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Nadine Lehrer University of Minnesota

Negotiating a Political Path to Agroforestry: Roots and Shoots of the Conservation Security Program. Nadine Lehrer University of Minnesota. Suggestions for promoting agroforestry in the U.S. through changes in farm policy. ?. Context of U.S. Agriculture.

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Nadine Lehrer University of Minnesota

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  1. Negotiating a Political Path to Agroforestry: Roots and Shoots of the Conservation Security Program Nadine Lehrer University of Minnesota

  2. Suggestions for promoting agroforestry in the U.S. through changes in farm policy ?

  3. Context of U.S. Agriculture • Increased efficiency and concentration • Economics, mechanization, business interests, cultural values, subsidies • In this larger agricultural context, agroforestry seems peripheral • How do we frame agroforestry as essential to the future of U.S. agriculture? • Conservation Security Program as example

  4. U.S. Farm Policy • Commodity subsidy history • Roosevelt’s 1933 Agricultural Adjustment Act • Early coalition of Farm Bureau, USDA, Congress • Farm Bill expansion has incorporated other interests • Beneficiaries • Most commodity subsidies go to large farms • Most farm payments are still for commodities • Federal farm payments 1995 – 2003 (EWG, 2005): • $103.7 billion in commodity subsidies • $16.3 billion in conservation subsidies • Benefits are targeted Knutson et al., 1990; Wright & Gardener, 1995; Hoppe et al., 2001; EWG, 2005

  5. Conservation Security Program • CSP history • Sustainable agriculture community • Tom Harkin, IA • Funding caps and delays • Change from open enrollment • CSP mechanisms: base payment, cost-share practices, enhanced payment

  6. Impact (2004): 2200 producers, 1.9 million acres, 18 watersheds, expansion for 2005 Philosophical impact Relation to agroforestry Current & Potential Impacts

  7. Support sustainable agriculture groups (SAWG, SAC) environmental groups (Sierra Club, NRDC), some mainstream commodity groups (AFBF, NCGA) “Opposition” some environmental groups (ED?, EWG) some commodity groups (NCBA) some members of House some agribusiness CSP Politics CSP is at a tipping point

  8. What to do at a tipping point • Great potential for CSP and thus agroforestry • Potential opposition and limited funding • Strategies for supporting CSP • Coalition-building • Being attuned to situational factors (“triggers”) (Buck 1996)

  9. Coalition Building • Conservation Coalition as an example • 1985 versus 1990 (Roberts & Dean 1994) • Collaborative versus oppositional models • Tactics • Ideological Commonalities • Situational Factors

  10. Ideological Commonalities • Strength of common interests • Family farmer rhetoric • Public support • Examples • Tom Harkin • Coalitions with agribusiness?

  11. Situational Factors World Trade Debates • World Trade Organization ideology • Conflicts over U.S. interests in domestic versus international spheres • Domestic vs. multinational agribusiness interests • 1995 URAA “Green Box” provisions • Brazil’s cotton suit Alexandre Meneghini / Associated Press

  12. A Hypothetical Situation • Possibility of forced subsidy reduction in the U.S. • Ideological need to support farmers • CSP as a non-trade-distorting option • A strong CSP coalition could step in to promote increases in CSP as subsidies are drawn down • National Farmers Union, others • Federal government and agribusiness emphasis on export markets • A two-pronged approach: • Create an “ideal” CSP through coalition building & lobbying • Wait for potential triggers to expand coalitions & ramp up CSP

  13. Where to go from here • Possible Partners • Green Lands Blue Waters • Conservation Coalition chez Defenders of Wildlife • National Fish & Wildlife Federation • National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, SAWG, SAC • Community Food Security Coalition, Kellogg Foundation • National Catholic Rural Life Conference • IATP and health community • Minnesota Project, Land Stewardship Project • Possible events • Mike Johanns USDA listening sessions later this summer • Community Food Security Coalition conference, October 2005

  14. Conclusions • CSP is a good venue for agroforestry • CSP is at a tipping point – potential for expanded provisions and role in Farm Bill • Policy is made incrementally through negotiating diverse interests • Agroforestry community should help promote CSP’s success through: • Broad and perhaps unlikely coalition-building • Awareness and use of situational factors such as (but not limited to) world trade.

  15. Thank you! • Many thanks to • Mike Kilgore, Nick Jordan and lab group, Jill Feldstein, Ken Brooks, Anthony Snider, AFHVS group for reading, hearing, and commenting on various drafts • EPA-STAR Fellowship Program, University of Minnesota (Dept. of Forest Resources, MISA, MacArthur Program) for funding support • Many others for great thoughts and comments • Questions? Comments? lehr0037@umn.edu

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