COALITION LETTER: Conservation Funding in OBBB

Dear Chairman Thompson and Chairman Boozman,

We write to thank you for your leadership in the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill which includes strong support for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s essential conservation and innovation programs.

We especially would like to thank you for providing $16 billion – a 35% increase – in additional support for programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). We also appreciate the additional $37 million allocated to the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR). These resources will allow FFAR to continue investing in agricultural public-private partnerships, which have historically leveraged $1.40 from the private sector for every federal dollar spent.

To promote agricultural production and competitiveness, lower food costs, enhance conservation, and ensure rural prosperity, the United States must regain its leadership in agricultural innovation by recommitting to essential USDA innovation initiatives. The One Big Beautiful Bill’s investments in programs like EQIP, CSP, ACEP, RCPP, and FFAR will help ensure economic security for farmers, ranchers, and foresters and keep them competitive globally.

We stand ready to support the Committees as you consider the next steps in guiding the administration of these funds.

Sincerely,