December 30, 2005

###### 

###### FarmBill@usda.gov (via email)

**Re: Request for Public Comments to be used in Developing USDA
Recommendations for the 2007 Farm Bill -- Conservation and Environmental
Goals**

Thank you for the opportunity to comment relative to the recommendations
USDA will develop for the 2007 Farm Bill. We are writing in regard to
USDA's fourth question, which asks how farm policy can best achieve
conservation and environmental goals.

> As a leading agricultural state with more surface waters than any of
> the 48 contiguous states and a \$10 billion-a-year tourism industry
> based largely on abundant natural resources, Minnesota has major stake
> in the 2007 Farm Bill. "More so than any other state, the quality and
> quantity of water in Minnesota is central to our way of life," is how
> Governor Tim Pawlenty put it in June 2003, when he launched a
> statewide clean water initiative.
>
> As part of Minnesota's clean water initiative, the Governor
> established a Clean Water Cabinet, comprised of the leaders of six
> state agencies whose missions involve water quality. The Cabinet has
> met regularly for more than two years to oversee progress on
> priorities such as impaired waters restoration, drinking water
> protection, and fish and wildlife habitat enhancement. These
> priorities fit well with Farm Bill conservation and environmental
> goals; in fact, the Conservation Title of the 2002 Farm Bill has
> provided more resources with which to address these priorities than
> any other source of funding.

That is why the Clean Water Cabinet plans to develop conservation policy
recommendations for the 2007 Farm Bill, based on broad stakeholder
input. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Board
of Water and Soil Resources are leading the effort, which also involves
the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources. The attached guiding principles and time line
describe the Clean Water Cabinet's 2007 Farm Bill conservation policy
effort. Both are working documents subject to change as the Cabinet
gathers additional stakeholder input.\
\
Another reason the Clean Water Cabinet is eager to develop conservation
policy recommendations for the 2007 Farm Bill is the Clean Water Legacy
Act -- a proposal to address TMDLs and restore and protect the quality
of Minnesota's lakes, rivers and streams, developed by an unprecedented
partnership of local governments, environmental organizations, business,
agricultural interests, and state agencies. State investments to enhance
Minnesota's ability to leverage Farm Bill conservation programs -- such
as funding for supplemental conservation planning and technical
assistance to landowners -- are important components of the Clean Water
Legacy Act.

> Thank you again for the opportunity to comment. The Clean Water
> Cabinet hopes to submit its final 2007 Farm Bill conservation policy
> recommendations and background information to the Minnesota
> Congressional delegation and USDA in May or June 2006. If you have any
> questions about this effort or the attached documents, please feel
> free to contact me at 651-201-6551 or Doug Thomas, Assistant Director,
> Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, at 651-297-5617.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Joe Martin, Assistant Commissioner
>
> Minnesota Department of Agriculture

GH: MDA ARMDD: bw

email attachments (2): *Time Line and Process* document

*Guiding Principles* document

cc: Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty

USDA NRCS State Conservationist Bill Hunt

USDA FSA State Executive Director John Monson,

U.S. Senators Norm Coleman and Mark Dayton

U.S. Representatives Gil Gutknecht, Mark Kennedy, John Kline, Betty
McCollum, James Oberstar,

Collin Peterson, Jim Ramstad, and Martin Olav Sabo