House takes chainsaw to Vt. (and all other states) conservation programs

[cali]

By HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN / Reformer Staff
Posted: 06/23/2011 03:00:00 AM EDT

Thursday June 23, 2011

WESTMINSTER WEST -- Farmers and landowners across Vermont could lose out on millions of dollars of conservation grants, after the U.S House of Representatives passed an agriculture bill that guts the programs.

The House last week cut almost $1 billion from the U.S Department of Agriculture conservation programs that are used to fund small scale water and soil conservation projects across the state.

U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., opposed the bill, which cut $210 million from the Conservation Stewardship Program and $350 million from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Both programs have been used by Vermont farmers to protect water and expand their operations.

<snip>

Prussack said he did not want to comment directly on the proposed cuts, but said he was frustrated that a program that supplies family farmers with relatively small grants is being cut, while agri-business continues receiving subsidies and support.

<snip>

http://www.reformer.com/localnews/ci_18334752

[mmonk]

1. Recommended.

[iwishiwas]

2. WI did not need the House to do this as Walker and his Repug poodles already

have slashed funding for conservation in WI.

[Scuba]

4. Wisconsin DNR outsourced to Koch Industries. n/t

[iwishiwas]

5. yes,

[xchrom]

3. Recommend

[AlecBGreen]

6. ARGH!

:argh: Shortsighted dumbfucks, I swear these people would sell their own grandparents for a bent penny.