The IRA funds are under threat – members of Congress, including Chairman of the House Ag Committee, GT Thompson, have proposed diverting billions of dollars towards commodity programs. Commodity programs historically receive a larger sum of funding than conservation programs, and typically, those dollars go to the wealthiest and largest conventional producers in the nation – in fact, the proposed diversion of funds could benefit “fewer than 6000” of America’s farmers and shut out as many as 165,000 producers from conservation funding.
Conservation programs work for all farmers, and in the first year since receiving the new funding from the IRA, the USDA-NRCS is seeing record numbers of new contracts across the country for eligible programs. With more to come in the next 4 years, this historic $20 billion investment into conservation can significantly transform American agriculture, and get us on the path towards 100 million more acres under regeneration.
Take action as a farmer or rancher: If you are a producer, sign this letter and add your name to the list of farmers and ranchers across the country calling on Congress to keep their promise to you. If you are a producer partner, share this letter with your farmer friends and let them know what’s at stake, because they deserve better from Congress.
Take action as a consumer citizen: If you care about the food you eat, the health of the environment, or the future of farming, contact Congress today and call or email your representative to demand that they protect the IRA funding for ag conservation.