The Senate Agriculture Committee will take up the 2007 Farm Bill this Monday October 23rd and Center for Native Ecosystems is requesting today,Wednesday October 17th, with other conservation and agriculture groups that Coloradans let Senator Salazar know that conservation should be a priority in the 2007 Farm Bill.

The conservation incentive programs of the Farm Bill represent the single-largest source of conservation funding in the country. They provide vital financial and technical assistance to landowners who conserve natural resources on their land. With the majority of endangered species habitat on private land in the U.S., we feel this is an important tool. Yet these conservation incentive programs in the Farm Bill are so woefully underfunded that two-thirds of farmers and ranchers who volunteer to conserve our natural resources are turned away.

 To begin addressing unmet demand for these programs and to keep existing programs in operation, the Senate must fund conservation in the 2007 Farm Bill at no less than $5 billion over the next five years. Even though two of every three applicants to the Farm Bill's conservation programs are turned down due to lack of funding, the Senate is considering providing no or meager increases for these vital programs. With the Agriculture Committee set to vote next week, now is the time to act.

  Center for Native Ecosystems provided the following talking points to Coloradans to use in their calls

• Call or e-mail Sen. Salazar today: (202)-224-5852
• When you call ask for the staff person working on the farm bill (if they're not available, talk to whoever answers the phone).
• Talking points:

"Hello, I live in [your city or town], and I am calling to ask that Senator Salazar make sure the needs of conservation are met in the 2007 Farm Bill.

I support increased funding for conservation incentive programs to help farmers and ranchers protect our air, water, land and wildlife habitat. Programs like WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program), WRP (Wetlands Reserve Program) and GRP (Grasslands Reserve Program) provide vital assistance to landowners to protect and restore habitat for wildlife and other natural resources.

To begin addressing unmet demand from landowners and to keep existing conservation programs in operation, the Senate Agriculture Committee should show leadership by providing at least $5 billion in additional funding for conservation programs. Thank you."

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