Wenatchee Times

WASHINGTON, DC – Recently, U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced bipartisan legislation (ENABLE Conservation Act of 2023 - Eliminating Needless Administrative Barriers Lessening Efficiency for Conservation Act) to support farmers who voluntarily participate in conservation programs. Of particular interest to Washington state is the Conservation Reserve Program’s (CRP) State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative.

“In Washington state, acres protected by the SAFE initiative are particularly critical for two native birds, the sage-grouse and sharp-tailed grouse,” said Rep. Schrier. “Both of these birds are state-listed as endangered, with fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining, respectively. Most of their remaining habitat is on private land, which is why it is important to incentivize farmers to conserve this land in its natural state. I’m glad to be working with Congressman Newhouse on this important legislation for our state.”

“The State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative’s Conservation Reserve Program is critical to farmers and landowners across Central Washington who create and restore wildlife habitat for vulnerable species. I am proud to introduce the ENABLE Conservation Act alongside Rep. Schrier to help Washington state farmers to conserve our natural land and preserve future generations of habitat,” said Rep. Newhouse.

The ENABLE Conservation Act of 2023 will permanently establish the SAFE initiative under the Conservation Reserve Program to ensure that farmers who would like to participate in this program are able to. Currently, there is a cap on how much land in Douglas County, and other counties like it across the country, can be included in the Conservation Reserve Program, making it difficult for all farmers who want to participate to be able to. This bill reverts to a previous policy enacted under the 2014 Farm Bill to allow for SAFE and other important conservation programs to be waived from the county cap if it meets USDA and the county’s shared goals.

“I support the Bill Eliminating Needless Administrative Barriers Lessening Efficiency for Conservation Act (ENABLE Conservation Act of 2023) because CRP is and has been an integral part of our farming operation providing risk management, knowing I have a certain income, regardless of drought or poor prices,” said Douglas County farmer Wade Troutman. “Because of the county cap limiting the acres that can be enrolled in SAFE and CRP our farm alone was forced to remove over 400 acres of great wildlife habitat and put it back into dryland wheat production to maintain income. I was very happy, knowing that I was benefiting livestock, limiting, erosion, and sequestering carbon, but I can’t do it for free. We need to remove the cap on acres in Douglas County.”

“We support Congresswoman Schrier, and the Eliminating Needless Administrative Barriers Lessening Efficiency for Conservation Act (ENABLE Conservation Act of 2023). Douglas County values voluntary conservation and successfully showcases the producer’s drive to maintain prime wildlife habitat and implement practices to enhance resource value and functionality. Programs like CRP and SAFE help to ensure acres stay in valuable habitat while also maintaining the producer's ability to meet bottom lines,” said the Foster Creek Conservation District. “The last iteration of the Farm Bill caused needless acres to roll out of prime habitat for threatened and endangered species like the Sage Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse and Pygmy Rabbit, negatively impacting successful programs like our Voluntary Stewardship Program and the Douglas County Multiple Species General Conservation Plan, both of which reserve benchmark goals to maintain for habitat acres. This bill will help us maintain our current program goals and continue to help incentivize and encourage our producers to implement conservation voluntarily and meet the needs for both the producer and our county's critical habitat.”

“This bill is a win for agricultural producers and a win for wildlife,” said Kelly Susewind,  Director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. “By moving this legislation forward, Congress can help us preserve habitat for vulnerable species for generations to come.“

"By reverting back to the 2014 Farm Bill, permanently establishing SAFE under CRP, and waiving these acres from the county cap, this bill could very well result in the survival of sage and sharp-tailed grouse in Douglas County,” said Jay Kehne, Associate Director Sagelands Heritage at Conservation Northwest.  “All of the farmers we work with in this county are very supportive of saving these iconic endangered species and would no doubt support this legislation.  State, federal and private partners involved with multiple species of wildlife that benefit from SAFE and CRP acres will all be ecstatic if this bill is enacted."

“The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a critical private lands conservation tool that enables producers to create and restore wildlife habitat, improve soil health, and sequester carbon.” said Aviva Glaser, senior director of agriculture policy at the National Wildlife Federation. “This legislation will make commonsense improvements to CRP to make the program easier to access for farmers and landowners while improving the benefits for wildlife like the sage grouse and sharp tailed grouse. We look forward to working with Representatives Schrier and Newhouse and the House Agriculture Committee to ensure that these changes are included in the 2023 Farm Bill.”

“Providing landowners with the tools and incentives to protect sensitive species and essential habitat is crucial, especially in states where conservation on private lands is critical in supporting state and nationwide conservation efforts,” saidCurt Melcher, Director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and President of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. “Including the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program under the waiver allows counties with these at-risk populations to use voluntary and incentive-based means of protecting our natural resources, fish and wildlife in need of conservation.”  

As the House Committee on Agriculture begins this year’s Farm Bill process, Reps. Schrier will be pushing to make sure this legislation is included.

Original source can be found here.