Polls Show Demand for Revamped Farm Bill

U.S. Senators from outside the Farm Belt, beware: Polls in five states show citizens would think better of Congress if farm subsidies were cut in favor of funding for conservation, according to news from Environmental Defense.

The online polls, conducted for Environmental Defense by Zogby International, found more than three out of four (between 76 percent and 85 percent) respondents in Colorado, New York, Oregon, Virginia and Washington said their U.S. senators should shift more Farm Bill money from subsidies to conservation programs. More than six out of 10 (between 62 percent and 77 percent) added they would have a better opinion of federal lawmakers if such changes were approved.

The findings should provide elected officials with food for thought as they begin finalizing the 2007 Farm Bill, according to Environmental Defense. The legislation, which comes up for renewal every five years or so, determines federal agricultural, food and farm subsidy policies. The U.S. House has already voted on its version of the Farm Bill, and the Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to begin discussing a Senate version as soon as this week.

While the Senate committee is dominated by representatives from Farm Belt states, other senators should consider their constituents' interests before voting on a business-as-usual Farm Bill, according to Environmental Defense.

"These poll results suggest that senators outside the traditional Farm Belt will be taking a political risk if they support a status-quo Farm Bill," said Sara Hopper, an attorney for Environmental Defense. "As the polls show, senators can improve their standing with the public by supporting reductions in farm subsidies and increased funding (for) programs that reward farmers for helping the environment."

The 2002 Farm Bill carried a 10-year price-tag of about $190 billion, with about $4 billion a year for conservation programs and more than $8 billion a year going toward crop subsidies. According to Environmental Defense, the government turns down about two out of every three conservation funding requests by farmers because the budget isn't large enough to meet demand.

Environmental Defense, "New Polls in Five States Show Farm Subsidy Cuts and More Conservation Spending Would Improve Public's View of Congress." URL: (http://www.environmentaldefense.org/pressrelease.cfm?contentID=7135)