WALLY HERGER: “the lease land program is a perfect example of how wildlife and agriculture can thrive together. Congress recognized…”

“the lease land program is a perfect example of how wildlife and agriculture can thrive together. Congress recognized that balance and specifically afforded farming a special status in the national wildlife refuges of the Klamath Basin. The Kuchel Act enshrined the lease land farm program in Federal law, specifying a compromise between row and forage crops and cereal grains in a way that would satisfy the requirements of the law, including maximizing revenues to the government and to local counties, and providing food and habitat for the migrating birds and other wildlife. While couched in seemingly innocent terms, this amendment takes a short step in the direction of eliminating the lease land program by chipping away at its foundation. If we remove row crops, we remove the greatest incentive to farm and upset the balance that was established in Federal law almost 40 years ago. Moreover, this would deal another devastating economic blow to these communities, which have already suffered incredible hardship in the wake of last year's tragic water shutoff. Estimates are that these crops generated an average of approximately $10 million annually over the last 5 years. Those same acres planted to grain, as required by this amendment, would generate a little over $1 million. That is a $9 million out of $10 million loss that would cripple this community. Mr. Chairman, my colleagues with agriculture in their districts know how tenuous commodity markets are.…”