Durbin: Budget Threatens to Hurt Illinois Farmers

DURBIN: BUDGET THREATENS TO HURT ILLIONIS FARMERS

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today warned that the Senate-approved budget reconciliation bill threatens critical conservation programs in Illinois. Durbin said the proposal to cut funding for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Conservation Security Program (CSP) could potentially impact Illinois farmers. Durbin voted against the legislation.

"I am sorry to say, this budget has the wrong priorities. It increases the burdens on seniors and farmers; cuts health care spending; reduces the availability of affordable housing; and cuts environmental protections. It rewards the special interests instead of standing up for American families" said Durbin.

Durbin noted that in Illinois and the nation, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is the single largest environmental restoration program, with contracts on 41,000 Illinois farms, setting aside fragile land to avoid erosion and chemical contamination of our water sources. The program adds $106 million annually to the Illinois farm economy through direct payments to producers. CRP also helps reduce farm commodity payments by taking marginal land out of production.

The Conservation Security Program (CSP) provides financial and technical assistance to promote the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life. In this year's budget proposal, the program faces a 30 percent reduction in funds over the next five years, totaling $822 million.

This comes on the heels of over $3 billion in cuts made to the CSP over the last two years in other spending legislation. These cuts threaten to substantially scale back CSP's expansion and prevent thousands of Illinois farmers from enrolling in the program.

"These conservation programs not only preserve state wildlife habitats, they bolster Illinois' farm economy, keep our drinking water clean and attract tourism," noted Durbin. "Currently only 19% of Illinois' most environmentally significant cropland is enrolled in CRP, with a long waiting list of farmers hoping to take part. These cuts would make it impossible for new applicants to participate."

Durbin has pledged to work with farm groups, policymakers and the Bush Administration to ensure that farmers and those who depend on the agricultural economy are not adversely affected by these budget cuts.

http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=248337&&