House Takes Big Step in Farm Bill Development

Regarded as the largest vehicle for private and public lands conservation legislation in the United States, the Farm Bill, which expired at the end of September 2023, was extended by one year to give legislators time to come together on a package that meets the needs of the hungry, agricultural producers, rural schools and economies, as well as public and private landowners and our nation’s wildlife. The release of the chairman’s marked version of the bill advances discussions on this enormously impactful legislation.

In the nearly 1,000-page Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the committee made public their ideas that cover a wide range of national priorities, including many championed by the NWTF that impact our ability to deliver habitat work with the USDA Forest Service, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, state forestry agencies, individual landowners and many other partners.

Included in the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 are NWTF priorities, such as:

• Significantly increased funding for the Conservation Title.
• Reauthorization and improvements to the Conservation Reserve Program and Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
• Reauthorization and increased funding for the Voluntary Public Access-Habitat Incentive Program and a permanent baseline that extends the program beyond the expiration of the Farm Bill.
• A fully-funded Forest Conservation Easement Program for private forest owners.
• Enhancements to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
• 20-year contracts under the Stewardship Authority for the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
• Language to address the “Cottonwood” decision, which has resulted in litigation slowing the Forest Service’s active forest management.

“The NWTF is thankful to the chairman and his staff for the inclusion of many provisions that help us deliver our mission on the ground around the country,” said Matt Lindler, NWTF director of Government Affairs. “We look forward to working with both chambers of Congress as they act to pass their versions of a bipartisan and bicameral Farm Bill that, once conferenced, meets the needs of all people, rural communities and America’s land, water and wildlife resources.”