DENVER — Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) wrote to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Aug. 7 expressing concerns about the ongoing drought in Kansas and Colorado that could threaten US farmers and ranchers’ livelihoods.

According to the letter, during a Field Hearing on the High Plains in the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Conservation, Climate, Forestry and Natural Resources Subcommittee, which was held June 26, producers testified how current US Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs are affecting them and what federal responses to the drought they would like to see.

“Colorado and Kansas producers told us they cannot survive the current levels of drought unless we make serious changes to how we address it,” Bennet said. “Their field hearing testimonies were invaluable, and now we need the assistance from our USDA programs and upcoming Farm Bill to reflect the unique challenges they are facing.”

The senators called out four programs in particular that they believe could be improved to support producers: the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Watershed and Flood Prevention Program (PL-566).

One change producers seek in the CRP is a move to rental rates based on erodibility indexes rather than soil productivity. Those with poorer soils currently have little to no incentive to enroll in the program, the letter said. Producers would like to see the overall annual payment cap increased to at least $125,000 per individual or entity.

CREP has been used to address water conservation efforts, but both Kansas and Colorado are facing headwinds with the program, according to the senators. Issues include administrative restrictions and contrary requirements for enrollment.

Under an EQIP water management entity provision, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) was given authority to enter contracts with entities like irrigation districts, ditch companies and groundwater management districts to implement voluntary regional-scale water conservation improvements. However, Bennet and Marshall said the NRCS has not yet fully utilized this new authority in 3 western states.

Regarding PL-566, the senators believe the program needs modernization and restructuring in order to meet increasing demand for western water challenges.

Additionally, the senators recommended increased investment in water conservation research and the scaling of innovative and voluntary water conservation approaches, such as the creation of a voluntary groundwater conservation pilot program.