PFI Supports Policy Involvement

DC 07

PFI members Frances Zacharakis-Jutz, Susan Jutz and Daniel Rosmann Visited Washington to inform elected officials about sustainable agriculture. For Daniel's views on beginning farmer programs, click here.

At the request of several PFI members, the PFI Board of Directors has approved the scope and structure of a Policy Committee. This new Committee is made up of Eric Franzenburg, Laura Krouse, Ron Dunphy, Jeff Klinge, Jerry Peckumn and Sarah Carlson. The Policy Committee will review and make recommendations to the Board of Directors on policy positions concerning three farm bill programs: Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) , and Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program (BFR).

PFI's Policy Program will:

Attend State Technical Advisory Committee meetings with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Provide farmers with the latest information about the Farm Bill and working lands programs

Encourage farmers to make comments to USDA to improve the Farm Bill programming delivery system

Serve as a hotline to improve farmers' knowledge of opportunities that exist in the Farm Bill

Share stories of farmers' successful use of CSP, EQIP and BFR to improve their economic viability and environmental stewardship

Offer forums for discussion of policy issues through the listserv, newsletter, and workshops

Support farmers individual participation in policy discussions and advocacy

 

PFI supports a fully funded Conservation Security Program that is available to farmers nationwide. For PFI farmers’ opinions on this landmark program, read The Conservation Security Program: An Assessment of Farmers’ Experience with Program Implementation. Also see Conservation Security Program drives resource management, and CSP: The best of times, the worst of times: Two PFI farmers’ experience.

 

Policy Resources:

  • Center for Rural Affairs
  • The Minnesota Project
  • National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
  • Land Stewardship Project
  • Organic Farming Research Foundation

    • PFI's policy work has been supported by

    Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

    McKnight Foundation,

    National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.


     

    Sarah Carlson
    Program Specialist
    Cover Crops, Open-pollinated Corn, Water Monitoring
    515-232-5661 ext. 305
    sarah@practicalfarmers.org