AIA-Laacarter Fanetag, Saturday,Ttbraary 27,1982 SCSA calls for nat’l commitment to soil and water conservation ANKENY, 10. - A renewed, national commitment to soil and water conservation programs is a must, according to Robert C. Baum, president of the Soil Con servation Society of America. Baum made the declaration in a formal response-to the revised draft of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 1961 RCA Program Report and environmental Impace Statement. That report, released by Secretary of Agriculture John Block on Oct. 28, 1961, lays out USDA’s preferred program for soil and water conservation as required by the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977. In his statement to Block on behalf of the Society, Baum pointed out that the RCA process at the state and local levels provided a timely challenge and a limited but valuable financial incentive for the nation’s conservative districts and state conservation agencies to review the status of soil and water resources. “The conservation district and state summaries (in the RCA process) indicate that a new vironmental commitment is necessary nationally, “Baum said. “This commitment requires continuing leadership on the part of USDA in soil and water con servation, with increased funding to help maintain and where necessary restore the productive capacity of our soil and water resources.” “While it appears that with continued encouragement there will be increased funding from the state and local levels for con servation programs,“Baum said, “we stress that this support should be offered at the state and local levels with the intention that it supplement USDA’s leadership and contributions. In no way should it serve as a subsitute for a reduced federal effort. “We believe that it is imperative that USDA continue to offer an adequate base level of national leadership in soil and water con servation,“Baum said. “We are concerned that the preferred "T" LOOP STALLS With EASY IP TRAIWNB BAR Whid Also Available With Heavy Duty Cross Over Clamp Stall tubing 2-3/8 inches outside diameter, 12 ga. (.102) wall thickness, high yield steel, 75,000 p.s.i. tensile strength. ALSO AVAILABLE • Standard Free Stalls • Fencing • Gates (38" * 48" - 54" • Automatic Head Gates high) m Aromatic Gate Latches PAUL B. ZIMMERMAN, INC. Hardware • Farm Supplies Custom Manufacturing Crane Service program, with reductions in the base toward targeting, block grants, and other areas, would result in inadequate technical and financial assistance in areas outside of targeted areas and in states where the block grant matching funds were not available, for whatever reasons.” Other points in Baum’s statement include: —Opposition to the proposal for new local and state conservation coordinating boards. “New boards are not needed. There presently exists a local ad ministrative system that has pro ven successful for many years,” Baum emphasized. —Opposition to the proposed block grants to states if the funding for those grants is to be taken from existing programs. “We emphasize that exciting programs are not now adequately supported. New funding must be made available if this effort (block grants) is to be successful. Ad ditional reductions will severiy limit the present, valuable national soil and water conservation ef fort,“Baum commented. —Targeting of conservation programs to areas of critical concern is supported only if new funding is available. “National targeting should not be limited to the few preferred program objectives. State priorities should also be con sidered in some instances,“Baum stressed. —Funding for conservation programs needs to be increased. “We again reiterate that we must have a greater federal commitment for the conservation of our basic natural resources. The current federal expenditure of less than |5 par American per year on USDA’s soil and water con servation programs is inadequate. The expenditure of $l. for con servation programs out of each $7OO expended by the federal government is shortsighted and will result in increased food costs in the future,’ ‘Baum said. In his statement, Baum also called for greater coordination 'revents Trapped Cow Problem: Box 128 R.D. #4, Lititz, PA 17543 Wood Corner Rd. 1 Mile West of Ephrata Phone:7l7-738-1121 among USDA agencies, the use of tax incentives as a means of en couraging conservation fanning, and expanded research and educational programs. Baum suggested to Secretary Block that USDA’s credibility was on the line in the RCA process. “The priority objectives set forth in the preferred program do not fairly represent the objectives identified by the public in its earlier review of RCA documents. If the program submitted to Congress following this review does not more adequately reflect the public feedback, then USDA’s responsiveness to public concerns will be seriously questioned, “Baum said. Baum concluded his statement by saying that the RCA process has great possibilities if major changes are made in the preferred program by USDA before it is submitted to Congress or, if not, by Congress itself. 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This was the purpose, of the “It is unfortunate,” he said,, resource studies and the state and “that the political process has local priorities prepared under the resulted in the preparation of a - RCA process. Congress could then program that is limited to a determine the - level of national predetermined budget level. effort that would be supported by USDA should have presented the their constituents and that is status of our nation’s soil and - necessary to protect the produc jwater resources, recom- tivity of our soil and water mendations on how to solve these resources." Over 20 Years f ROPE IN SOME EXTRA Jr* M CASH! / WoA Advertise With A M i Lancaster Farming •CmI 1 CLASSIFIED AD... 'JM Phone: 717-394-3047 M 1 or 717-626-1164 \ 4" x 11' w/Spout 4” x 16’ w/Spout 6” xll’w/Spout 6” x 16’w/Spout 8” xll’ w/Spout 8" x 16’ w/Spout 16’,Junior Alum Elevator
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