Bill to improve access to conservation programs introduced

From the National Association of Wheat Growers

This week, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced the Improving Access to Farm Conservation Act which is a bipartisan effort to improve farmer access to the voluntary farm conservation programs run through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NRCS works with farmers to improve conservation efforts. However, the federal reporting regulations which are required when operating conservation programs have made it difficult for some farmers to participate in the programs. The requirement for producers to obtain and maintain Dun & Bradstreet’s (DUNS) and System of Award Management (SAM) numbers have created an additional burden for program participation. Klobuchar and Boozman’s bill would remove this barrier to the program, allowing farmers to take advantage of the NRCS’s assistance in conservation programs, including the cost-share program which helps farmers with the cost of implementing conservation measures.