Resolution: Reauthorization of the Federal Agriculture Improvement Act (Farm Bill) of 1996 and Authorization of the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control
Adopted on May 16, 2001

Whereas, the Farm Bill, first passed in 1985, has been responsible for substantial progress in stemming soil erosion, improving water and air quality and restoring and protecting valuable wetlands and wildlife habitat in the Great Lakes basin and nationally; and

Whereas, the Farm Bill has become a critical federal vehicle in providing landowners and resource managers with guidance and assistance in protecting and enhancing the nation's natural resources; and

Whereas, the next Farm Bill is expected to include additional programs and incentives to achieve environmental protection goals and build upon progress made over the past 16 years; and

Whereas, the Great Lakes basin still suffers from excessive amounts of sediment and nutrient loadings, resulting in impairment of recreational water quality, loss of fish and wildlife habitat, the need for increased treatment of threats to domestic water supplies, and continuing high costs of stream channel maintenance; and

Whereas, habitat protection and restoration is one of the most pressing natural resource priorities in the basin; and

Whereas, specific USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs, such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), the Forestry Incentives Program (FIP), the Farmland Protection Program and the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control, have been effective tools for improving habitat, managing sediment and advancing soil and water conservation efforts in the basin; and

Whereas, these important programs either require reauthorization or need authorization in the next Farm Bill; and

Whereas, preliminary results from a recent National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)-Great Lakes Committee survey of the 210 soil and water conservation districts in the Great Lakes basin suggest that annual unmet needs for local soil and water conservation district activities may approach $70 million.

Therefore, Be it Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission applauds the progress that has been made to conserve and protect the soil, water, air, plant and animal resources of the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence region through the current and past Farm Bills; and

Be it Further Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission supports the need for a stronger federal commitment to programs which further the goals of restoration and protection of the Great Lakes and rewards existing stewardship practices through voluntary, incentive-based approaches on privately owned lands; and

Be it Further Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission supports conservation provisions in the 2002 Farm Bill that emphasize Great Lakes basin ecosystem health, enhance the quality of life in the Great Lakes basin, maintain or restore air, soil and water quality in local watersheds and contribute to the production of safe and affordable food and fiber products; and

Be it Further Resolved, that USDA-NRCS, Cooperative Extension Service and other agencies such as Sea Grant coordinate their efforts on a watershed basis.

Be it Further Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission advocates the reauthorization of WRP, CRP, EQIP, WHIP, FIP, Farmland Protection Program and also urges the U.S. Congress to authorize the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control in the next Farm Bill at an annual appropriation of $15 million in new funds; and

Be it Finally Resolved, that the next Farm Bill ensure that the technical and financial assistance capabilities of USDA-NRCS are restored and maintained at levels equivalent to 1985 in order to effectively carry out USDA's environmental and natural resource programs.

Unanimously adopted by the eight member states of the Great Lakes Commission at the 2001 Semiannual Meeting in Ann Arbor, Mich., May 16, 2001.