With pressing climate, drought, and water quality challenges around the country, now more than ever is an opportune time for policymakers to consider ways to reform agriculture and conservation programs to achieve taxpayer savings while also improving environmental outcomes. The current farm safety net prioritizes input-intensive production over conservation practices, leading to increased water pollution, soil erosion, and the loss of wetlands and grasslands that sequester carbon.

Policymakers should forgo calls to spend more money on agricultural conservation for climate or environmental purposes without first reforming the federal farm safety net – including conservation programs. Federal funding should instead be directed toward the most cost-effective, accountable, transparent, and responsive programs that promote resilience instead of dependence on federal subsidies. Additional steps should be taken to eliminate farm subsidy programs where goals run counter to those of agricultural conservation programs. Then, program funding should be targeted to areas most in need and initiatives with the greatest return on investment without paying for agricultural practices that agribusinesses would already implement with their own dollars. These reforms will not only ensure taxpayer dollars are spent more effectively, but conservation dollars will also be able to reach more producers across additional acres, improve environmental outcomes, reduce climate risks, and ultimately lead to better farmer profitability.

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