[ Mississippi ] Considering the many essential public values at stake, the Forestry and Conservation Titles of the Farm Bill should be amended to use a comparatively small amount of public dollars to invest in private lands that are worth billions and provide benefits to all. In addition to securing the nation’s food supply, the Farm Bill provides the single largest source of funding for conservation in the U.S. In the South, the Wetlands Reserve Program is among the most notable of Farm Bill conservation programs. When Congress debates the content of the Farm Bill this year, we must recognize that these programs, which have proven so valuable to farmers, can be applied to help family forest owners keep and better manage their land. [Bob Bendick [is] the director for The Nature Conservancy’s 10-state Southern Region]

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