Farm Bill

Topics concerning muskellunge and fisheries research, diseases, stocking and management.
Post Reply
User avatar
Will Schultz
Posts: 7662
Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:06 pm
Location: GR, MI

Farm Bill

Post by Will Schultz » Tue May 01, 2012 11:17 am

The Farm Bill and Title 2 Conservation is up for reauthorization. The attached letter has been sent from the Quality of Life Department Directors.

More information: http://www.croplife.com/article/26873/c ... -farm-bill


Dear Congressman Levin:

We are writing to express our strong support for the Conservation Title of the U.S. Farm Bill. Michigan has a strong track record of support for voluntary landowner enrollment in conservation practices supporting water quality improvements, wildlife habitat protection and enhancement, and erosion protection by setting aside marginal farmland and achieving targeted environmental quality benefits.

Strong conservation title options within the 2012 Farm Bill should be retained and allowed to continue the well-documented and realized cost-effective results from the previous Farm Bills. We highly recommend Congress include options that promote voluntary landowner enrollment
in programs like Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, rather than marginalizing their potential. Private farm and forest land should continue to focus upon the production of the food and fiber our nation needs, both domestically and for export. However, many of these same lands also
hold high-value biological and environmentally-sensitive acres not necessarily best suited to production. By allowing landowners the option of choosing to enroll these acres in conservation title options, they actually support our state’s economy through enhanced hunting and fishing recreation. The environmental benefits are also well documented toward improving our air and water quality. Agriculture, forestry, and outdoor recreation are essential to Michigan’s economy, with agriculture and tourism recognized as Michigan’s second and third leading industries.
Michigan’s food and agriculture industry is flourishing and generates $90 billion in economic activity and supports more than 900,000 jobs. Forest management and forest dependent industries account for approximately 150,000 jobs and contribute over $12 billion to Michigan's economy each year. Much of our state’s tourism industry, valued at over $12 billion, is based on our Great Lakes and inland waters. A study by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that hunting, angling, and wildlife-dependent recreation contribute $4.1 billion annually to our state’s economy. Much of this economic activity is located in rural areas where, these activities are
vital to local economies. Natural resources-based products represent a significant proportion of the export sector so essential to our economic health.

We urge you to reauthorize the Farm Bill with provisions that retain the historically proven economic, biological, and environmental benefits of the Conservation Title.

Thank you for your consideration of our views on this critical matter and for your service to Michigan in these challenging times.

Sincerely,
Dan Wyant, Director
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Keith Creagh, Director
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Rodney Stokes, Director
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Self interest is for the past, common interest is for the future.

Post Reply