Groups supporting small farmers objected to cuts pending in House and Senate versions of the FY15 USDA funding bill. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition said the House bill “cuts more than 1 million acres from the Conservation Stewardship Program, over $200 million from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and $60 million from the new Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.”
Separately, an array of groups sent a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations committees to oppose any attempts to undermine the country-of-origin meat-labeling regulations. Another letter opposed provisions that would stop USDA from issuing new fair-play rules for livestock marketing. NASC says the House bill would force USDA to rescind most components of the rule, proposed in December 2011.