National & World Ag News Headlines Kind Criticizes Conservation Cuts in Senate Farm Bill Package USAgNet - 04/27/2012 Although many groups were praising the fact that the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee was able to put together a markup of the 2012 Farm Bill, one Wisconsin Congressman says he's not happy that the package slashes current levels of support for conservation by $6.3 billion. Rep. Ron Kind says conservation funding supports incentive-based land and water programs to help reduce sediment flow that would otherwise pollute our rivers and streams, and is vital to helping farmers be good stewards of the land. "Today, more than half of the farmers applying for conservation programs are turned away due to inadequate funding. Coupled with rising commodity prices driving highly erodible land back into production, support for these programs is more important than ever," Kind said in a statement. "These programs are vital to our family farmers and our clean water supply." The La Crosse Democrat adds that Wisconsin's robust outdoor recreation industry contributes $9.7 billion to the economy, supports 129,000 jobs in the state, generates $570 million in annual state tax revenue, and produces $7.5 billion annually in retail sales and services across Wisconsin. He says the farm bill does need reform, but feels deep cuts to conservation programs are not the answer. Meanwhile, the Senate package does include the Dairy Security Act, which would be a new voluntary margin protection program being endorsed by the National Milk Producers Federation. NMPF President Jerry Kozak says the program is designed to better safeguard farmers against disastrously low margins, such as those generated by the low milk prices and high feed costs that cost dairy farmers $20 billion in net worth between 2007 and 2009. "The dairy title contains a better safety net for farmers in the form of the Dairy Production Margin Protection Program, which offers them a basic level of coverage against low margins, as well as a supplemental insurance plan offering higher levels of protection jointly funded by government and farmers," Kozak said. "Those who opt to enroll in the margin program will also be subject to the Market Stabilization program that asks them to reduce milk output when margins are poor." Other provisions in the bill would replace the existing direct and counter cyclical, ACRE and SURE programs with an enhanced crop insurance package supplemented by a new Agriculture Risk Coverage program to partially offset revenue losses between 89 percent and 79 percent of benchmark revenue. And the existing non-recourse marketing loan program was maintained. A substitute energy title would convert existing and new energy program monies from discretionary funds, which must be allocated each year, to mandatory funds. The package now moves to the full Senate for consideration. The House has yet to act on a farm spending program this year, but committee leaders do plan to hold listing sessions on the topic in the coming weeks. Send this article to a friend Other National Headlines Corn Export Prospects Cut as Global Trade Boosted Feed Grain Supplies Lowered on Delayed Plantings UN Calls for Global Action on Drought Canada Looks for U.S. Interests to Resolve COOL Issue Supreme Court Rejects Texas Water District's Claim to Oklahoma Water Weekly Outlook: Anticipating USDA Stock and Acreage Reports USDA Celebrates National Small Business Week Copyright © 2013 - USAgNet.com. All Rights Reserved.