Will Sustainable Ag Survive the Budget Wars?

To turn a phrase, President Obama's recently unveiled budget might just put our money where our mouths are — at least in relation to sustainable farming.

After decades of swollen subsidies to large-scale farming operations, the proposed 2011 budget would decrease the subsidies a farming operation could receive from $40,000 to $30,000. It would also make farms that gross over $500,000 ineligible for subsidies. Conversely, the Obama budget would increase funding for organic inspection, ensuring that farmers who take the time to become organic certified aren't competing against greenwashers who label products "all-natural" or "toxin-free."

The budget also calls for a 56 percent increase in funding for the Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education competitive grants program, the biggest increase in the program's 22 years. SARE grants fund research, education and professional development for environmentally responsible and economically viable sustainable farming projects. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition calls the proposed increase "a sure sign of investment in the future of sustainable agriculture systems."

Sadly, not every budget allotment moved in favor of farming. The administration cut $55 million from the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program over the next two years, which could make it harder for struggling farmers to hold onto their land. And a $70 million cut to the Conservation Stewardship Program means that farmers won't have as much incentive to protect surrounding soil, groundwater and ecosystems.

Still, for the most part, Obama's budget stresses a commitment to the reform he spoke of in his State of the Union address. But presidential budgets get vetted through both houses before they see the light of day, and this one faces a long, dark tunnel of looming Big Ag interests and their friends in Congress. Several representatives and senators have already come out against the subsidy cuts, claiming the issue was already dealt with in the 2008 Farm Bill (which some critics refer to as "spineless legislation"). House Agricultural Committee chairman Collin Peterson, a Minnesota Democrat, said, "No one is interested in making cuts to the Farm Bill after the battle we just fought to pass it a year and a half ago." Other legislators worry that the cuts would unfairly burden rural Americans.

One thing is for sure - sustainable farming advocates shouldn't depend on representatives to speak up for them. According to EWG, a full 40 percent of the farm subsidies doled out in 2007 went to districts with representatives on the House Agriculture Committee. While it's definitely more fun to play in the dirt, some of us will have to get our hands dirty if we want a 2011 budget that benefits sustainability.