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Conservation groups endorse FRESH Act to help farmers

FAR HILLS, Oct. 23, 2007 - In what conservationists are applauding as a bold attempt to achieve “real reform” in federal agricultural policy, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) introduced the Farm, Ranch, Equity, Stewardship and Health (FRESH) Act of 2007 in the U.S. Senate today.

The FRESH Act, a reform alternative to the Senate Agriculture Committee’s draft Farm Bill, would provide an additional $6 billion for conservation programs and increase funding for organic agriculture, fruit and vegetable crops, and nutritional programs. New Jersey’s other senator, Robert Menendez, is one of the FRESH Act co-sponsors.

The Far Hills-based New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJCF) and the Northeast Organic Farming Association of NJ, along with 24 other conservation groups and farmers from New Jersey, strongly support this legislation, which would help the state’s farmers, consumers and environment.

“We really appreciate our U.S. senators’ leadership on this important bill,” said Alison E. Mitchell, policy director for NJCF. “New Jersey’s senators clearly understand the importance of agriculture to our state. NJCF wants to preserve farmland and keep farmers farming, because sustainable agriculture is vital to the Garden State’s future.

NJCF has been working with Environmental Defense, New Jersey farmers, other conservation organizations, and the New Jersey Congressional delegation to produce a farm bill that emphasizes conservation and nutritional program funding as well as support for smaller, environmentally sustainable farms.

“Right now, organic farmers cannot grow enough to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for organic produce,” said Sherry Dudas, manager of the Honey Brook Organic Farm in Pennington. “We support Farm Bill legislation that provides funding and technical assistance to help organic farmers convert more acreage to organic production.”

Every five to seven years, federal legislators must re-authorize the Farm Bill, which determines how federal funds are to be spent on agricultural programs. The last time the Farm Bill was reauthorized was in 2002.

The FRESH Act is a statement by U.S. senators about their priorities for the 2007 Farm Bill, which is expected to be finalized during the next month. If the proposed reforms are incorporated, the farm bill could provide unprecedented resources to help New Jersey protect its farmland, combat sprawl and protect wetlands.

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) provided nearly $5.18 million to NJCF to preserve and restore approximately 2,200 acres of wetlands on NJCF’s Franklin Parker Preserve in Chatsworth, in the heart of the Pine Barrens. And landowner demand for funding from WRP in New Jersey far exceeds the annual supply.

One of the most successful programs under the current Farm Bill, the Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program, has helped permanently preserve over 12,500 acres of Garden State farmland.

“Farmland is quickly disappearing all across the United States, from California to Maine, and certainly here in New Jersey. Yet, the Senate Agriculture Committee’s current draft of the 2007 Farm Bill includes no increase in funding to protect farmland,” noted organic farmer Mark Canright, owner of Comeback Farm, a preserved farm in Asbury. “The $500 million of new funding in the alternative FRESH Act to protect farmland from development is extremely important.”

An important initiative proposed by the FRESH Act is the expansion of the regional equity provision, which would increase access to conservation programs to at least $18 million for each of the 50 states.

Among other proposed investments is the expansion of the Healthy Forests program by $175 million over seven years to help landowners adopt new forest conservation practices and create a new community forest program in every region of the country. The FRESH Act would allow a million acres of wetlands to be restored and protected around the country and provides $330 million for the restoration and management of wildlife habitat.

Another innovative proposal of the FRESH Act is the “farm to cafeteria” program that would provide schoolchildren in New Jersey with greater access to healthy fruits and vegetables, and increase marketing opportunities for the state’s farmers.

The proposed legislation would also help address the growing demand by American consumers for local and healthy food. Each year, the United States increases its imports of organic products because demand exceeds domestic production. The bill provides more funding to help New Jersey farmers who want to convert to organic production, and thus help reverse the tide driving America to import more and more organic food. It creates new funding to help establish more farmers’ markets and expands coupon programs that help low income families and the elderly shop at farmers’ markets.

“More than 15 percent of the state’s farmland has been placed under permanent easements,” said Greg Romano, NJCF’s Assistant Director and Director of Statewide Land Acquisition. “Those easements protect our valuable soils and farm and forestland from being consumed by sprawl, but farmland continues to be threatened. This legislation would provide additional resources to help New Jersey protect its farmland and combat sprawl, including funds to protect more than 6 million acres of farm, forest and wetland nationally.”

The bill proposes more funding for the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, which provides cost share funding to help farmers voluntarily manage their lands in ways that enhance the environment and farm operations. The bill would also expand the ability of our farmers to meet America’s energy needs with environmentally-friendly renewable energy.

“Many farmers want to do more to help the environment, but limited resources are impeding their efforts,” said Mitchell. “In 2004, 77 percent of New Jersey farmers who asked for federal help to improve the environment were denied assistance. This legislation is a chance to make sure that we reward – not reject – farmers when they offer to help meet our environmental needs.”

Other co-sponsors of the FRESH Act include Susan Collins (R-ME), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

Since 1960, NJCF has preserved over 100,000 acres of land from the New Jersey Highlands to the Delaware Bayshore, permanently protecting forests, farmland and natural resources, all vital to New Jersey’s future. For more information on saving New Jersey’s precious natural areas and natural resources, contact the New Jersey Conservation Foundation at 1-888-LAND-SAVE (1-888-526-3728) or visit our website at www.njconservation.org.