Monday, March 28, 2011

Forum to focus on agricultural conservation policies in wake of expected budget cuts

The National Agriculture Landscapes Forum, hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, American Farmland Trust and Farm Foundation, will be held in Washington April 7-8 at the Metro Center. It will bring together "Capitol Hill, state and federal agency staff, local government and tribal officials, agriculture and conservation organizations, farmers and ranchers, and others concerned about the future of the nation’s agricultural landscape," says a release from the trust. The event is free, but pre-registration is required by Thursday, March 31.

"The goal of the forum is to provide a venue for key stakeholders to engage in honest dialogue about priorities for USDA’s national conservation program and the future of the agricultural landscape given multiple, often competing, demands on our land and water resources to produce everything from food, shelter and domestic energy, to economic development and ecosystem services," said Julia Freedgood, managing director of farmland and community initiatives for American Farmland Trust. Sponsors of the forum include Altria Group, CropLife America, DuPont, the National Association of Conservation Districts and The Nature Conservancy. (Read more)

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