November 19, 2024
Washington, D.C. – The clock is ticking for Congress to pass the overdue Farm Bill, which expired last year and was extended only through September 2024. With the release of the full text of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024 by U.S. Senate Agricultural Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, lawmakers now have a clear path to deliver the long-term stability and predictability that farmers, ranchers, and nutrition communities deserve.
The detailed bill text outlines targeted investments in climate-smart agriculture, the protection of IRA-funded Conservation Title programs, and greenhouse gas reductions. ELPC has worked to advance three major priorities in the bill: (1) Improvements to the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP); (2) A provision for the Driftless Area Land Conservation Initiative (DALCI); and (3) Designation of 100,000 acres of new wilderness including in the Shawnee National Forest and Hoosier National Forest.
The Farm Bill’s investments in clean energy, conservation, and land protection will strengthen rural economies, improve climate resilience, and safeguard our natural resources.
“The Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act is critical for advancing economic and climate security in rural America. Updates to the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) will expand its reach, benefiting rural communities and small businesses alike by cutting input costs, boosting profits, and expanding access to clean energy solutions that strengthen local economies. REAP’s impact spans great geographic diversity – from Arkansas to Minnesota, California to Maine. This program is a win for all of rural America, across crops, industries, and regions.”
“The Driftless Area is a biodiversity treasure in the heart of the Midwest, home to the largest contiguous fish and wildlife habitat in the Central United States. DALCI will provide a wide range of benefits to this vital region, including improved soil health and water quality, restored prairies and cold-water streams, healthier oak savannas and barrens, enhanced trout habitat, and reduced flooding. Protecting this region is a bipartisan issue, and we thank Senator Durbin for his leadership in the Senate, and Rep. Hinson and Rep. Sorensen for their leadership in the House with H.R. 4248.”
“From the Garden of the Gods and Inspiration Point in the Shawnee National Forest to the rolling hills and hardwood forests of the Hoosier National Forest, these public lands showcase some of the Midwest’s most spectacular and unique landscapes. Provisions for new wilderness designations or similar protected status in this legislation cover more than 100,000 acres, the largest acreage ever protected in a Farm Bill. We appreciate Senator Stabenow’s leadership and would welcome the opportunity for additional valuable Wilderness areas in the Midwest.”