September 21, 2001

The Honorable Ann Veneman
Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture
14^th and Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Secretary Veneman:

Thank you again for taking the time to meet with Florida agricultural producers in my congressional district on August 29. Your presence, as well as your receptiveness to the issues of importance to Florida farmers and ranchers, was deeply appreciated.

I am writing to express my support for your recognition of the importance of conservation measures in your recent agricultural policy report “Food and Agricultural Policy: Taking Stock for the 21^st Century.”   The Principals for Conservation within the Report specifically emphasized the need to:

“Design and adopt a portfolio approach to conservation polices including targeted technical assistance, incentives for improved practices on working farms and forest lands, compensation for environmental achievements to provide a coordinated and flexible portfolio approach to agri-enviromental goals.” (page. 11)

Recognizing the same conservation goals, many of these concepts are encompassed in legislation that I have sponsored entitled the Farmland Stewardship Act (H.R. 2542).  H.R. 2542 was largely adopted in the House Agriculture Committee version of the Farm Bill, the “Farm Security Act of 2001.”  

The Farmland Stewardship Program is designed to foster responsible care of our natural resources by providing agricultural producers incentive-based initiatives to meet the wide-ranging environmental challenges faced by producers throughout the country.  The program serves as a blending tool to tie together many diverse conservation programs and would allow greater access to all producers to conservation resources and assistance.  

I am enclosing more detailed information on this legislation for your review and please contact me should you have any questions.  I look forward to working with you during the Farm Bill process to improve conservation opportunities for American farmers and ranchers.   

                                                                      Sincerely,

                                                                      Adam H. Putnam
                                                                      Member of Congress

Enclosures
AHP/kw