Agricultural Policy

Agricultural Policy
US Agricultural policy has many far reaching effects both in terms of environmental impact and societal outcomes. Within the Upper Mississippi River Basin the primary environmental impact of the current farm subsidy program is an increase in the acreage dedicated to corn and soybean production as well as an increase in the intensity with which these acres are farmed. Larger fields combined with fewer fencerows, filter strips, and cover crops results in a corresponding increase in the amount of nutrient and sediment run-off that reaches the Mississippi River and, eventually, the Gulf of Mexico. These observations highlight the need for increased implementation of best management practices along with changes in the farm subsidy program to foster practices that protect soil and water resources. Another equally important benefit of progressive policies like the Conservation Security Program (in the form proposed by Senator Harkin; D., Iowa) would be a leveling of the world grain market that would allow developing nations and small producers to obtain a better price for their crops. Such policies would not only protect the land and water resources of the Upper Mississippi Basin, but would help to alleviate poverty in the developing world, and serve to restore the position of the US as a world leader in fair trade policy.

Advancing Policy that Benefits the Land and People Land Stewardship Project Federal & State Policy Page
A New Agricultural Policy for the United States The Minnesota Project
Conservation Security Program (CSP) NRCS Information Page
CSP will be a national program, conservation head says By Dan Looker Business Editor Successful Farming magazine 4/2/04
WTO agriculture talks resume By Jeffrey Sparshott 3/22/04
Brazil At The Negotiating Table: Global Trade Power Broker? By David Woods 3/22/04
Agriculture issue back in WTO spotlight By Dai Yan (China Daily) 3/25/04
Still at the Federal Trough: Farm Subsidies for the Rich and Famous Shattered Records in 2001 By Brian Riedl 4/30/02
IMF calls for farm subsidy cuts 4/29/02
Environmental Cost of Farm Subsidies Environmental Media Services 5/16/02
Honest Talk About Farm Policy: Stop Calling Them "Farm Subsidies"; It's Corporate Welfare! By AL KREBS 9/16/03
Kerry calls for revamped farm subsidies Associated Press 12/31/03
Mounting opposition to Northern farm subsidies African cotton farmers battling to survive By Gumisai Mutume Africa Recovery, 3/03
Farm subsidies are harm subsidies. By J. Bishop Grewell Oct.-Nov. 2003
Farm Subsidies Could Go under WTO Plough By Frances Williams Financial Times 1/5/04
What Americans Think About Farm Subsidies By Steven Kull 3/3/04
The Hypocrisy of Farm Subsidies International Development Economics Associates
Farm Subsidies: To be or not to be? IATP Trade Observatory 9/19/03

The McKnight Foundation Farm Policy Summary
The McKnight Foundation's mission is “to improve the quality of life for present and future generations and to seek paths to a more humane and secure world.” The McKnight Foundation website provides summaries of a number of Hot Issues affecting society and the environment. The Farm Policy summary provided by McKnight is a very good overview of the environmental differences between farming methods, how subsidies drive farming methods, where farm policy comes from, the Conservation Security Program and Green Payments, and why the World Trade Organization may change everything about US farm policy. This summary is part of a more comprehensive overview of Farm Policy, Pollution, and the Mississippi River. A page of Helpful Resource links is also provided.

Farm Policy: Overview
Farm Policy: Framing the Issue
Farm Policy: Resource Links
McKnight Foundation Hot Issues

Study: More Year-Round Plant Cover Could Produce Environmental, Economic Green; Significant Ag Policy Changes Needed to Diversify Rural Landscape, says BioScience Paper
Farming systems that rely on perennial plants such as grass while incorporating hay, small grains and other resource-conserving crops could significantly improve water quality, according to a new modeling study of two watersheds. But these improvements are not likely to occur without significant changes in federal farm policy, concluded the study, which was published in the January issue of the journal BioScience. According to the author, “One significant step in the right direction is the recently implemented Conservation Security Program (CSP), which pays farmers for utilizing production systems that result in environmental benefits such as cleaner water and more wildlife habitat.”

Land Stewardship Project Summary
Full Study Report
Results Chart

Contact the Authors:
John Westra, LSU, 225-578-2721; JWestra@agcenter.lsu.edu
Bruce Vondracek, USGS, 612-624-8748; bvondrac@umn.edu
George Boody, LSP, 651-653-0618; gboody@landstewardshipproject.org

2005 Conservation Security Program Signup to begin March 28th
On Thursday March 17th, USDA Secretary Johanns announced the 2005 Conservation Security Program sign-up. Sign-up will begin March 28 and close on May 27 in the 202 watersheds previously announced for 2005. A second round of sign-ups for the 18 watersheds eligible for the Conservation Security Program in 2004. The new interim final rule and the 2005 program announcement are available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service website. The rule will, most likely, be published in the Federal Register in the near future. The public comment period on the new, revised interim rule will run until late July. To find out more about this promising program in its second year, follow the links provided below.

USDA Announces Conservation Security Program Sign-up to Begin March 28 By Mark Schultz -Land Stewardship Project- 3/19/05
CSP Information from the NRCS
NRCS 2005 CSP Watershed Map
Local Watershed Information Meetings
Conservation Security Program Power Point
CSP Subcommittee January 2005 Meeting Highlights Including participant comments and overview of the 2005 watersheds and 2004 contract statistics.
Land Stewardship Project CSP News

Green Lands, Blue Waters: A Vision and Roadmap for the Next Generation of Agricultural Systems
The vision promoted by Steve Morse, Endowed Chair of Agricultural Systems at the University of Minnesota and founder of the Green Lands, Blue Waters Initiative, is one of expanded perennial agriculture systems. During the past 25 years in Minnesota , perennial plant systems like alfalfa hay and pasture have been systematically replaced by annual crops such as corn and beans. This dramatic change in the agricultural landscape has lead to increased sediment, nutrient, and contaminant runoff from many of these converted lands. The Green Lands, Blue Waters vision includes livestock as a key factor in dealing with water quality problems. When methods providing adequate perennial forage (alfalfa hay and pasture land) are used, the amount of runoff from these lands is greatly reduced and immense benefits to water quality can be realized. A critical part of the vision involves getting out of the mindset that we are limited to corn and bean production. Systems including rotational grazing, use of cover crops and energy crops for biomass production would not only help water quality, but also diversify the rural economy and improve human health. This initiative involves land grant universities, non-governmental organizations and government agencies in seven states, including Minnesota . Visit the Green Lands, Blue Waters website at www.greenlandsbluewaters.org.

Perennial Farming Systems could Significantly Improve Minnesota's Water Quality By George Boody, et al. -BioScience- January 2005
Livestock Can Play Big Role in Solving Minnesota’s Water Quality Problems -Land Stewardship Project News Release- 3/5/04
Effort aims to bring diversity back into agriculture By Janet Kubat Willette -Agri News- 3/16/04
Integrating Farm Systems -Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research Unit- USDA
Profitable Farms That Protect The Environment -The Minnesota Project
Whole Farm Planning -The Minnesota Project
Preserving as well as farming the land go hand in hand for Olingers By David Heiller -Argus News- 9/28/04

Factory Farms Immune to Local Regulation?
The debate about legislation designed to make it easier for large corporations to overrule local regulatory decisions limiting the location, size, and development of factory farms has taken on a new urgency as politicians nationwide are courted by agri-business contributors. Townships and communities in the Upper Mississippi Basin, an area of intense agricultural production, face particular pressure from multi-national big money interests attempting to wrest local control on factory farm issues away from the people who live there. Many townships have not exactly taken these attacks on the democratic process and our republican form of government lying down, but they often end up being outnumbered in their own meeting by paid proponents and promoters of factory farm interests. When managed properly, livestock operations can actually have a positive contribution to water quality due to the increased local production of hay and other perennial feed crops. Conventional wisdom indicates that small family operations often do a much better job of controlling many of the environmental problems such as run-off and manure management that are frequently associated with large feedlot operations. Additionally, smaller local operations generally use more locally produced, sustainably grown feeds than do factory farms, thereby promoting improved watershed management right there on the family farm and throughout the community. This issue is of great importance in terms of communities' ability to maintain control over the quality of life and environment that they are able to offer residents. Follow the links below to learn more.

EPA Offers to Limit Fines to Factory-Style Farms in Exchange for Data By John Heilprin -Associated Press- 1/24/05
Family Farmers Blast EPA's Sweetheart Deal with Meat Industry By Global Resource Action Center for the Environment 1/24/05
Don't fall for large-scale livestock arguments hoof, swine and oinker By DOUG PETERSON and PAUL SOBOCINSKI -Pioneer Press- 8/29/04
VIEWPOINT: Pawlenty's report lets bg feedlots off too easy By Helen Palmer -Grand Forks Herald- 9/15/04
Members speak out for higher standard -Daily Nonpareil- 9/15/04
Livestock air law has no penalties By Perry Beeman -Des Moines Register- 9/15/04
Lobby groups spar over meaning of 'family farm' By MATTHEW WILDE -Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier- 9/4/04
Factory farms get green light in state By Jim Riddle -Winona Daily News- 8/26/04
Minnesota "livestock" plan focused on CAFO needs By Jim Riddle -The New Farm- 8/30/04
Compromise on factory farms -York Daily Herald- 8/26/04
No compromise on factory farms By BEN PRICE -York Daily Record- 9/5/04
Township leaders balk at state control of land use By Tom DiStefano -Clarion News- 9/28/04

Conservation Security Program Implementation: Fiscal Year 2004
As authorized by Congress in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, the Conservation Security Program (CSP) offers a new paradigm for federal farm programs. CSP was designed to reward agricultural producers for the environmental benefits they provide through the implementation of comprehensive conservation plans to protect critical resources on their agricultural land. As described by the NRCS, CSP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance for the conservation, protection, and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, and plant and animal life on Tribal and private lands. The program provides payments for producers who practice good stewardship on their agricultural lands and incentives for those who want to do more. After months of stalling, the issuance of preliminary rules that barely resembled congressionally approved legislation, and the submission of a record number of comments calling for immediate and full implementation of the program, USDA has finally implemented CSP in a drastically scaled back form. The program, in its current form, is designed to reward the best conservation stewards of the most environmentally sensitive areas in targeted watersheds. With the growing international outcry against trade distorting agricultural subsidies and growing recognition of the need for a sustainable agricultural policy, a fully funded and more universal program of "green payments" may be in the works for future fiscal years.

Upper Mississippi Basin CSP Watersheds:
Blue Earth Sign-up Info Map
Lower Chippewa Sign-up Info Map
Kishwaukee Sign-up Info Map
East Nishnabotna Sign-up Info Map

The Conservation Security Program: Interim Final Rule (With Blue Earth Watershed Overview) Presented by The Minnesota Project
USDA Announces Selection of First CSP Participants; 209 contracts selected in Wisconsin's Lower Chippewa Watershed 8/26/04
2002 Farm Bill
CSP Comprehensive Questions and Answers (.pdf file)
Minnesota Project Conservation Security Program Resources Page
Minnesota Environmental Action Network Follow this link to submit your comments on the current wording of the Interim Final Rule for CSP by September 20th, 2004

Organic Farming is Profitable and Protects Watersheds
Organic farming has long been touted for its health benefits and its positive environmental impact. Farmers in the US are discovering at an increasing rate that organic farming can also be profitable. As concerns about genetically modified crops increase and the dangers of synthetic pesticides continue to be revealed, organic farmers are finding that they can demand a premium price for their chemically and genetically clean, environmentally friendly crops. Some states are even offering cost-share incentives to farmers interested in converting to organic agriculture. Recent studies in southwestern Minnesota (Mahoney et al, 2004) have shown that even without premium prices and conversion incentives, organic agriculture can outperform conventional agricultural methods in terms of net return to the producer. The increased profitability of organic farming is due in part to the reduced cost of synthetic inputs (none are used in organic systems), and partly to the reduced variability of returns from organic farming methods. Less fluctuation in price means that organic farmers are able to maintain a more dependable income level as a result of their sound management practices. This trend presents a unique opportunity for agriculture and conservation interests to work hand in hand to promote the best management practices that restore soil fertility and help to protect surface and ground water quality while improving habitat for wildlife and preventing costly erosion. To find out more follow the links below.

MOSES The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service
Upper Midwest Organic Resource Directory
Organic Broadcaster Newspaper
Sustainable Agriculture Network
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Organic Farming Links
Organic Farming Information at Business.com
Featherstone Fruits & Vegetables
Harmony Valley Farm
M.O.O. Mothers of Organic
New Farmer Generation Leads the Organic Revolution
Truth in labeling By Mark Kastel -The Cornucopia Institute- 2/6/05
Organic Farms More Fertile, Study Finds - Scientific American 5/31/02
Growing Our Roots: Upper Midwest Organic Farming Conference, February 2004 By Elizabeth Henderson
GMO foes to file initiated measure By Mikkel Pates Herald Staff Writer 3/26/04
Local food production could spur economy By Joanne Roepke Bode County Editor The Algona Upper Des Moines 3/25/04
Nation's largest organic farmer co-op stays local, despite growth By JULIET WILLIAMS -Associated Press- 8/24/04
State offers reimbursement to organic growers From Bend.com news sources 3/24/04
Penn State Studies Transition to Organic Agriculture From Pennsylvania IPM Program 3/31/04
Mahoney, P.R., K.D. Olson, P.M. Porter, D.R. Huggins, C.A. Perillo, and R.K. Crookston. 2004. Profitability of organic cropping systems in southwestern Minnesota. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 19:35-46.
Organic food program expands beyond BK BY ALEX HARDING -The Yale Herald- 9/10/04
Report proves that organic farming is better for wildlife 10/10/04

FARMERS TRIM N RATES WITHOUT RISKING LOSS OF PROFIT:
New tools, techniques, and local watershed programs now allow many producers to determine their own optimal nitrogen rates instead of relying on general recommendations. According to Kevin Kuehner, local St. Peter, MN watershed coordinator, yield monitors and GPS have added a whole new dimension to nitrogen management. On-farm demonstrations allow growers to judge for themselves which nitrogen rate optimizes their farm's performance while protecting water quality by reducing wasteful run-off and nitrogen leaching. These tools have been demonstrated by several St. Peter producers. Each demonstration involves a 50-acre portion of a farmer's field to which nitrogen is then applied in 10-acre width strips at five different application rates of 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 pounds N per acre. After the growing season, the N-Rate plots were machine harvested using combines equipped with GPS enabled yield monitors. The yield data were then analyzed by Dr. David Mulla of the University of Minnesota Precision Ag Center. According to Kuehner, "Farmers have been surprised by the results.” Many found out they could save anywhere between $7-$14/acre by simply lowering their normal N application rates, while maintaining high yields. Kuehner predicts that this technique could save area producers $10,000 or more per year in nitrogen fertilizer costs alone, while protecting water quality. These projects give growers better ways to address environmental issues without sacrificing the productivity or prosperity of their operation. For more information about On-Farm Nitrogen Rate Demonstrations access the following web site at http://mrbdc.mnsu.edu/org/bnc/ or call Kevin Kuehner, watershed coordinator at (507) 381-9440 or Bruce Nowlin, Blue Earth Consulting at (507) 947-3362.

Researcher: Livestock Can Play Big Role in Solving Minnesota 's Water Quality Problems Research shows that livestock based agriculture, and the fields and pastures of perennial forage that livestock depend on, can have a positive impact on water quality. Perennial vegetation like that found in alfalfa fields and grazed pastures, can play an important role in controlling erosion and preventing run-off. The Green Land, Blue Waters Initiative is working to improve water quality by promoting agricultural systems that establish more perennial plants on the landscape. Steve Morse, Endowed Chair in Agricultural Systems at the University of Minnesota, says "Let's get out of the mind-set of just what can we do with corn and soybeans." Over the last quarter century, perennial plant systems such as alfalfa hay and pasture have been systematically replaced by annual crops like corn and soybeans. "Modeling shows that if you replace just 15 percent of the corn and soybean acreage with perennials, you can reduce nitrogen runoff by 30 percent," said Morse. The Citizen Task Force on Livestock Farmers and Rural Communities has developed working guidelines that apply these principles in calling for a strong commitment to strengthening independent livestock producers while protecting the environment.

Resources and Perspectives:
Land Stewardship Project News Release
Land Stewardship Project Website
The Minnesota Project
MPCA: Feedlots in Minnesota
Minnesota Environmental Partnership: Legislative session could prove interesting for townships, counties 2/12/04
Local Government Bans Corporate Involvement in Governing
Call it what it isn't: Livestock Siting Bill Limits Local Control Over Factory Farms By Curt Andersen News-Chronicle 3/2/04
Don't fall for large-scale livestock arguments hoof, swine and oinker By DOUG PETERSON and PAUL SOBOCINSKI -Pioneer Press- 8/29/04

Scientists Say Corn-Soybean Rotation is Bad for Soil and Water
During the past three decades farmers have shifted from rotating a variety of crops, such as grains and alfalfa, to regularly growing soybeans when they're not growing corn. According to Gyles Randall, a soil scientist from the University of Minnesota, the corn-soybean cycle is a rotation that's driven by government subsidies giving farmers more incentive to grow soybeans than alternative crops. That practice that has increased soil erosion, washed away nitrates, dumped tons of sediment into streams and rivers and contributed to spring floods, he argued. Randall suggests that agricultural and political leaders are in denial, and offers several solutions including: adding a third or fourth crop to rotations; planting more alfalfa, grasslands and trees and changing farm policy to have more incentives for conservation. Al Christopherson, Minnesota Farm Bureau president, says that Randall is "right on" that a straight corn and soybean rotation is not sustainable in many parts of the state. But, for years, farmers have been getting mixed messages from various government agencies about how to best protect the environment, he added.

Full Article: Scientist:Rotation Bad for Soil, Water-By Dan Nienaber-Mankato Free Press Staff Writer, January 31st, 2004
See Also : A New Agricultural Policy for the United States-The Minnesota Project
Sustainable farming focus of Association's meeting By Ann Austin, Albert Lea Tribune staff writer 3/11/04
The Oil We Eat By Richard Manning -PetroleumWorld.com- 9/5/04

Farm Subsidy Database Returns With New Information: Update Tracks Payments During First Year of 2002 Farm Bill Environmental Working Group's findings include: Payment concentration is on the rise. In 2002, the top 10 percent collected 65 percent of total subsidies (~$7.8 billion). The peanut quota buy-out has been a taxpayer-funded windfall for the largest quota holders. The top recipients included John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance, which collected $2,124,760 in peanut subsidies in 2002. The dairy subsidy program is much more equitable than most commodity programs. Conservation programs accounted for only 12.5 percent of total agricultural subsidies between 1995 and 2002. Conservation's share decreased during this period; funding to conservation programs remained level while commodity programs increased drastically - at a time when they were supposed to decline.

Searchable Farm Subsidy Database (Some search links may be slow, so be patient.)
EWG's Farm Subsidy Analysis and full Database
How Taxpayers are Subsidizing the Demise of the Family Farm
Federal Payment Maps (UMBSN Map Gallery Index)

[Ed. Note: Can't find something you thought was here? Articles and links from this column move from here to "Archived Feature Articles" in the UMBSN "News Archive" menu. You should find what you are looking for there.]