Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Agriculture and Finance Committees, is encouraged that Farm Bill negotiators have presented a Farm Bill conference agreement that includes a permanent tax deduction for Endangered Species Act expenditures.

Crapo has introduced legislation seeking tax credits for landowners who volunteer to protect endangered species on their private property and said he will continue to seek credits for participation in ESA programs.

US Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) comments

Initial reports on provisions in the agreement include an increase of more than $4 billion for Farm Bill conservation programs; continued support for farm families and more than $1 billion through a new Specialty Crops Title for programs important to specialty crop producers; a more than $10 billion increase in funding for nutrition programs, including a broad expansion of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program that Crapo worked to extend to Idaho students; and the establishment of a cellulosic biofuels credit, and other programs to increase biofuels production.