Alliance Distinctives
What Makes Us Effective

The Family Farm Alliance was founded ten years ago with one overriding ethic: Agriculture doesn't need another association, but it does need an effective, low cost grass roots group that can get the job done. That belief was our foundation and it still drives every decision we make.

To keep costs low, we hire no full time staff. All staff work is done under contract so we maintain flexibility and very low overhead. In addition, we believe that the only effective way to impact elected officials is to have them hear first-hand from farmers and ranchers. While we have outstanding legislative advisors under contract, we deliver the key messages through our members.

Recent Accomplishments

"Place at the Table" Passes in Dam Safety Bill

The Family Farm Alliance fought hard for five years to assure that Reclamation customers have a say in the design and construction of Safety of Dams projects. Last November, the House of Representatives unanimously passed S. 1727 and made it the law of the land. This is a significant milestone for the Alliance and a huge victory for irrigators in the West.

Western Water Supply Enhancement Database Released

The future of Western irrigated agriculture is dependant on the vision of today's leaders. With that statement in mind, the Family Farm Alliance has launched an aggressive and forward looking project that pulls together a master data base of potential water supply enhancement projects from throughout the West. The "Western Water Supply Enhancement Study" is the Alliance's response to Interior Secretary Gale Norton's new Water 2025 process.

2005 Energy Bill Directs BOR to Develop Storage Report

The Alliance worked with congressional staffers to develop provisions that would require the Bureau of Reclamation to provide an update on all authorized storage studies and projects in the Western U.S. That language – offered by Rep. George Radanovich (CA) - was included in the final version of the Energy Act of 2005.  

Report Presented to National Research Council Board

The Alliance on June 23rd in Washington, D.C. presented a report entitled “The Bureau of Reclamation’s Capability to Fulfill Its Core Mission: The Customer’s Perspective” to the National Research Council Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment. The Alliance report compiles nine individual case studies for irrigation districts served by six Reclamation projects.

Appearance Before 2005 Senate Water Conference

On April 5, the Family Farm Alliance was one of 20 organizations selected to participate in a Water Conference hosted by the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Participants on the various panels were selected, in part, based on responses provided to six questions posed to the public by the committee in late February. Over 130 parties from around the country submitted responses to those questions. Executive Director Dan Keppen’s presentation focused on the need for the Bureau of Reclamation to ensure that, wherever possible, design functions that are paid for by water users should be overseen by irrigation districts or their consultants.

Presence At Three Congressional Oversight Hearings in Two Months

• On April 13, Pat O'Toole represented the Alliance on an oversight hearing on storage conducted by the House Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Water and Power. President O'Toole told members of the Subcommittee about the organization's recently completed Western Water Supply Enhancement Study.
  
• Bill Kennedy , the Alliance's Chairman of the Board, testified at a House Resources Committee field hearing on April 23 in Spokane, Washington. Chairman Kennedy provided recommendations on how to streamline National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes to accelerate progress on much needed water storage projects.
  
• The House Resources Committee on June 22 held a hearing in Washington, D.C. regarding the impact of the Endangered Species Act on water supplies. Executive Director Dan Keppen represented the Alliance on the witness panel, along with several other interests with Alliance ties.

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