Forests in the Farm Bill

To combat the ever-increasing challenges the more than 10 million family forest owners face every day, the U.S. Department of Agriculture utilizes Farm Bill conservation programs to offer technical and management assistance to landowners to make environmental improvements on their lands, while helping to make ownership economically viable.

In the years since the 2008 Farm Bill was signed into law, federal conservation tools and assistance available from Farm Bill programs to forest owners have signfiicantly expanded. The 2008 Farm Bill made important changes to the USDA conservation programs, better enabling family forest owners to participate. 

In particular, the Farm Bill provides forest owners with the outreach, education, and technical assistance they need to be better forest stewards. Forest owners are able to leverage their own time, energy and investment with conservation program dollars to ensure the long-term health and viability of our nation's forests.

Interested in knowing more about what Farm Bill programs may be available to you? Check out our tools and resources below.

TOOLS

• Learn More: About the USDA Farm Bill and What is in it for Woodland Owners?
• Forests in the Farm Bill: How are forests faring thus far? Check out our annual Progress Report.
• Farm Bill Helpline: From April 1-April 30, 2012, reach out to ATFS staff and ask all your complicated questions. Call 202.463.2734 or email farmbill@forestfoundation.org.

ON-THE-GROUND

• NRCS expertise: Find out more information on Farm Bill conservation programs, and consult your local office to chat with a local NRCS forester.

ATFS and the 2012 Farm Bill

1.  Improve outreach, education, research, and technical assistance to family forest owners.
2. Strengthen conservation tools for family forest owners through Farm Bill conservation programs.
3. Open market opportunities for traditional forest products, renewable energy, and ecosystem services.
4. Strengthen USDA efforts to combat invasive species.
5. Create new tools for education the next generation about forests and the environment.

The American Forest Foundation (AFF), the national sponsor of the American Tree Farm System, leads the Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition, tasked with developing detailed recommendations for the 2012 farm bill. Coordinating with Coalition members, AFF produced the following letters and formal recommendations to guide 2012 Farm Bill efforts: 

• Summary of the Senate Agriculture Committee's Farm Bill
  April 26, 2012
• 2012 Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition on Farm Bill Reauthorization
  A Diverse group of over 60 organizations, led by AFF, continues to engage in the Farm Bill reauthorization. This letter is our latest message to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, reemphasizing our forest priorities. 
• Farm Bill Recommendations
  ATFS has developed an abbreviated version of suggested recommendations for the 2012 Farm Bill.
• USDA Biobased Product Labeling and Forest Products
  AFF and other organizations within the forestry community submitted testimony to the Senate Agriculture hearing on Farm Bill Energy Title Programs.  This testimony outlined the community's collective view of the current USDA Biobased products policies and the way in which it excludes U.S. forest products.
• Letter to Senator Stabenow and the Senate Agriculture Committee
  AFF and other organizations in the Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition developed some initial 2012 Farm Bill recommendations and submitted to the Senate Agriculture Committee.
• Fight for Conservation Funding
  AFF joined 400 other conservation organizations urging Congress and the White House to keep conservation funding in mind.
• Encourage Conservation Title Funding
  AFF joined 643 other organizations expressing strong support for the Conservation Title of the U.S. Farm Bill.