enhancing federal support for agricultural conservation in the chesapeake bay watershed
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Enhancing Federal Support for Agricultural Conservation in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed The Federal Farm Policy Reform Project. Chesapeake Bay Commission Marel Raub, Pennsylvania Director. THE BAY IS A NATIONAL TREASURE: The World’s Largest, Most Productive Estuary. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Enhancing Federal Support Enhancing Federal Support for Agricultural for Agricultural
Conservation in the Conservation in the Chesapeake Bay WatershedChesapeake Bay Watershed
The Federal Farm Policy Reform The Federal Farm Policy Reform ProjectProject
Chesapeake Bay Commission Marel Raub, Pennsylvania Director
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THE BAY IS A NATIONAL TREASURE: THE BAY IS A NATIONAL TREASURE: The World’s Largest, Most Productive EstuaryThe World’s Largest, Most Productive Estuary
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The U.S. FARM BILLThe U.S. FARM BILL is the primary is the primary Federal funding source Federal funding source to enhance funding for to enhance funding for agricultural conservation measures…agricultural conservation measures…With its With its reauthorization in 2007reauthorization in 2007, , making it work better is making it work better is a BIG priority. a BIG priority.
Thus, we have begun theThus, we have begun the
Federal Farm Policy Reform ProjectFederal Farm Policy Reform ProjectThus, we have begun theThus, we have begun the
Federal Farm Policy Reform ProjectFederal Farm Policy Reform Project
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TODAY’S GOAL: Identify needsIdentify needsShare some facts Share some facts Seek your recommendationsSeek your recommendations
TODAY’S GOAL: Identify needsIdentify needsShare some facts Share some facts Seek your recommendationsSeek your recommendations
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Over Over 90%90% of the of the Bay and its Bay and its tidal rivers are tidal rivers are impaired due to impaired due to low dissolved low dissolved oxygen levels oxygen levels and poor water and poor water clarity, all clarity, all related to related to nutrient and nutrient and sediment sediment pollution. pollution.
Over Over 90%90% of the of the Bay and its Bay and its tidal rivers are tidal rivers are impaired due to impaired due to low dissolved low dissolved oxygen levels oxygen levels and poor water and poor water clarity, all clarity, all related to related to nutrient and nutrient and sediment sediment pollution. pollution.
Impaired Water
FACT:FACT:
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FACT:FACT: While pollution comes from While pollution comes from many sourcesmany sources,, agriculture offers one of the greatest opportunities to agriculture offers one of the greatest opportunities to
improve water quality in the Bay and its tributariesimprove water quality in the Bay and its tributaries
Agriculture40%
Urban Stormwater11%
Grasslands7%
Point Source22%
Septic4%
Forest16%
Agriculture46%
Urban Stormwater16%
Grasslands12%
Point Source23%
Forest3%
Nitrogen Phosphorus
2003 Loads to the Tidal Chesapeake Bay by Source2003 Loads to the Tidal Chesapeake Bay by Source
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FACT:FACT: Tributary Strategies Tributary Strategies
are designed to are designed to remove the Bay from remove the Bay from the impaired waters the impaired waters list. All rely heavily list. All rely heavily upon agriculture to upon agriculture to
meet their watermeet their water quality goals.quality goals.
The Chesapeake Bay Watershed is broken into 36 Tributary Strategy Basins
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FACT:FACT: Every state is relying on agriculture to Every state is relying on agriculture to achieve the Tributary Strategy reductionsachieve the Tributary Strategy reductions
(2003-2010 Tributary Strategy delivered load reduction)
State Nitrogen(%)
Phosphorus(%)
Sediment(%)
Delaware 8989 9898 100100
Maryland 5454 6363 8383
New York 7171 4949 9191
Pennsylvania 7070 7272 9292
Virginia 5050 4848 8383
West Virginia 7575 5555 9090
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FACT:FACT: Agriculture is a Vital Component of the Agriculture is a Vital Component of the
Bay’s Economy, Landscape and CultureBay’s Economy, Landscape and Culture Nearly one-quarter of the land use in the watershed is
agricultural
Agriculture = 13% of the Bay region’s gross domestic product
4% of labor force is linked to agriculture
Crops make up two-thirds of ag production: corn, wheat and soybeans dominant tradable commodities
Poultry and milk are the region’s highest valued animal commodities
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FACT:FACT: Farmers are key stewards of the Farmers are key stewards of the environment, working on the frontlines to environment, working on the frontlines to protect the Bay and its riversprotect the Bay and its rivers
Buffer to Protect Water ways to Protect Water ways
Proper Nutrient & Manure Proper Nutrient & Manure ManagementManagement
Stream bank FencingStream bank Fencing
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FACT:FACT: Key Conservation Programs are Key Conservation Programs are DrasticallyDrastically Under Funded Under Funded
4 out 5 farmers are turned away due to inadequate funding 4 out 5 farmers are turned away due to inadequate funding when they offer to improve water qualitywhen they offer to improve water quality
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50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
2003 Unfunded 2003 Funded
Ap
pli
cati
on
s R
ecei
ved 1/5 th of Bay
farmers receive
the financial assistance they request
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FACT:FACT: Bay state farmers lose out Bay state farmers lose out on Federal Farm Bill fundingon Federal Farm Bill funding
Farmers in the Bay Watershed do not receive their fair share of Federal Farm Bill dollars, ranking near the bottom in terms of federal support for agriculture
For every $1 in Bay Watershed agricultural production, Bay farmers get back $0.01-$0.03 in Farm Bill support
North Dakota farmers get $0.17, and the national average is $0.06
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WHY? Because Most Funding WHY? Because Most Funding Goes to Commodity PaymentsGoes to Commodity Payments
Conservation spending Conservation spending represents $3.8 B represents $3.8 B of $29 B in total of $29 B in total Farm Bill payments to Farm Bill payments to farmers in 2005farmers in 2005
Source: USDA budget summary for 2005
Conservation's Part in USDA Payments to Farmers, 2005
Commodity Programs
64%
Conservation13%
Disaster Assistance10%
Crop Insurance (net cost)
13%
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Subsidy Funds Distribution Is Not Subsidy Funds Distribution Is Not Equitable – And the Bay Is Losing OutEquitable – And the Bay Is Losing Out
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Conservation Outlays In Relation Conservation Outlays In Relation to Total USDA Outlaysto Total USDA Outlays
FY2005FY2005
OBPA estimates that conservation outlays
will be $3.8 B out of a total of
$94.9 Billion
Source: USDA Budget Summary for 2006. OBPA: Office of Budget and Program Analysis of USDA
4%
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FY 2004 FARM BILL FY 2004 FARM BILL Conservation Allocations by Conservation Allocations by StateState**
$0
$10,000,000
$20,000,000
$30,000,000
$40,000,000
$50,000,000
$60,000,000
$70,000,000
Bay States Percentage ofNational Total
4.3%4.3%
National Total: $3,215,991,120Bay States Total: $141,459,375
Source: USDA NRCS and FSA * Includes all state funds, not just watershed portion
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NEED:NEED: Roughly $700 Roughly $700
million annually to fully implementmillion annually to fully implementagricultural conservation measures agricultural conservation measures across 6 states in the watershed.across 6 states in the watershed.
HAVE:HAVE:
$$68 M/yr68 M/yr. in current Federal . in current Federal financial assistancefinancial assistance
for agricultural conservation for agricultural conservation in the in the watershed.watershed.
FACT:FACT: Farmers are committed – Farmers are committed – they would do far more if the resources were they would do far more if the resources were
there to support them. there to support them.
$141M state-wide
Source: USDA NRCS and FSA
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State/Federal Share of
Funding Gap
Calculations based upon historic cost
share
Maryland
State: 52% = 37 M
Fed: 48% = 34 M
Virginia
State: 44% = 55 M
Fed: 56% = 70 M
Ag Sector Conservation Costs and Income Annual by State Tributary Strategies (2005-2010)Annual by State Tributary Strategies (2005-2010)
Projected State Funds
Projected Federal Funds
Projected Deficit
Total Cost:100M
Total Cost:143M
Total Cost:215M
Source: MD, VA PA State Tributary Strategies
Pennsylvania
State: 52% = 90 M
Fed: 48% = 84 M
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Making the Farm Bill Work Better Making the Farm Bill Work Better for Farmers and the Bayfor Farmers and the Bay
Areas of OpportunityAreas of Opportunity
Conservation funding levels Regional distribution of funds Program Reforms to better address nutrients
and sediment challenges Harnessing energy from agricultural wastes
& crop residues Farmland preservation & wildlife enhancement
tools
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Key Farm Bill Conservation Key Farm Bill Conservation Programs for Addressing Bay IssuesPrograms for Addressing Bay Issues
Where is there room for improvement?Where is there room for improvement?
EQIPEQIP:: Cost share and incentive funding for Cost share and incentive funding for conservation practices. Water quality is one of conservation practices. Water quality is one of four national prioritiesfour national priorities
CREPCREP:: Rental payments and incentives for Rental payments and incentives for installing and maintaining buffers for water installing and maintaining buffers for water qualityquality
CSPCSP:: Program to reward good stewards of the Program to reward good stewards of the environment for on-going effortsenvironment for on-going efforts
WRPWRP:: Funding for creating and restoring Funding for creating and restoring wetlands for water qualitywetlands for water quality
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Desired Outcomes Desired Outcomes Federal Farm Policy Reform ProjectFederal Farm Policy Reform Project
Significant reductions in nutrients and sediments
Increased conservation funding Economically viable farming operations Better integration of farmers into Farm
Policy development
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What do you want to recommend?
Federal Farm Policy Reform Project
A project sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Commission in support of Chesapeake Executive Council Directive #04-2