The $20 billion investment from the Inflation Reduction Act is great for bees, our water, the climate and more
Funding for farm conservation programs is a vital tool to save the bees and other pollinators, protect wildlife, reduce water pollution and more.
As was written in January, the $20 billion in the Inflation Reduction Act “could be a big win for bees,” and, “clean water, healthy soil and happy bees is a win-win-win.”
That was true then – still is true today. But here’s the key: it was intended to be extra funding, additional investments. If lawmakers were to get clever and reduce spending in the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill, then this extra funding would be for naught.
That would be a shame because there are so many conservation programs that need new investments to truly transform the farming landscape.
In the past, we’ve highlighted prairie strips as one of many important conservation programs. When farmers plant strips of prairie alongside their primary crops, voilà! Bees flourish and deep prairie roots absorb fertilizers, preventing runoff in streams and rivers.
Another example is crop rotations. Planting four crops over four growing seasons is significantly better for the soil and leads to a reduced need for pesticides and fertilizers. (One on-farm study found that a 4-crop rotation led to a ridiculously impressive 97% reduction in herbicide use.) This conservation program is vital for bees and other wildlife, wonderful for reducing water pollution, and more.
Funding is needed to help farmers invest in these programs. That’s why we joined 644 other organizations in asking Congress to protect this historic $20 billion investment.
Here’s the text of the letter and the list of signers:
February 27, 2023
Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee
Glenn Thompson, Chairman U.S. House Agriculture Committee
John Boozman, Ranking Member U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee
David Scott, Ranking Member U.S. House Agriculture Committee
Source: environmentamerica.org
Categories: Michigan, Crops, General