NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FORESTERS
444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 540, Washington, DC 20001

March 31, 2004

The Honorable Robert Bennett
Chairman
Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies
431 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
 

TESTIMONY ON FY 2005 APPROPRIATIONS

Burnell C. Fischer, President of the National Association of State Foresters

Before U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies

INTRODUCTION

The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) is pleased to provide testimony on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) budget request for Fiscal Year 2005.  Representing the directors of state forestry agencies from all fifty states, eight U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, our testimony centers around those Deputy Areas most relevant to the long term forestry operations of our constituents:  Natural Resources and Environment and Research, Education, and Economics.  We believe the USDA budget for FY 2005, which offers opportunities for advancing the sustainable management of private forestland nationwide, can be strengthened through our recommendations.

Farm Bill Conservation Programs

NASF believes that the conservation programs enacted in the 2002 Farm Bill are integral for protecting water quality, erodible soils, wildlife habitat, and wetlands associated with agricultural and forestry operations.  Trees and forestry practices are often the best solution to many of the conservation challenges arising from these operations.  We support the continued funding and development of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) by providing $1.2 billion for FY 2005, full funding for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), $85 million for the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP), targeting of 250,000 acres under the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), $150 million for the Emergency Watershed Program (EWP), and $26 million for the Conservation Security Program (CSP).  These programs are important for landowners with both forest and agricultural land, as well as farmers who wish to plant trees for conservation purposes on their agricultural lands.  Nearly two thirds of the land in the United States is forested, the majority of which is privately owned.  NASF recommends that the Subcommittee encourage the Secretary of Agriculture and the NRCS to reinforce the importance of including and expanding forestry practices in EQIP and the other Farm Bill Conservation Programs.    

USDA Research and Extension Programs

NASF recommends funding the Cooperative Forestry Research (McIntire-Stennis) Program (CFR) at $25 million, the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (NRI) at $180 million, and the Renewable Resources Extension Program (RREA) at $4.5 million.  The proposed increase in CFR will help the program continue to serve as the cornerstone of forest research in universities, providing knowledge central to sound management from environmental, economic, and social perspectives.  NASF supports the funding provided in the Administration’s FY05 budget for NRI and encourages more funds be targeted to forestry research.  A small increase in RREA funding will improve the program’s ability to address critical extension and stewardship needs.

CONCLUSION

The National Association of State Foresters seeks the Subcommittee’s support for a USDA FY 2005 budget that will make sure the conservation needs of private landowners – both forest and agriculture – are met.  Thank you for the opportunity to provide our testimony.

Sincerely, 

/s/ Burnell C. Fischer

Burnell C. Fischer
President