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November 17, 2000

Incentive-based conservation
bill introduced

A bipartisan bill to provide a new incentive-based conservation program has been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate. The Conservation Security Act did not move in this Congress; however, it is expected to be given major consideration in the discussion of the conservation title of the next farm bill.

The new program, which is voluntary, would not replace other conservation programs. Payment would be based on existing and new conservation practices and covered under a five- to 10-year contract.

A farmer/rancher would enter into a contract containing a conservation security plan (CSP). Details of the plan include:

•Identification of land covered in contract

•Implementation schedule

•Amount of compensation

•Appropriate tier level for land covered by contract. Conservation practices are divided into three tiers. They include:

•Tier I—lowest level. Implemented on whole or on part of the farm/ranch. One or more practices include existing practices (nutrient management, pest management, strip cropping, wildlife habitat management, record keeping). Longevity of contract: five years.

•Tier II—Covers priority resources concerns of respective farm/ranch. System of practices (controlled-rotational grazing, buffers, wetland protection and restoration) In addition, must cover Tier I practices. Longevity of contract: five to 10 years.

•Tier III—Covers all resource concerns of entire operation. The
farmer/rancher may adopt the type and level of appropriate practices.

Participants may also continue in other agriculture conservation programs.

Payments: Participants may receive annual payments for maintaining practices already being implemented and for adopting new practices.

•Tier I—Annual payment up to $20,000.

•Tier II—Annual payment up to $35,000.

•Tier III—Annual payment up to $50,000. Payments are based on criteria to maximize goals of the program.

Bio-energy program
announced by USDA

A new $300 million program to encourage expanded production of environmentally-friendly fuels made from corn, soybeans, and other crops has been announced by Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman.

Under this program, USDA will make cash payments to bio-energy companies to increase their purchases of corn, soybeans and other commodities in order to expand production of ethanol, bio-diesel or other bio-fuels. The program will provide higher payments to small and new-to-market processors, including cooperatives, to encourage the expansion of domestic bio-energy capacity. USDA will provide up to $150 million for the program this fiscal year and another $150 million in 2002.

"This program will help us tap into a huge domestic energy reserve—our family farms," said Glickman. "Encouraging the use of bio-energy benefits America's farmers, while improving our energy security and helping to protect the environment."

The program will help expand markets for agricultural commodities and promote the use of bio-fuels like ethanol and soy-based bio-diesel. The program was initially proposed in President Clinton's 2001 budget as part of the farm safety net.

Weather bulletins on internet?

Severe weather warnings are common on radio and television. Now, the Commerce Department is exploring technology that would transmit weather warnings over the Internet.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced it had the technology to create such weather warnings online. It hopes such Internet Service Providers such as American Online and Microsoft Network will provide the service to their subscribers.

"We hope this is a start of a comprehensive acceptance of this technology," said Art Brodsky, a spokesman for the NTIA.

Brazoria FB booth makes fair debut

Brazoria County Farm Bureau spread the message of agriculture and promoted Farm Bureau membership at the Brazoria County Fair recently. It was the first time the local organization had a booth at the annual fair, held each year in October.

Notable Quotables

"All in all...a pretty good year for agriculture."

Mark Masyln, deputy executive director of the American Farm Bureau Federation's Washington, D.C. office, commenting on this year's congressional session. Most agricultural organizations and analysts say farmers and ranchers made out pretty good in the session. Crop insurance reform, the easing of sanctions against Cuba, the enactment of $9.6 billion to offset crop disasters and low prices, and granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) to China were all victories for agriculture this year.

"The obvious problems still remain out in agriculture country. We need to look at...why do we have such depressed prices?"

Rep. Larry Combest, chairman of the House Ag Committee, commenting that much work needs to be done in the next session.