In a dramatic election-year announcement, the Clinton Administration says it will ask Congress for $1.3 billion in the fiscal 2001 budget for conservation programs and for an increase in Conservation Reserve Program acreage. The announcement came a day before Vice President Al Gore and Democratic presidential candidate Bill Bradley squared off in Iowa for a debate that centered on agricultural issues.

One major provision in the proposal is for a new $600 million program to provide additional income to farmers who voluntarily adopt comprehensive plans to curb erosion and protect water supplies from pesticide and nutrient runoff.

An additional $125 million would go to the Conservation Reserve Program to establish buffer strips along waterways to improve water quality. Congress also will be asked to expand CRP acreage from the current 36.4 million to 40 million acres.

Another $550 million would strengthen several USDA programs that assist farmers with conservation and environmental efforts, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Wetlands Reserve Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. Funding also would be used to expand technical assistance for farmers and ranchers for conservation efforts and to expand the Farmland Protection Program.

The $600 million for payments to farmers implementing certain conservation practices follows legislation introduced last summer by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA). Harkin, in praising the announcement, said the level of payments provided would depend on how significant and comprehensive the conservation practices. Eligible practices would include basic nutrient management and conservation tillage, buffer strips and windbreaks, wetlands restoration and wildlife habitat enhancement and total resource management plans that addressed all aspects of conservation and water, air and wildlife protection.

National Council for Farmer Cooperatives President David Graves pledged to continue working for the increased conservation provisions through the appropriations process "to ensure that funding is provided to meet agriculture's critical needs."

On Saturday, Gore and Bradley squared off in Johnston, IA, debating agricultural issues. REUTERS and THE WASHINGTON POST reported Gore had a farmer planted in the audience to ask Bradley why he voted against federal disaster aid after 1993 floods. Bradley was in the Senate at the time.

Bradley tried to side-step the question, the POST reported. "You know, Al," he said to Gore, "I think the premise of your question is wrong. This is not about the past. This is about the future. This is about what we're going to do to change the agriculture policy we've had in the last eight, ten years" and help farmers who are threatened financially.

Replied Gore, "Well, I understand why you don't want to talk about the past." He added that in addition to voting against 1993 disaster relief, Bradley opposed federal subsidies for ethanol, price supports and crop insurance. "There were many other droughts and disasters facing farmers where you were one of a handful who didn't help the farmers."