USDA Releases 2018 Farm Bill and Legislative Principles

On January 24th, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a new 2018 Farm Bill and Legislative Principles document. The principles in the document are categorized into a variety of topics to serve as a roadmap for Congress to understand and address the needs of agricultural and forest landowners in the next Farm Bill. Some of the principles in the document that can support drinking water protection include:

• Ensure that voluntary conservation programs balance farm productivity with conservation benefits…
• Support conservation programs that ensure cost-effective financial assistance for improved soil health, water and air quality and other natural resource benefits.
• Expand Good Neighbor Authority and increase coordination with states to promote job creation and improve forest health through shared stewardship and stakeholder input.
• Offer the tools and resources that incentivize private stewardship and retention of forest land.

For more information, visit USDA’s website to read the press release and view the principles document.