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Since 1996, every Farm Bill has recognized the need for a collaborative approach to voluntary conservation practices to help in meeting the high demand of producers seeking technical
assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Funding for Conservation of Private Grazing Lands (1996 Farm Bill, Title III. Subtitle H. Sec. 386) authorizes $60M per year for voluntary
conservation funding passed through recognized partner organizations, like NatGLC. However, despite the authorization never having been removed, funding has never been appropriated.
Below is a letter of support drafted by a coalition of grazing lands supporters requesting Congress appropriate $50 million dollars toward the
Conservation of Private Grazing Lands funding. Demonstrating individual landowner and organizational support for these funds is essential in securing funding. Please consider signing on in support
of this letter.
Please use this link to a Google Form to sign in support of this effort by Friday evening
APRIL 9th.
SIGN
IN SUPPORT
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"Dear Member, Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee:
We are writing in support of $50 million in funding in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 agricultural appropriations bill for the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI), within the Conservation Technical Assistance
line of the Natural Resources Conservation Service appropriation.
Well-managed grazing lands are profitable.
Grazing-based operations reduce feed, machinery, and veterinary costs while providing for people and caring for the land.
Managed grazing of grasslands is working profitably for many producers across the nation; indeed, grass-based farms and ranches are an important strategy for introducing new farmers into livestock management because they can be low-capital operations
that generate sufficient income for start-up farmers and ranchers.
Grazing livestock thus offers a relatively low-cost opportunity for new farmers to stay or join rural communities, improving agriculture by diversifying the landscape, revitalizing rural communities, and connecting them to eaters from cities and suburbs.
Moreover, the profitability of these systems is more stable and resilient to price and weather shocks, making them an attractive, less risky farming option.
Well-managed grazing lands can save taxpayers money and protect natural resources.
Grasslands can protect water quality, improve soil health, help stabilize the climate, and provide high quality habitat for pollinators and wildlife.
Operations that keep cover on the ground year-round increase water infiltration and reduce the impacts of flooding, helping avoid expensive damage to roads, bridges, culverts and other tax-funded infrastructure.
Grazing technical assistance matters.
Maximizing the benefits of well-managed grazing lands takes knowledge and skill. Grazing planning, technical assistance and peer-to-peer education are key. Counties with dedicated grazing staff show marked increases in the use of practices such as rotational
and prescribed grazing compared to nearby counties with no dedicated staff. $50 million for GLCI would help to ensure that farmers and ranchers interested in grazing get the quality and quantity of technical help they need to succeed. It would also support
grazing networks of farmers and grazing educational events, such as grazing conferences, special workshops, webinars, and other outreach.
We request that you support $50 million in funding for the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative for FY 2022.”
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Sincerely,
Monti Golla
NatGLC Executive Director
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