The California Farm Bureau Federation issued the following in a news release: Land that produces food and farm products also provides crucial conservation and climate benefits and federal conservation programs must focus on keeping working lands working, according to California Farm Bureau testimony before a congressional subcommittee.
California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson testified virtually before the U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
Johansson said the California Farm Bureau supports participation by farmers, ranchers and foresters in voluntary, climate-smart practices that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resilience.
“Our farmers and ranchers have a proven track record of doing more with less,” he said, noting farmer investments in water recharge, irrigation efficiency, energy conservation, cleaner-running farm equipment and numerous other on-farm conservation practices.
“With so much already happening at the field level, it is important to consider how new federal policies and programs will overlay with existing state climate programs and grower-led initiatives,” Johansson said.
To achieve the best results, he said, federal conservation programs must retain and enhance their flexibility to incorporate all crop types and farm sizes.
Practices encouraged by the programs must be “broad and outcome-based,” Johansson said, “emphasizing a list of options as opposed to a prescriptive checklist.”
