Comment on conservation through letter HARRISBURG Should agricultural producers be required to apply soil and water conservation measures on privately owned land to benefit the national objectives 7 Or should the use of conservation measures continue to be voluntary 7 Who should pay for expensive conservation measures that provide some immediate benefits to the producer but have great benefits to the public such as improved water quality, cleaner air, or reduced sedimentation to streams and reservoirs 7 These are some issues that will be discussed during a series of public meetings called by the US Department of Agriculture to give the public a chance to help shape the future of USDA conservation programs Remaining Area meetings are scheduled as follows Berks County Wednesday March 19, 730 p m , Agricultural Center Dauphin County Tuesday, March 18, 730 pm, Lower Paxton Municipal Building York County Tuesday, March 18, 7 p m , Pleasant Acres Montgomery County Thursday March 20, 730 pm, Keystone Grange & Trap If you missed the meeting in your area, you can complete the following questionnaire, developed by the Dauphin County Conservation District, and send it to RCA Response Analysis Center. Box 888, Athens GA 30603 USDA has identified seven separate problem areas (listed below) Please indicate which areas should be given which priority Put a 1” by the one that you feel is the most im portant, a ' 2" by the second most important and so forth with a ‘7” by the one that you feel is the least important Soil Resources .Water Quality .Water Supply & Conservation Fish & Wildlife Habitat Upstream Flood Damages .Energy Conservation Related Resources Considering the seven problems areas,list some specific areas you feel should receive special emphasis See A Miniature Working Model Of The S Field Demonstration (Weather Permitting) LONG MANURE NU . WAY SLURRIGATOR & Monday March 17 ~3OA/V, to 3PM J* „„ At j he x Wednesday. March 19 9 AM to 4 PM Da*ry l TCD em * n<,r I MATT YOUNG S RED KNOB FARM 1383 ArrTdS Road Lancaster Pa g Off Rt. 272,2 Miles South Of Wakefield, Pa., 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, Pa. K Rjght Hand sjde Near Grange Ha(| Watch For Signs LONG) STORLIX —System _ LONG MFG. N.C. INC. Branch At PO Box 259, Mechanicsburg, Pa. Ph. 717-697-8277 Regulatory Emphasis Conservation measures would be required An increasing amount of conservation assistance & cost sharing would be provided The program of regulation would be gradually introduced over a period of 20 years I believe that such a program (check one) is necessary to solve the problems .will help to solve the problems .will do very little to help solve the problems .will be more harmful in the long run Conservation Performance Bonus Conservation measures would be voluntary incentives for conservation would be in the form of cost sharing, more favorable loan rates, or commodity price supports The amount of the bonus will be affected by the cost of the conservation practice I believe that such a program (check one) is necessary to solve the problems will help to solve the problems will do very little to help solve the problems .will be more harmful in the long run Cross Compliance Conservation measures would be voluntary Only those farmers who apply conservation measures will qualify for certain benefits such as low interest loans, cost-sharing, crop insurance and commodity price supports I believe that such a program (checkone) is necessary to solve the problems SPECIAL WORKING MODEL DISPLAY AND FIELD DEMONSTRATION DURING DAIRY MANURE MANAGEMENT SEMINAR - MARCH 17th Sponsored 8y... Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 15,1980—C1S .will help to solve the problems .will do very little to help solve the problems .will be more harmful in the long run Natural Resource Contracts Conservation measures would be voluntary A farmers who reduces soil erosion would be paid a flat price per ton of soil saved per year I believe that such a program (check one) is necessary to solve the problems .will help to solve the problems .will do very little to help solve the problems .will be more harmful in the long run Redirect Existing Programs - Conservation would continue to be mainly voluntary with technical assistance and cost sharing available - Emphasis would be on the coordination of program planning and evaluation - The farmer would continue to make decisions on specific practices that will go on the land I believe that such a program (check one) is necessary to solve the problems .will help to solve the problems .will do very little to help solve the problems .will be more harmful in the long run State Leadership - Soil & water conservation programs would be developed by the state governments - State governments would also provide technical assistance and funding for local and statewide concerns - The Federal government would identify national priorities regarding soil and water conservation - The Federal government would also provide grants to states for activities that further national goals I believe that such a program (check one) FIELD DEMONSTRATION - MARCH 19 -(Turn to Page Cl 7)