Groups call for more conservation spending in farm bill

The Iowa Farmers Union, the Catholic Conference and two state environmental groups are calling for more spending on federal programs that pay farmers to conserve the land. Iowa Farmers Union vice president Chris Peterson of Clear Lake. Says the people of the country are going to start demanding something for their investment in agriculture.Robert Gronski of the National Catholic Life Rural Conference says federal farm benefits would be better spent on conservation than on Commodity-price-support programs.Iowa Sierra Club members have been sending letters to Iowa’s two U-S Senators, urging more spending on conservation programs.