Rep. Schrier introduces bipartisan bill to support farmers who participate in conservation programs

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced bipartisan legislation (ENABLE Conservation Act of 2023 - Eliminating Needless Administrative Barriers Lessening Efficiency for Conservation Act) to support farmers who voluntarily participate in conservation programs on April 27. Of particular interest to Washington state is the Conservation Reserve Program’s (CRP) State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative.

“In Washington state, acres protected by the SAFE initiative are particularly critical for two native birds, the sage-grouse and sharp-tailed grouse,” said Rep. Schrier. “Both of these birds are state-listed as endangered, with fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining, respectively. Most of their remaining habitat is on private land, which is why it is important to incentivize farmers to conserve this land in its natural state. I’m glad to be working with Congressman Newhouse on this important legislation for our state.”

“The State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative’s Conservation Reserve Program is critical to farmers and landowners across Central Washington who create and restore wildlife habitat for vulnerable species. I am proud to introduce the ENABLE Conservation Act alongside Rep. Schrier to help Washington state farmers to conserve our natural land and preserve future generations of habitat,” said Rep. Newhouse.

The ENABLE Conservation Act of 2023 will permanently establish the SAFE initiative under the Conservation Reserve Program to ensure that farmers who would like to participate in this program are able to. Currently, there is a cap on how much land in Douglas County, and other counties like it across the country, can be included in the Conservation Reserve Program, making it difficult for all farmers who want to participate to be able to. This bill reverts to a previous policy enacted under the 2014 Farm Bill to allow for SAFE and other important conservation programs to be waived from the county cap if it meets USDA and the county’s shared goals.

“I support the Bill Eliminating Needless Administrative Barriers Lessening Efficiency for Conservation Act (ENABLE Conservation Act of 2023) because CRP is and has been an integral part of our farming operation providing risk management, knowing I have a certain income, regardless of drought or poor prices,” said Douglas County farmer Wade Troutman. “Because of the county cap limiting the acres that can be enrolled in SAFE and CRP our farm alone was forced to remove over 400 acres of great wildlife habitat and put it back into dryland wheat production to maintain income. I was very happy, knowing that I was benefiting livestock, limiting, erosion, and sequestering carbon, but I can’t do it for free. We need to remove the cap on acres in Douglas County.”

As the House Committee on Agriculture begins this year’s Farm Bill process, Reps. Schrier will be pushing to make sure this legislation is included.