Legislation recently introduced in the Senate would bring much-needed reform to the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Conservation Compliance Program. The NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act was introduced by South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds. It would require the NRCS to provide more evidence in determining wetlands and give farmers more rights in the appeals process. The American Farm Bureau has documented situations in which farmers have been hurt by repeated, unjustified, and costly decisions by the NRCS. These issues must be addressed. The Farm Bureau has advocated for clear rules and safeguards to ensure the fair treatment of farmers in conservation compliance. When USDA released the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation Final Rule, it was clear the issues haven’t been remedied. “The plain truth is that farmers have been unfairly treated by NRCS when they’re trying to be good stewards of the land,” says AFB President Zippy Duvall. “AFBF stood up for them by pressing for changes to conservation compliance programs, and we applaud Senator Rounds for introducing the Act. It would institute needed reforms, and although it’s sweeping in nature in its current form, it takes important steps toward creating a fair and understandable process for American Farmers.”
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