Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council Managing Director Nicole Galase recently testified before the US House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Research and Biotechnology at a hearing on conservation and agricultural production. The HCC represents 135 Hawaiian ranchers who steward 750,000 acres of Hawaii, nearly 20% of the state’s total land mass. As a state affiliate of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, HCC works with NCBA to ensure that cattle producers’ interests are represented at both the state and national levels.

“When you think of Hawaii, you might picture lush greenery, beautiful forests, and mountains. Today, three-quarters of a million acres of these beautiful spaces are stewarded by Hawaii’s dedicated cattle ranchers—actively managing the land while producing food,” said Galase. “The cattle industry across the country is under threat from urban encroachment and the loss of farmland, but that issue is especially felt in Hawaii. Our cattle producers rely on conservation programs to protect pastureland while also staying profitable, resulting in benefits for both agricultural communities and the federal government.”

Both NCBA and HCC have advocated for voluntary conservation programs that recognize the work already happening on farms and ranches. The 2018 Farm Bill helped more cattle producers access tools like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. As Congress continues working on a new Farm Bill, NCBA and HCC find it is critical that policymakers build upon these voluntary conservation programs and expand flexibility.

“Whether it’s more resources for USDA-NRCS staff to work with producers, flexible guidelines on conservation programs, or allowing more CRP grazing to manage land, improvements to the 2018 Farm Bill’s conservation title will have substantial benefits for cattle producers and the conservation work they do on a daily basis,” said NCBA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “NCBA will continue sharing this message with Congress and reminding legislators that cattle producers are America’s original conservationists.”

Source: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association