The recent collapse of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations known as the Doha Round will likely hurt attempts to reform federal farm policy, something the Bush administration and many others are very eager to do. Most conservation and environmental officials say an agreement could have shifted federal spending from trade-distorting commodity subsides to the farm bill’s menu of conservation programs — a change in policy that, if enacted, would be a boon for fish and wildlife habitat by ushering in a new era of farmland conservation. “Now we ‘ re probably going to see a budget-driven farm bill,” said Dave Nomsen of Pheasants Forever, in response to the collapsed talks. And the conventional wisdom is that Congress will be more apt to cut the bill’s conservation title rather than its commodity price supports.

News notes are courtesy of Southern Forests Network News Notes
www.southernsustainableforests.org