Brad Redlin, Izaak Walton League of America’s Agricultural Program Director, will discuss The Farm Bill

The Farm Bill?  The $288 billion Federal Farm Bill has greater impact on more U.S. land than any other single piece of legislation.  It contains over 90% of the conservation programs protecting our lands and waters.  Up for renewal, the Bill is an omnibus package of laws governing many policies including farm subsidies, food assistance, agricultural trade, conservation programs, and rural development.

About Brad Redlin:

National Director of Agricultural Programs for the IWLA.  In addition to directing the League’s agricultural policy, he directs staff and policies for the organization’s Missouri and Upper Mississippi River Initiatives.  He is Chairman of the Washington, DC-based Nat’l Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Co-Chair of the Clean Water Network’s Mississippi River Basin Workgroup, and member of Nat’l Farmers Union, Nat’l Assoc. of Farm Broadcasters, and serves on the Agriculture and Wildlife Working Group.  He also has several publications.  Past stints include high school teacher, journalist, and federal policy analyst, and media director for the Center for Rural Affairs (Lyons, NE).  Brad and his six siblings still own the Montana family farm, where he was raised, with 2000 acres of grassland and small grain production.

Izaak Walton League of America:

Founded in 1922, the Izaak Walton League of America is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected conservation organizations. With a powerful grassroots network of nearly 270 local chapters nationwide, IWLA takes a common-sense approach toward protecting our country’s natural heritage and improving outdoor recreation opportunities for all Americans.  As early as 1923, IWLA was the first, and for many years only, citizens’ group involved in preserving the BWCAW, blocking plans to build roads into what is now the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of the Superior National Forest.  Another early and major accomplishment was establishment of the Upper Mississippi Wildlife and Fish Refuge, resulting in the first federal water pollution law, the Clean Water Act.

The Minnehaha Chapter of IWLA meets the third Tuesday of every month (except December and summertime).
For info, please contact Michelle Schroeder at sustainableike@hotmail.com or 612-388-5623,
or visit http://www.minnesotaikes.org