Celebrate conservation in new Farm Bill

In light of Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue's "Back to Our Roots" tour around five Midwestern states, it is important to reflect on which pieces of the Farm Bill deserve attention in 2018. The conservation title is a vital piece of this legislation, as it supports programs that focus on landscape-level and sustainable practices that help preserve our nation's rural communities, wildlife and natural resources.

One example of a conservation project in our own back yard is the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which has helped improve water quality and habitat in the Great Lakes region since 2010. The program works with local farmers to implement strategies that reduce runoff, decrease soil erosion and improve overall soil health, thereby increasing both agricultural productivity and bird habitat quality.

The Farm Bill also provides funding for local organizations through the Regional Conservation Partnership Programs to implement geography-specific conservation projects. For instance, in 2015, the Farm Bill provided funds for a program in Illinois that installed new drainage management systems in agricultural fields to provide temporary habitat for migrating birds like the American Golden-Plover.

The health of agricultural and natural landscapes is intimately connected, and it is important to recognize that we cannot improve one without addressing the other. I encourage Secretary Perdue to celebrate the successes of the conservation programs so far, and extend them for years to come.

Chris Geiselhart, President

Lake County Audubon Society

Libertyville