Farm Bill is Essential Tool for Wildlife to Thrive on Private Lands

As one of our nation’s leading wildlife conservation organizations, Defenders of Wildlife recognizes that conserving the biodiversity of plants and animals will require the enthusiastic cooperation of private landowners across the country. This is because over 40% of listed plant and animal species are found only on private lands and 70% of US land is in private ownership for ranching, forestry, or agriculture.

The farm bill has an enormous impact on private lands conservation and is up for reauthorization in 2007. This multi-year “omnibus” bill is passed approximately every 5 years and impacts a wide variety of areas – from food stamps to commodity prices.

The farm bill is a critical resource providing farmers, ranchers, and forest owners the tools and assistance they need to be good stewards of their land. However, due to insufficient funding thousands of landowners are turned away from these programs each year.

Defenders is working hard to ensure that the conservation programs funded through the farm bill – programs that provide $4 billion per year to restore wetlands, protect habitat, conserve natural resources, and reduce agricultural runoff – are reauthorized, expanded, and strengthened to provide greater benefits to wildlife.

Congressional Action

Defenders strongly supports the EAT Healthy America Act (HR 1600), which has been introduced by Representative Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee. This bill expands and strengthens many of these critical conservation programs making it possible for landowners to improve habitat for wildlife and address environmental challenges on their land.

Learn more about the EAT Healthy America Act

Learn More about Agricultural Stewardship

Fact Sheet: How We Can Help Wildlife Through the 2007 Farm Bill

Learn more about Defenders’ work on the 2007 Farm Bill.