In early March, we submitted a letter for the record for a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on 2023 Farm Bill conservation and forestry programs.

As climate change continues to be an increasing and persistent threat to agriculture, farm bill conservation programs are tools that can assist farmers in conservation and building climate resiliency. According to the results of our 2022 National Young Farmers Survey, however, many young and BIPOC farmers are not using these programs due to barriers such as unfamiliarity and extensive application processes. Respondents also reported needing increased access to technical assistance support to apply to these programs. By increasing the transparency and accessibility of farm bill conservation programs, we can begin the important work of addressing the climate crisis and investing in a sustainable and resilient future with farmers leading the way.

You can read the letter here.