Arkansas Farmers at Risk of Losing $665 Million in Conservation Funding
Congressional leaders are considering slashing hundreds of billions of dollars in conservation funding for farmers, potentially causing Arkansas producers to lose $665 million. According to an analysis conducted by Jonathan Coppess of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Arkansas would be the second-most impacted state, trailing only Texas.
Farmers like Jared Phillips of Prairie Grove are concerned about the potential cuts, as conservation funding helps them make valuable improvements to protect their land from extreme weather while also boosting their business. Phillips emphasized that these funds are crucial for supporting their families and ensuring the production of essential food, fuel, and fiber.
The U.S. House of Representatives has tasked the Agriculture Committee with finding $230 billion in spending cuts through 2031, which could include reductions in conservation funding. Invest in Our Land, an organization focused on farmers and farm policy, has developed an interactive map showing the potential losses for farmers in every state based on Coppess’ analysis.
If the cuts are made, Arkansas farmers could lose $142 million from the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), $266 million from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), $161 million from the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and $95 million from the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) over the next six years.
Congressional leaders in the House and Senate are still negotiating the details of the federal budget, but Arkansas farmers are urging them to reconsider the proposed cuts to conservation funding to protect the future of agriculture in the Natural State.
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