Traction for Green Provisions

The “green” provisions outlined in the 2002 Farm Bill finally have gotten some traction. USDA has announced the release of its proposed rule for implementing these provisions, long advocated by many policymakers as a sort of counterweight to conventional subsidies. The provisions have long been a pet project of Senator Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat, who believed earlier bills placed too much emphasis on subsidies and not on conservation.

“The Conservation Security Program will reward the best and motivate the rest by identifying those agricultural producers who historically have been the best stewards of their land,” said Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, announcing the proposed rule. “It will also provide incentives for those who want to increase conservation practices.”