I just had a couple questions for me and for others listening who might not know this.

Let me be clear, I am not opposed to these standards, having advocated for them in the past, however I am concerned that imposing them as a qualification for exemption has the potential to lead to significant disincentives for conservation…

If a farmer builds a fence that does not comply with NRCS standards, the cloud then is that he has violated the Clean Water Act.

I want to thank my friend also for giving us this opportunity to discuss the issue of clean water, the impact on agriculture and conservation and our rural communities.

We need to keep in mind, that leaves about 250 million Americans who we have to educate about this process.

We are all open to new techniques. I have seen our folks work hand in hand with NRCS and we have heard great success stories.

From a sportsman's perspective, Mr. Kovarovics, how do we reach this compromise?

Did you anticipate there would be this type of, I guess, concern and level of concern? Did it surprise you when you heard this or were you prepared for that?

The biggest mistake here was, it does not feel to me that there was enough of that input.

Now, that is very difficult for me to explain to my producers in any way possible, and you are not making that case.

I am just wondering if in the process now is not too poisoned or whatever you might say to go forward.

Conservation is this Subcommittee's bread and butter too.