In the 1930s in Nebraska, after an extended drought, great clouds of dust picked up and blew away the very topsoil that this state – and the entire Midwest – depends on to support farms, families and this nation.

It would lead to the displacement of 2.5 million people, my own family included. This event would come to be called the Dust Bowl, and we learned through the tragedy that a lack of utilizing soil conservation methods would play a large role in what started the Dust Bowl. In response, Congress added voluntary conservation programs to the farm bill, which now find their home within the Conservation Title of the bill.

These conservation practices would be implemented and used to ensure that we are better stewards of the land we rely on. Now, those very conservation programs, namely the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program, are running out of time to be supported in the upcoming farm bill in Congress.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) grant farmers funding to enable conservation practices on their farms. They provide the funding, technical assistance and equipment to increase soil health, conserve ground and surface water, improve wildlife habitats and improve resiliency to volatility in the weather and the markets.

Providing support for these practices is how the government helps farmers integrate conservation and environmental stewardship into their day-to-day operations and create land that will continue to support us for generations to come. Importantly, these programs are entirely voluntary for our nation’s farmers.

These are popular programs for Nebraska farmers. In 2023 alone, the EQIP saw 4,054 applicants in Nebraska, and resources were only allocated to approximately 26% of those applicants. The CSP saw 1,487 applicants in Nebraska, and only 21% could be funded. This shows a clear gap between the available resources and the demand for these resources.

More importantly, the gap between demand and available resources shows that there is absolutely work that needs to be done to increase accessibility to these programs, allowing as many Nebraskan farmers as possible access to tools and equipment for conservation.

Farmers are, by nature, conservationists. Being able to support programs like EQIP and CSP is a natural step in promoting conservation. In a recent American Conservation Coalition poll, 78% of young conservatives said they are in favor of sustainable agriculture. This is a winning issue, with local impacts. In 2023, over 1,000 EQIP contracts were granted in Nebraska, and over 300 CSP contracts were granted to Nebraska farmers. This is critical conservation work, with local impacts benefiting our state.

These conservation programs aren’t only good for the environment. There is a clear benefit to farmers who take part in these programs. EQIP assists in improving soil health, reducing erosion, reducing nutrient loss and preserving habitats. CSP helps farmers develop grazing plans for farms and ranches, improving the forage base for their livestock.

Now, as the climate sees rapid changes and as unpredictable, violent weather becomes more common, it is more important than ever to find ways to protect the livelihoods of farmers – the core of Nebraska.

To do so, we should fund voluntary conservation programs like EQIP and CSP that help us empower farmers. We all, as Nebraskans, should advocate for funding conservationist programs in the next farm bill. By supporting farmers, we protect our way of life and avoid repeating the tragedies we saw in the Dust Bowl.

This story was published by Nebraska Examiner, an editorially independent newsroom providing a hard-hitting, daily flow of news. Read the original article: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/05/conservation-is-the-future-for-nebraska-farmers/

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