The 2002 Farm Bill introduced a visionary new conservation program called the Conservation Security Program. The program is designed to reward good land stewardship and provide public environmental benefits — paying landowners for practices which prevent soil erosion, enhance wildlife, protect the ground and surface water, keep our air clean, and conserve energy. Additionally, this type of ‘green payment’ is consistent with our commitments to the World Trade Organization and is thus the blueprint for future farm programs.

Credit for this program goes to Senator Harkin, who authored the legislation and ushered it through the Senate and the Conference Committee. Unfortunately, enabling legislation is only part of the battle.

Senator Harkin, as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is needed to make sure that the program is implemented and that technical standards are adequate to meet conservation goals.

Rep. Ganske, along with Rep. Latham, supported the House farm bill which lacked both strong conservation provisions and adequate conservation funding.

They consistently voted against amendments, such as the Kind-Boehlert Amendment, designed to strengthen the conservation provisions in the bill. Ganske then opposed the final farm bill citing, in part, his opposition to the Conservation Security Program (“Farm bill fails Iowa interests,” Des Moines Register, May 4, 2002). Latham also voted against the final farm bill.

Representatives Ganske and Latham lack both the commitment and the political stature to provide leadership for the agricultural conservation programs Iowa needs.

We need Senator Harkin’s continued leadership in the Senate and we need John Norris in the House.

Eric G. Hurley

Graduate Student

Agronomy