Land Trust Alliance joins 500+ organizations and companies calling on Congress to pass a new Farm Bill in 2024
Washington — The Land Trust Alliance has joined more than 500 organizations and companies representing a diverse array of Farm Bill stakeholders including agriculture, nutrition, conservation, environmental, rural development and many other sectors in submitting a letter calling on Congress to pass a 2024 Farm Bill before the end of the year.
“Every hour, we lose approximately 150 acres of natural land and 85 acres of farmland and ranchland to development,” said Lori Faeth, senior director of government relations for the Land Trust Alliance. “Farm Bill conservation programs are the largest single federal funding source for private land conservation, and the Land Trust Alliance and its nearly 1,000 member land trusts recognize the importance of these programs in helping farmers, ranchers and foresters conserve and enhance their working lands. We hope to continue to work with both the House and Senate to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill this year for the benefit of all Americans.”
A letter was sent this week to House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Agriculture Chair Thompson, House Agriculture Ranking Member David Scott, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Agriculture Chair Debbie Stabenow and Senate Agriculture Ranking Member John Boozman and lays out the reality of what failure to pass a Farm Bill this year would mean:
Millions of Americans rely daily on the provisions of the farm bill to produce food, fiber and fuel; to feed their families and others around the world; to voluntarily conserve fish and wildlife and their habitat; to provide sustainable solutions for clean air and water; to provide a producer safety net; to facilitate international trade; to create local jobs and robust economies; and to support rural development nationwide.
If Congress does not come together this year to enact a bipartisan farm bill, the legislative process will begin anew in the 119th Congress. Given the significant legislative, and possibly administrative, duties of a new Congress including the seating of new leadership and committees, Senate nominations, and other essential actions during the first months of the 119th Congress, we have concerns that it may not be logistically or politically feasible to advance a new farm bill early in the next Congress. As committed stakeholders and beneficiaries of the farm bill, we cannot continue to wait for updated policies, provisions, initiatives and critical funding that support our collective interests.
About the Land Trust Alliance
Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization working to save the places people need and love by empowering and mobilizing land trusts in communities across America to conserve land for the benefit of all. The Alliance represents approximately 1,000 member land trusts and affiliates supported by more than 250,000 volunteers and 6.3 million members nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C., with staff working in communities across the U.S.