Vilsack, Peterson, ARS Discuss Forage Issues with NAFA
Representatives of the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance (NAFA) had the opportunity to sit down with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee Collin Peterson, and the Administrator of USDA’s Agricultural Research Service Edward Knipling in separate meetings to discuss farm policy, the farm bill, and a number of other issues of interest to alfalfa and forage producers. The following are excerpts from those discussions.
Conservation Stewardship Program and Beneficial Crop Rotations
Since late last year, alfalfa and forage producers have taken particular interest in the new Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) which offers the opportunity for supplemental payments to producers who engage in “beneficial” or “resource-conserving” crop rotations. The Farm Bill, passed in June of 2008, gave the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to designate which crops would be considered “resource-conserving.” Originally, these “resource-conserving” crops were to have been identified by the end of September 2008. Unforeseen delays and a change of administrations have pushed these decisions out even further. Secretary Vilsack offered some clarity on the topic.
“Supplemental payments for the adoption of resource-conserving crops will be a feature of CSP in 2009. We will provide guidance to our State Conservationists before the end of March of 2009 so states can begin the process of identifying and determining these rotations. States will have the flexibility to decide whether these rotations are available statewide or tailored for geographic areas within a state.” Vilsack added, “State Conservationists will consult with State Technical Committees to establish these rotations so they are ready and available for use in 2009 CSP contracts.” At the current time, USDA has given guidance to State Technical Committees with regard to this process, but has not yet given states Interim Final Rule clearance. Given NAFA’s desire for alfalfa to be included in the NRCS list of “resource-conserving” crop rotations, Vilsack advised NAFA to work with State Technical Committees in the interim to underscore its environmental and rotational benefits.
Alfalfa/Forage Research Program
Also of interest to alfalfa and forage producers is the Alfalfa/Forage Research Program which was authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill as one of the high priority research areas. Congressman Peterson addressed the potential for funding the Alfalfa/Forage Research Program in these tough economic times saying, “Well, we hope it’ll get funded. We’re hoping to get back to regular order in the appropriations process. We will be doing what we can at any level to make sure that happens. Obviously, we’re going to be in a tough climate. But we shouldn’t short change policies we put in place to move us in a direction we need to go. I can’t guarantee anything but we’re hopeful.”
New ARS Forage Positions in the West
NAFA has been working with ARS to establish enhanced forage research in the West to work in collaboration with the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center located in Madison, Wisconsin, on issues such as water use efficiency, irrigation management of alfalfa and forage crops, mitigation of water quality problems, and genetic improvement of alfalfa for irrigated regions. With the release of the administration’s budget for FY 2010, ARS Administrator Dr. Edward Knipling was able to elucidate the Agency’s plans on the matter.
“ARS has long recognized the importance of alfalfa in American agriculture and we have supported a significant national research program to improve the quality, production and utilization of alfalfa. We are committed to maintaining our alfalfa research effort and expanding it as opportunities permit to help the industry meet the challenges of the 21st Century including climate change; bioenergy development; increased pressure on water resources; and growing demand for safe, high-quality food and feed,” said Knipling. “To help alfalfa producers respond to these changing conditions there is a proposed reallocation of $317,000 in the President’s FY 2010 budget to expand ARS’ alfalfa research capacity. We will use this funding, if provided, to add staff as a first step in building a new ARS research team in the western States directed at irrigation-based alfalfa production systems.” Dr. Knipling indicated that this research will focus on evaluating promising alfalfa germplasm and breeding lines for tolerance to salinity, sodicity, and pests and resilience to changing climate conditions. This information will then be used to develop alfalfa varieties better adapted to using degraded ground water and recycled waters and having increased water-use efficiency. “We will continue to seek new funding to add additional positions until we have a fully staffed interdisciplinary team in place that will work closely with the region’s producers and our university partners to help meet the alfalfa industry’s needs.”
For more information on NAFA, visit www.alfalfa.org.
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