Policy
May 2019: Western Landowners Alliance visits Washington D.C.
Last week, several of our members and staff had the opportunity to visit with Congressional staff, federal agencies and national partners in Washington, D.C. This trip was an opportunity to bring the voice of western landowners to the Capital: your stories and experiences are compelling and it is important that lawmakers and agencies hear your…
Read MoreNew Mexico advances work to secure state’s natural resources and agricultural heritage
Abundant, clean water and healthy soils are critical to New Mexico’s future. New Mexico Senate Bill 454 — The New Mexico Agricultural and Natural Resources Trust Fund Act — proposed to create a self-sustaining endowment fund to conserve the state’s natural resources and agricultural heritage. The intent of NM SB454 was to provide funding to…
Read MoreUSDA Conservation Stewardship Program: Applications accepted through May 10
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for its Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) through May 10, 2019. The CSP is a working lands program that helps landowners sustain and build upon conservation efforts while also improving their business operations. This occurs through support to landowners to implement advanced, comprehensive practices across…
Read MoreSenate Passes the Natural Resources Management Act
On Tuesday, February 12, the Senate easily passed S47, the Natural Resources Management Act. This large public lands management and conservation package now moves to the House for their consideration. What’s in the Natural Resources Management Act? The package contains several bills from the Senate and took years to develop. Here are some of the…
Read MoreProposed Trust Fund is an Investment in New Mexico’s Future
The New Mexico Agricultural and Natural Resources Trust Fund (NM SB 454), sponsored by Senator Steven Neville of Aztec, New Mexico, seeks to establish an endowment fund to be used to invest in the state’s natural and agricultural resources. New Mexico is facing a diminishing water supply that has impacted—and will continue to impact—the state’s…
Read MoreHouse Bill 332: New Mexico Rural Heritage Act
Overview New Mexico House Bill 332, The Rural Heritage Act, keeps land ownership affordable for New Mexico’s families; secures land, water and other natural resources for the future; and contributes positively to local governments and economies. The programs considered under HB 332 will change New Mexico’s property tax structure in a way that keeps agriculturally…
Read MoreFarm Bill: Wins for Working Lands and Conservation!
For the past three years, Western Landowners Alliance has worked hard and in collaboration with a variety of partners to ensure strong support in the 2018 Farm Bill for working lands in the West. We are pleased to announce that on December 10th, Congress released the 2018 Farm Bill conference report reflecting many of WLA’s…
Read More2014 Farm Bill Expires: what does it mean and what’s next?
After more than a year of work by those most interested in passing an on-time Farm Bill – farmers, ranchers and advocacy groups interested in sustainable agriculture, conservation and forestry – the 2014 Farm Bill expired at midnight on September 30, 2018. The expiration marks the second time in a row that the Farm Bill…
Read MoreCalls to Action
1. The Farm Bill Send an email to House Ag Committee Leadership The House and the Senate have both passed their version of the 2018 Farm Bill. A conference committee is working to resolve differences between the two bills to reach a combined, final bill. As the committee works on this important resolution, it is…
Read MoreWLA attends the Western Association of State Departments of Agriculture summer meeting
In early August, WLA Executive Director Lesli Allison and WLA Policy Director Jessica Crowder attended the Western Association of State Departments of Agriculture (WASDA) summer meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. WASDA is made up of Commissioners, Secretaries and Directors of State Departments of Agriculture from 15 U.S. states and territories. The meeting…
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