Rep. Marc Molinaro has teamed with Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR) to introduce the Peer Learning for Agriculture Conservation Education (PLACE) Act, which focuses on soil conservation and agricultural sustainability.
The new bill creates a program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture”™s (USDA) Regional Conservation Partnership Program that will incentivize the creation of peer-to-peer conservation education and training networks to help regional farmers access technical assistance and expertise on effective conservation practices. The objective of the bill is to encourage soil conservation and sustainability without creating an extra burden of work on USDA staff.
Molinaro, a Republican who represents New York”™s 19th Congressional District, worked with the nonprofit Scenic Hudson and Regenerate America to develop this bill.
“Soil conservation is not just essential for the long-term viability of our farmland ”“ it’s a cornerstone of our environmental stewardship,” he said. “Unfortunately, we recognized there’s a gap in federal support for educating and implementing these crucial practices. My bipartisan bill will cut red tape and help more farmers get the help they need to implement conservation strategies.”
