Izaak Walton League of America

The U.S. has lost millions of acres of native prairie over the past decade, making native prairie one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America. While there is some good news for prairie and other grasslands in the new Farm Bill, the new law also represents lost opportunities to better protect these valuable resources. Full story

Congress approved a new Farm Bill that provides full funding for conservation programs that help farmers put in place conservation systems that address soil, water, and wildlife needs in rural areas. Although the League didn’t get all we asked for, there are some clear wins for wildlife. Full story

A new report from the Izaak Walton League of America highlights the benefits for our natural resources – and American taxpayers – of better leveraging conservation funding to promote five conservation practices now in use on less than one-third of America’s farms and ranches. Full story

What do academics, farmers, agency personnel, and conservation advocates have in common? It’s not a trick question! They all care about healthy soil, as demonstrated at our well-attended Soil Health Symposium. Full story

The science of soil health has made great strides in the last decade. Has public policy caught up with those advancements? You can help decide what practices your tax dollars support. (Hint: It's not the ones causing the runoff in this photo!) Full story

There are many programs in the Farm Bill that directly impact our soil, air, woods, waters, and wildlife. But these five will have a huge impact on the health of America’s rivers, lakes, wetlands, and wildlife over the next five years. Full story

Otto von Bismarck said, “Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made.” Doubly appropriate, perhaps, for the making of a Farm Bill, given its influence over Americans who raise livestock and those who make – and eat – sausages. Full story

The Senate Farm Bill reflects a bi-partisan approach and in many respects is much stronger when it comes to IWLA water quality and wildlife conservation priorities than the bill approved by the House Agriculture Committee in April. Read more for highlights of the Senate bill. Full story

Wetlands provide habitat for fish and wildlife, filter nutrients and other pollutants running off farm fields, slow down flood waters, and recharge groundwater. Recent proposals in Congress to weaken the Swampbuster provision in the Farm Bill could result in the loss of millions of acres of wetlands – and the many valuable benefits they provide. Full story

On April 18, the House Agriculture Committee voted to advance its version of a 2018 Farm Bill. The bill is a mixed bag when it comes to IWLA water and wildlife conservation priorities. Full story