Chesapeake Bay Foundation President William C. Baker issued this statement regarding a new federal Farm Bill, which was passed Wednesday by the U.S. House of Representatives:
“CBF commends the House for passing a new federal Farm Bill, and we celebrate its strong new conservation program, known as the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. This program will help farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed keep fertilizer on the land and out of the water. It will help them continue to implement the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint.
“We encourage organizations that work with farmers in the region to participate in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Under this new program, organizations will work with farmers on installing specific agricultural conservation practices that are vital to improving local and downstream water quality.
“We look forward to the Senate speedily passing the bill and particularly thank our senators and representatives in the Bay watershed for ensuring that the Regional Conservation Partnership Program will be a vital tool in reducing pollution to the region’s rivers, streams and the Bay.”
