Funding for Agricultural Conservation Programs Essential to Moving Country to Net-Zero Emissions Share Donate
Funding for Agricultural Conservation Programs Essential to Moving Country to Net-Zero Emissions
Mike Saccone
Apr 28, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. A broad coalition of 133 conservation, farmer and rancher, sportsmen, and wildlife groups urged the leadership of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate agriculture committees in a letter to ensure the forthcoming infrastructure package includes robust funding for Farm Bill conservation programs and farmer assistance. They specifically urged Congress to double the investment in Farm Bill conservation programs and to ramp up conservation technical assistance funding.
“Increasing baseline funding for the Farm Bill conservation programs and ramping up conservation technical assistance on the ground will enable landowners to mitigate the impacts of drought and flood, improve habitat, improve soil health and long-term food secur
Candace Krebs
Special to Ag Journal
Decades of research shows that biodiversity is essential for the health of the land, livestock and even humans, a pioneering range management specialist says.
Ecologists have been talking about the value of biodiversity for years, but a “blend of old ideas with emerging things starting to come about in the scientific literature today” demonstrates “the wisdom of the body” is something that can be studied, honored and strengthened, according to Fred Provenza.
Provenza talked at length about the topic during an online appearance at the winter conference of the Montana Organic Association.
Provenza began his studies in Colorado, where he worked on a ranch near Salida and studied wildlife biology at Colorado State University. He is now retired after 30 years at Utah State University and lives with his wife on a small acreage near Ennis, Montana.
Candace Krebs
Special to Ag Journal
Rural communities could be more self-sufficient at producing their own food, even where the growing season is short, and one Northern Montana grain farmer is out to prove it.
Bob Quinn is best known for commercializing Kamut, an ancient grain that goes by the common name khorasan. It is believed to have originated in Egypt. He was introduced to it by an old-timer at a county fair and grew it into a trademarked product now produced by dozens of farmers and sold around the world.
He tells that story in Grain by Grain: A Quest to Revive Ancient Wheat, Rural Jobs and Healthy Food, published in 2019 by Island Press.
LAC hears presentation on CONNECT Referral System
A local council is looking at a web-based system to improve connecting people with health services. Hill County Behavioral Health Local Advisory Council listened to a presentation Monday about the CONNECT Referral System, which is being set up throughout Montana, and what it can offer organizations like theirs. Coordinator for the Hill County Youth Reporting Center Matt Erdel gave the presentation and said he wanted to talk about system and its benefits. Erdel said CONNECT is a web-based system designed to facilitate the coordination of care between organizations medical and otherwise to. For access to this article please