Ann Veneman
Secretary of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, D.C. 20250

RE: Conservation Security Program

Dear Secretary Veneman,

I urge you to immediately issue a supplemental rule for the Conservation Security Program (CSP) that takes into account the uncapped funding levels recently approved by Congress. I also urge you to revise the proposed rule to fulfill the CSP's promise as a strong incentive program that fosters environmental stewardship on our nation's working farms and ranches.

Three aspects of the proposed rule urgently need major revision:

1. Remove the restriction on eligibility to only farmers and ranchers in a small number of watersheds engaging in certain types of production. Congress intended this program to reward agricultural conservation to all categories of producers nationwide.
2. Strike the restrictions in the proposed rule that limit enrollment to producers who have already incurred personal expense in order to address major conservation needs. This proposal denies CSP access to those producers who need a financial incentive to transition to sustainable agriculture.
3. Restore meaningful stewardship incentives for outstanding environmental effort and performance by enacting the payment structure envisioned by Congress. Cost-share rates for existing conservation practices should be set at the 75% maximum rate established in the CSP law. Base payments should be set at the rates established in the CSP law without the 90% reduction. Enhanced payments should reward the most environmentally beneficial systems and to the maximum extent possible pay for results. The payment structure needs to be radically revised or the program has no hope of succeeding.

America's farmers and ranchers deserve a program that offers real incentives to foster environmental stewardship and recognizes the hard work they do every day to produce the nation's food supply. I urge you to act immediately to issue a supplemental rule that takes the new CSP funding levels into account and to revise the proposed rule to reflect the intentions of Congress and the realities of farmers and ranchers who stand ready to put this conservation program into practice.

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