirected during farm bill negotiations.

Andrew Lentz with the Environmental Defense Fund says the Inflation Reduction Act provides USDA with nearly $20 billion to support conservation programs, but the funding has come under attack from lawmakers seeking to repurpose it.

“That’s why we are really strongly advocating for leaving these critical investments where they are, in the Conservation Title. And should be protected really to address the root cause of climate change.”

He tells Brownfield farmers are looking forward to utilizing the USDA programs.

“In the most recent round of funding, USDA received applications for projects totaling more than $2.6 billion for just $850 million available. So just overwhelming demand.”

Lentz says they are pushing very strongly to keep the funding intact to meet the needs of farmers.