Because farmers, ranchers and private forest landowners control over half the U.S. landscape, they have a significant impact on our air and water quality and wildlife habitat. Unfortunately, traditional farm subsidies, which soak up over half of all farm spending, encourage overproduction on environmentally sensitive lands. And roughly two out of three landowners who want to enlist in voluntary conservation programs are turned away because of insufficient program funds.

The farm bill is the largest source of conservation funding in America, and its re-authorization every five years gives Congress a chance to reform U.S. farm policy in ways that enhance our environment. During consideration of the 2007 farm bill, Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) offered an amendment to make the farm subsidy system more equitable and to boost conservation funding by nearly $3 billion. On July 26, 2007, the amendment failed by a 309-117 vote (House roll call vote 747). YES is the pro-environment vote.