The Farm Bill is among our most important federal policies for wildlife conservation. This expansive legislation governs many aspects of our nation’s production of food and fiber, from farm income and crop insurance to nutrition programs and rural development.
But Farm Bill programs are also essential for wildlife that depend on private land. Voluntary, incentive-based programs provide support to producers to conserve wildlife and habitat on their land, while pollinators and soil health help enhance our nation’s food security. These programs can also help to prevent environmental disasters such as dust storms.
For more information on the Farm Bill and its importance for wildlife, check out our Farm Bill 101 video series:
Farm Bill 101: Overview
Farm Bill 101: The Commodities Title and Livestock Indemnity Program
Farm Bill 101: The Forestry Title and the Healthy Forest Reserve Program
Farm Bill 101: The Conservation Title
Additonal Farm Bill videos coming soon
2023 Farm Bill
The Farm Bill is up for renewal, and Defenders of Wildlife is working with Congress to ensure that the bill’s working lands and agricultural support programs equitably provide for productive and resilient wildlife habitat on private land.
For more information on the 2023 Farm Bill, please visit:
Defenders' blog on the 2023 Farm Bill and its importance to wildlife.
Defenders 2023 Farm Bill Recommendations.pdf
Defenders 2023 Farm Bill Recommendations (summary).pdf
NEWS - The Farm Bill - preventing another dust bowl
To find out how farm bill programs could have avert another dust bowl disaster, please visit this blog.
NEWS - March 22, 2023
Members of the conservation community came together in support of enhanced outcomes for our nation’s farms and wildlife. 31 national and regional organizations developed a list of recommendations for the next Farm Bill to work even better for natural resources and climate resilience, while increasing productivity and ensuring equity in access to Farm Bill conservation programs. In March 2023, these organizations delivered the recommendations to members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees.
The diverse conservation and agriculture organizations from around the country that produced the recommendations ranged from the American Farmland Trust and National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, to the Izaak Walton League of America, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Soil and Water Conservation Society, Trust for Public Land, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, and Defenders of Wildlife.
Farm bill coalition recommedations.pdf
