You can take action on this alert by reading the information below and following the directions at the bottom.

Investments in Conservation and Reform to Wasteful and Detrimental Crop Subsidies Needed

Agriculture is the single largest use of land in Minnesota, controlling more than half of all the land in our state. The federal Farm Bill has a profound impact on how agriculture is managed. The U.S. Senate is determining the Farm Bill’s land management policies and funding priorities right now. Hearings are also scheduled in the U.S. House over the next month.

Act now to tell your two U.S. Senators and U.S. House of Representative member that the Farm Bill must provide for responsible management of the majority of Minnesota’s land as well as our tax dollars.

Deficit-driven cuts to the federal budget threaten sound and successful investment in soil, water, and wildlife habitat conservation in Minnesota. At the same time, public subsidies that purchase farmers’ crop insurance that have virtually no limits are creating an unintended incentive for some farmers to take risks with production on sensitive soils and wetlands. See the Minnesota Environmental Partnership sign-on letter here.

Minnesota’s Congressional Delegation must:

• Prioritize the protection of our state’s natural resources through strong investment in Farm Bill conservation programs and combat the perverse incentives offered through unlimited subsidized crop insurance that have no requirements or expectations that producers meet basic thresholds of care for soil and water.

Contact your two Senators and U.S. House of Representative member today, see numbers and basic message below.


Dear Sen. or Rep. ____________, as you act to authorize the 2012 Farm Bill, ensure that our state’s natural resources and taxpayers are protected by:

• Providing sound and robust funding for voluntary conservation programs. An investment in Farm Bill conservation delivers positive outcomes that benefit everyone. Protecting soil and enhancing water quality are long-term investments in food security and in health that ultimately act as cost saving measures as well as an economic stimulus. Prioritize the Conservation Title by funding it at the current baseline average of $6 billion a year.

• Re-establishing the stewardship compact that ensures basic soil and water conservation on American farmland receiving Farm Bill subsidies. The federal crop insurance program has evolved to become the largest Farm Bill subsidy provided to agricultural producers. Subsidizing risk can create an incentive for taking serious risks with our natural resources. Re-attach the same basic stewardship obligations that apply to other Farm Bill subsidies (provisions known as “Conservation Compliance”) to combat unintended destructive consequences of taxpayer-subsidized crop insurance.


Senator Amy Klobuchar: (202) 224-3244 or email senator.klobuchar@senate.gov

Senator Al Franken: (202) 224-5641 or email senator.franken@senate.gov


Representative Tim Walz (MN Congressional District 1): (202) 225-2472

Representative John Kline (MN District 2): (202) 225-2271

Representative Erik Paulsen (MN District 3): (202) 225-2871

Representative Betty McCollum (MN District 4): (202) 225-6631

Representative Keith Ellison (MN District 5): (202) 225-4755

Representative Michele Bachman (MN District 6): (202) 225-2331

Representative Colin Peterson (MN District 7): (202) 225-2165

Representative Chip Cravaack (MN District 8): (202) 225-6211

If you have questions please feel to contact: Adam Warthesen with the Land Stewardship Project at (612) 722-6377, Brad Redlin with the Izaak Walton League of America at (651) 649-1446, or Trevor Russell with Friend of the Mississippi River at (651) 222-2193.

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Your U.S. Representative
Your U.S. Senator

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