Mississippi River Network members head to DC to support farmer-driven clean water and healthy habitat programs in the next Farm Bill

UPDATE 3/15/23: During our press conference on March 14, MRN fly-in attendees shared their asks for Congress, key takeaways from all Hill meetings, what the President’s budget means for River priorities, and next steps.  Watch press conference | View press kit

Fourteen organizations, representing all ten states that the Mississippi River flows through, are gathering in Washington, DC on March 7-9 for the Mississippi River Network’s (MRN) annual fly-in. The three-day event will include a rally, march, and meetings with Congressional leaders. MRN will host a press conference the following week on March 14. 

MRN members will meet directly with over twenty Congressional offices in all ten mainstem Mississippi River states on March 8 and 9 to urge Congress to: 

• Increase farmer-supported solutions for clean water and healthy habitats in the Mississippi River Basin by protecting and expanding Working Lands Conservation programs like the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) in the 2023 Farm Bill. 
• Amplify the water quality and climate change mitigation benefits of well-managed grazing by protecting and increasing funding for the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) in the FY24 appropriations process. 
• Expand the capacity of agencies to reach beginning and underserved farmers by protecting and increasing funding for Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) in the FY24 appropriations process.  

“Over 90 percent of Iowa’s land is in agricultural production. Farm Bill conservation programs not only promote environmental outcomes, but can increase productivity and protect farmers from storms, flooding, and drought,” said Alicia Vasto, Water Program Director at the Iowa Environmental Council. 

“We have an historic opportunity to expand sustainable agriculture policies that have direct impacts on the Mississippi River’s health all while meeting the stated needs of farmers,” said Kelly McGinnis, Executive Director of the Mississippi River Network. “Three to four times as many farmers apply for these programs than receive funding; we have an opportunity to change that.”

On March 7 MRN member organizations will also join the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s (NSAC) farmer-led Rally for Resilience. Farmers, farmworkers, and farmer allies will gather with a singular ask for policymakers: make climate change policy a priority in the 2023 Farm Bill.

MRN will also invite Members of Congress and their in-district staff to attend River Days of Action – a basinwide event to celebrate and take action for the Mississippi River and its communities – on June 8-18, 2023. 

MRN member organizations participating in DC fly-in events include: American Rivers, Friends of the Mississippi River, Healthy Gulf, Iowa Environmental Council, Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance, Louisiana Bucket Brigade, National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, National Wildlife Federation, National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, Quapaw Canoe Company, and the Conservation Fund. 

On Tuesday, March 14 at 11:00am CT MRN will host a press conference to share what was heard during the meetings in DC. Click here to register for the March 14 press conference. 

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About the Mississippi River Network (MRN) and its 1 Mississippi Program

MRN is a coalition of nearly 70 organizations dedicated to creating a healthier Mississippi River by working for the well-being of the people, land, water, and wildlife of America’s largest watershed. One of the ways the Network advances its goal of a healthier Mississippi River is through its 1 Mississippi program – the only public outreach program of its kind for the Mississippi River. 

Learn more about the Mississippi River Network at https://mississippiriver.org. 

Learn about 2023 River Days of Action at https://1mississippi.org/river-days-of-action.