Help Shape Our Policy Work and Get Ready to Rally

We hope you'll join us at Rally 2012 -- or respond online -- to help shape our policy work for the year ahead.

Survey: How Can We Support Your Work?

With serious proposals to eliminate key funding programs or even the charitable deduction, it's more important than ever for Alliance's public policy team to hear what issues concern you most and how we can effectively engage your organization and its supporters. Please take a moment to review our policy options memo and fill out our online survey.

Or join the conversation in-person at Rally Workshop D18 "Public Policy 2012 Update and 2013 Forum" on Tuesday, October 2, 10:30am -- Noon, in Room 251A. It's an opportunity to review what has happened in the past year and start a conversation about how the Alliance policy team can more effectively work with you to advance our shared priorities.

The online survey is much simpler than in the past and includes questions about how we can improve these Advocates alerts.

Get Ready to Rally!

We hope you're planning to join us for Rally 2012, the National Land Conservation Conference, starting this weekend in Salt Lake City, UT. It's not too late to come -- walk-in registrations are welcome! Visit www.lta.org/rally or email rally@lta.org for more information.

Rally includes over a hundred different events, including two dozen sessions related to public policy. Learn how to tap federal funding for land conservation, and network with your peers about important policy opportunities and problems. The following are just a few highlights of sessions we hope you’ll find worthwhile:

• There are still a few more spots in our advocacy seminar: Advocating for Conservation – SEM-13, Saturday, September 29, 9:00 am – 5:00pm. Sign up at the registration desk.
• The annual Working With the IRS panel discussion: Workshop C16, Monday, Oct 1, 3:30-5:00pm
• Two workshops discussing farm bill conservation, including a presentation by NRCS leadership and a roundtable discussion.
• Workshops about securing public funding at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Sessions to promote economic benefits and counter fears and myths about land conservation.

Farm Bill to Expire as Congress Departs

Congress has punted consideration of the Farm Bill and tax incentives until they reconvene for a brief, intense session in December.

That means the 2008 Farm Bill will expire as of October 1. The largest impacts of reverting to the 1949 Farm Bill won't hit until 2013, but the pain for the Grassland Reserve Program and Wetlands Reserve Program is immediate -- both will be closed to new enrollments. Thanks to a provision in last year's appropriations bill, the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program can continue to operate through 2014.
The sooner we can pass a new Farm Bill, the better! Urge your representative to sign the Farm Bill discharge petition.

See you in Salt Lake City!

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