Home News & Events Alternative Agriculture News -- March '97

Headlines:
Campaign Analysis Finds Support for Herd Size Limits
President's 1998 Budget Maintains Sustainable Ag Funding
Resources
Wallace Family, Institute Leaders Featured in New Book
New CRP Rule Will Increase Eligibility and Protected Acreage
Positions
Upcoming Events

©1997, Henry A. Wallace Institute for Alternative Agriculture, 9200 Edmonston Road, #117, Greenbelt, MD 20770. Phone: (301) 441-8777. E-mail: hawiaa@access.digex.net.

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In addition to this monthly newsletter, the Henry A. Wallace Institute for Alternative Agriculture publishes the American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal of research on alternative agriculture. It is a scientific forum for disseminating technical, economic, and social research findings about the character and requirements of alternative agriculture systems.

The current issue (Volume 11, No. 4) includes articles on a first study of managing vertebrates in cover crops, the links between pesticide use and pesticide residues, and production-side progress and demand-side constraints in sustainable agriculture in the Corn Belt. It also features abstracts from the conference on "Environmental Enhancement Through Agriculture," sponsored by the Wallace Institute, Tufts University, and American Farmland Trust in November, 1995, are also in the new issue of the Wallace Institute's quarterly peer-reviewed journal of research on alternative agriculture.

Subscriptions to AJAA are $44 for libraries; $24 for individuals; and $12 for students.

Campaign Analysis Finds Support for Herd Size Limits

Analysis by the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture of public comments on a proposed USDA rule found that a clear majority supports setting national limits on the size of livestock operations eligible for assistance from the new Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). "Our detailed analysis reveals that more than three out of four respondents favor setting national limits on the size of livestock operations eligible for assistance from EQIP," said Kathleen Merrigan, Senior Analyst at the Wallace Institute and a member of the Campaign. "Of the 393 letters received on the issue of herd sizes, 305 supported national limits."

The Farm Bill stipulates that large confinement operations are not eligible for EQIP payments, but leaves it up to the Secretary of Agriculture to define large operations. The draft USDA rule for EQIP would set no limits on the size of livestock operations eligible for EQIP assistance, which would result in "corporate welfare for large operations to comply with the Clean Water Act," according to the Campaign. The Campaign had asked people to write to the USDA to urge herd size limits, to encourage alternative manure management practices, and to prohibit subsidies of large open manure lagoons.

Merrigan and other members of the Campaign last month read the 1,002 public comments received by the USDA on the EQIP program, with a goal of undertaking an independent analysis of public comment that could be communicated to policymakers. Letters on the proposed rule came from 37 different states, according to the Campaign analysis. Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Minnesota were the states with the most responses, accounting for almost 55 percent of the respondents on herd size limits; Iowa writers represented more than 20 percent.

"I was encouraged to see so many letters from family farmers urging [USDA] Secretary [Dan] Glickman to reverse his decision and set meaningful national limits," said Merrigan. "Many of them argued that Glickman should fulfill the intent of Congress and make sure that EQIP is targeted to help small and moderate sized farms. Respondents were particularly concerned that without national limits, tax dollars would be used to subsidize large corporate livestock operations in the building and operation of more large manure lagoons. These lagoons are responsible for serious water pollution problems."

Of the 305 letters that supported herd size limits, 108 asked the USDA to give priority to alternative livestock waste practices; 125 urged the USDA to prohibit money for open manure lagoons. "I urge Secretary Glickman to listen to these voices from the grassroots and set national limits," said Merrigan. "It is the only way to assure the public that EQIP will not become just another government subsidy for large corporate farms."

The Campaign supports strong national standards defining large scale confinement operations limits. It also supports using the Clean Water Act definition of a large livestock operation which would deny EQIP funds to operations with more than 100,000 chickens, 2,500 hogs, or 1,000 beef cattle on the farm at a given time. States would be free to set stricter limits. The program could then work to help small and moderate sized farmers correct any environmental problems that arise on their farms, according to the Campaign.

The Campaign has encouraged the USDA to target EQIP's resources to moderate and smaller livestock farms, and to focus EQIP on the low cost, low tech practices that can best be used by smaller and moderate operations, such as rotational grazing, pasture improvement, manure composting, and nutrient testing.

President's 1998 Budget Maintains Sustainable Ag Funding

The USDA budget submitted by President Clinton for Fiscal Year 1998, which begins in October, maintains funding for most sustainable agriculture programs. It includes a request to double the funding for the Organic Foods Production Act, and an increase of $13 million for integrated pest management. Here are the proposed appropriations for several sustainable agriculture discretionary programs:

• SARE: An $8 million appropriation is requested for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, the same as the FY97 appropriation.
• SAPDP: A $3.3 million appropriation is requested for the SARE (Chapter 3) Professional Development Program, the same as the FY97 appropriation.
• ATTRA: A $1.3 million appropriation is requested for Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, the same as the FY97 appropriation.
• OFPA: A $1 million appropriation is requested for the Organic Foods Production Act, a doubling of the FY97 appropriation of $500,000.

• CFO: A $15 million appropriation is requested for the new Conservation Farm Option, created to foster innovation in natural resource protection and enhancement.
• EQIP: A $200 million appropriation is requested for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the same as the FY97 appropriation.
• WRP: A $164 million appropriation is requested for the Wetlands Reserve Program, an increase from the FY97 appropriation of $119 million.
• CFSA: A $2.5 million appropriation is requested for the Community Food Security Act, the same as the FY97 appropriation.
• FRA: A $100 million appropriation is requested for the Fund for Rural America, the same as the FY97 appropriation.

Resources

• "Grazing on Public Lands" is $20 from Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, 4420 West Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014-3347; (515) 292-2125 or 1-800-375-CAST.
• "A Geography of Hope: America's Private Land," published by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, is available at no charge for single copies at 1-800-THE-SOIL.
• "The Balanced Budget Amendment: Implications for Agriculture" is free from Environmental Working Group, 1718 Connecticut Ave., NW, #600, Washington, D.C. 20009; (202) 667- 6982; or at http://www.ewg.org.
• Proceedings from "Building Local Partnerships: Water Quality, Watersheds and You," held in January, 1997, are $12.50 from Robin Pruisner, 2104 Agronomy Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-1010; (515) 294-6429.
• "Successful Whole Farm Planning: Essential Elements Recommended by the Great Lakes Basin Farm Planning Network" is $6 from the Minnesota Project, 1885 University Ave. West, #315, St. Paul, MN 55104; (612) 645-6159; e-mail water007@gold.tc.umn.edu.
• "Direct Marketing and Related Topics," citations from the AGRICOLA database, is available from Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, National Agricultural Library, USDA, 10301 Baltimore Ave., Room 304, Beltsville, MD 20705-2351; (301) 504- 6559; e-mail afsic@nal.usda.gov.

• Norman A. Berg, a current member of the Wallace Institute's President's Council and former Chief of the USDA's Soil Conservation Service, "one of the strongest advocates for wise land-use and conserving the nation's natural resources."
• Paul Johnson, a former Wallace Institute Board Member and Chief of the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, "the chief architect and sponsor of one of the most historic and far- reaching environmental programs ever enacted by the Iowa legislature -- the 'Groundwater Protection Act' that became a national model."
• Dick and Sharon Thompson, whose on-farm research receives funding from the Wallace Institute; Dick Thompson is a former Wallace Institute Board Member. "The demonstration aspect of their farm has not only played an important role in technology transfer, but it has also convinced other farmers, through positive results, that the new practices are worth attempting."
• Tom Urban, a current Wallace Institute Board Member and former President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, who "combined business education knowledge with knowledge of the farmer, maturing into a futuristic leader on the cutting edge of today's international business world."

• Lightstone Foundation Farm Center seeks an apprentice farmer; send letter, resume, and references to Lightstone Foundation, Inc., HC63, Box 73, Moyers, W.V. 26813; (304) 249- 5200; e-mail lfi@access.mountain.net.
• Nature Farming Research and Development Foundation seeks a research coordinator to conduct on-farm research on organic farm in Lompoc, CA; send resume and three reference letters to Dr. Sharon Hornick, Executive Director, 720 11th St., B-5, Bellingham, WA 98225.
• University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension seeks an extension educator to represent extension staff on Nebraska IMPACT Project, with Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society and Center for Rural Affairs; Master's degree required; send letter, resume, three references, and college transcripts by March 28 to Keith Niemann, Director of Extension Human Resources, University of Nebraska, 211 Agricultural Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0703; (402) 472-1576.
• Ferrell Ranch seeks a day herder from May through mid-October; contact Pete Ferrell, Dances with Hooves, Box 59, Beaumont, KS 67012; (316) 843-1888.
• Country Pleasures Farm seeks two interns for '97 season; send letter and resume to Eric and Marty Rice, Country Pleasures Farm, 6201 Harley Road, Middletown, MD 21769; (301) 371-4814; e-mail Farm@Mip.Net.
• Licking Creek Bend Farm seeks farmworkers from April through November; send resume and self-addressed stamped envelope to Mike Tabor, 706 Erie Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912.

• March 27, Organic Tree Fruit Workshop will be held in Yakima Valley, WA; contact Tim Smith, Washington State University Cooperative Extension, Chelan County, (509) 664-5540; Dana Faubion, Yakima County, (509) 574-1600; Miles McEvoy, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Olympia, (360) 902-1924; Phil Unterschutz, Wenatchee, 1-800-332-3179.
• April-August, National Catholic Rural Life Conference will hold regional conferences on sustainable local communities: April 25-27, Franklin, N.H.; June 6-8, St. Mary of the Woods, IN; July 11-13, Donaldson, IN; July 18-19, Amarillo, TX; July 23-25, Sinsinawa, WI; and August 16-18, Aberdeen, S.D.; contact NCRLC at (515) 270-2634; e-mail ncrlc@aol.com.
• April 2-9, Ranching for Profit School will be held in Kerrville, TX; contact Elaine Kelly, Ranch Management Consultants, 7719 Rio Grande Blvd., NW, Albuquerque, N.M. 87107; (505) 898-7417.
• April 13-16, "Conflict and Cooperation on Trans-Boundary Water Resources," the fifth meeting of the International Water and Resource Economics Consortium, will be held in Annapolis, MD; contact Liesl Koch, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742; (301) 405-0057; e-mail lkoch@arec.umd.edu.
• April 14-15, "Interactions: Investigating Ecosystem Dynamics at the Watershed Level" will be held in Athens, GA; contact Jennifer Pemble, Soil and Water Conservation Society, 1-800-843-7645 ext. 18.

Home News & Events Alternative Agriculture News -- March '97