Gulf Restoration Network

Protect the Gulf from Agricultural Pollution: Urge Your Senators to Fix the Farm Bill

Ever year, 1.7 billion tons of soil erodes off agricultural fields nationwide, polluting America's waters and fisheries with sediment and millions of pounds of fertilizer and pesticides. Not only does this runoff pollute streams and lakes thoughout the nation, it eventually makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in algal blooms and the New Jersey-sized Dead Zone every year.

The $286 billion Farm Bill currently before Congress does not go far enough to ensure that money spent on agriculture doesn't harm the Gulf of Mexico and rivers throughout the country. Take action now by letting your Senators know that they must put more money toward farm conservation programs.

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November 21, 2009

Subject:

Dear Senator,

Ever year, 1.7 billion tons of topsoil erodes off agricultural fields nationwide, polluting America's waters and fisheries with sediment and millions of pounds of fertilizer and pesticides.  The 2007 Farm Bill must help our nation realize clean water by ensuring that more money is spent on conservation programs and that farmers who are receiving subsidies do their part to protect water.   I specifically request that the Farm Bill include:

1) Additional funding for conservation programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). These programs currently turn away thousands of farmers due to funding shortfalls.

2) Strengthening the conservation compliance provisions.  Specifically, conservation compliance should apply to all cropland receiving farm program benefits, not just highly erodible land.

3) Greater enforcement of conservation compliance.  Congress should mandate that at least 1% of all tracts be inspected in each state every year.

4)  Funding for the Discovery Watersheds Program in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, aimed at promoting cost-effective approaches to reducing nitrogen and phosphorus runoff that ultimately contributes to the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone.

Thank you for doing your part to make sure the Farm Bill protects our waters.

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