Title: Recognizing and promoting the role of demonstration farm networks in expanding the adoption of conservation farming practices that improve the health of watersheds and agricultural lands.
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
This resolution expresses that the House of Representatives

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1179 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1179

 Recognizing and promoting the role of demonstration farm networks in 
 expanding the adoption of conservation farming practices that improve 
            the health of watersheds and agricultural lands.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 15, 2022

   Mr. Gallagher (for himself and Mr. Kind) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in 
 addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and 
 Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing and promoting the role of demonstration farm networks in 
 expanding the adoption of conservation farming practices that improve 
            the health of watersheds and agricultural lands.

Whereas one-third of the Nation's topsoil and more than 38 percent of topsoil 
        within the Nation's Corn Belt have eroded into lakes, rivers, and 
        streams;
Whereas excessive amounts of phosphorus and other nutrients found in the topsoil 
        that leave the rural landscape and enter lakes, rivers, and streams fuel 
        algal blooms and increase the potential for harmful algal blooms, 
        hypoxia, cyanobacteria, and impaired waters;
Whereas conservation farming practices of reduced tillage, cover crops, managed 
        grazing, and manure management allow for soils to build organic matter, 
        which stabilizes soils and minimizes sediment loss through the erosive 
        forces of wind and water;
Whereas conservation farming practices of cover crops, low-disturbance manure 
        application, and buffer strips reduce runoff of sediment, phosphorus, 
        and nutrients into waterways;
Whereas conservation farming practices of reduced tillage, cover crops, and 
        planting into green boost the growth of soil organic matter and reduce 
        compaction, fostering improved infiltration during a heavy rain event 
        and resilience during a drought;
Whereas conservation farming practices support long-term sustainability for soil 
        health and economic sustainability for producers through reduced inputs 
        on fields;
Whereas peer-to-peer education about conservation farming practices and cost 
        shares increases producer adoption and lessens financial risks when 
        transitioning from conventional to conservation farming practices;
Whereas demonstration farm networks ensure growers have opportunity and 
        resources for peer-to-peer education about conservation farming 
        practices;
Whereas demonstration farm networks are designed to showcase and demonstrate 
        leading-edge conservation practices that improve water quality by 
        preventing sediment, phosphorus, and nutrients from entering freshwater 
        sources;
Whereas the demonstration farm networks' partnerships consist of agricultural 
        producers, agronomists, county land and water conservation staff, 
        Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation Service 
        employees, and in some networks, representatives from academia and 
        nonprofits;
Whereas such partnerships assist and enable producers to achieve success when 
        implementing new conservation farming practices;
Whereas the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative enabled the formation of the 
        first demonstration farm network and continues to support demonstration 
        farm networks across the country;
Whereas the first demonstration farm network was launched in 2013 through an 
        agreement with the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources 
        Conservation Service, Brown County, Wisconsin, and 4 producers in the 
        Lower Fox River Watershed of northeast Wisconsin's Eighth Congressional 
        District;
Whereas the number of demonstration farm networks in Wisconsin has grown to 6 
        networks of 33 farms spanning 16 counties, including--

    (1) the Lower Fox Watershed Demonstration Farms Network, including--

    G    (A) Brickstead Dairy;

    G    (B) VandeWettering Farms;

    G    (C) Greg Nettekoven;

    G    (D) Neighborhood Dairy;

    G    (E) VanWychen Farms;

    G    (F) Larry Dufek of Dairyland Farms; and

    G    (G) New Horizons Dairy;

    (2) the Door-Kewaunee Watershed Demonstration Farm Network, including--

    G    (A) Brey Cycle Farms;

    G    (B) Kinnard Farms;

    G    (C) Augustian Farms; and

    G    (D) Deer Run Dairy;

    (3) the Between the Lakes Demonstration Farm Network, including--

    G    (A) Dallman's East River Dairy;

    G    (B) Nick Kleiber Grain Farm;

    G    (C) Libertyland Farms; and

    G    (D) Dale Theel;

    (4) the Upper Fox-Wolf River Demonstration Farm Network, including--

    G    (A) Tauchen Harmony Valley Inc.;

    G    (B) Dan Boerst;

    G    (C) Erickson's Dairy Farm;

    G    (D) Hintz Farms;

    G    (E) Albright Brothers;

    G    (F) Gehrke Family Farms;

    G    (G) Deta J Farms;

    G    (H) Piney Lawn Acres;

    G    (I) Pollack Vu Farm; and

    G    (J) Zeb Zuehls;

    (5) the Green Bay West Shore Demonstration Farm Network, including--

    G    (A) Finger Family Farm;

    G    (B) Mahoney Farms;

    G    (C) Brown Star Farm; and

    G    (D) Wagner Farms; and

    (6) the Ozaukee Demonstration Farm Network, including--

    G    (A) Lapinski Farms;

    G    (B) Melichar Broad Acres;

    G    (C) Redline Dairy Farm; and

    G    (D) Lake Breeze Farms;

Whereas the growth and success of demonstration farm networks in Wisconsin have 
        led the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation 
        Service to replicate the model in other States, including--

    (1) New York, with the Genesee River Demonstration Farms Network 
(established pursuant to an agreement between the Department of Agriculture 
and Natural Resources Conservation Service and American Farmland Trust);

    (2) Pennsylvania, with the Upper Genesee River Demonstration Farms 
Network (established pursuant to an agreement between the Department of 
Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation Service and Headwaters 
Resource Conservation & Development Council); and

    (3) Ohio, with the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms Network 
(established pursuant to an agreement between the Department of Agriculture 
and Natural Resources Conservation Service and Ohio Farm Bureau);

Whereas the growth and success of the demonstration farm networks have laid the 
        groundwork for the formation of producer-led watershed groups and 
        conservation farming initiatives in Wisconsin, such as Save the Bay, 
        that promote and support education on conservation farming practices; 
        and
Whereas conservation farming best management practices shared among 
        demonstration farm networks, producer-led groups, and initiatives like 
        Save the Bay have led to exponential growth of conservation farming 
        practices across watersheds, resulting in the protection and improvement 
        of freshwater sources and soil quality: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the support that the Great Lakes Restoration 
        Initiative provides to demonstration farm networks and its 
        subsequent contributions to improving water quality and soil 
        health;
            (2) encourages and applauds the efforts and commitment of 
        partners involved in demonstration farm networks; and
            (3) promotes the role of demonstration farm networks in 
        expanding the adoption of conservation farming practices that 
        improve the health of watersheds and agricultural lands.
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