For my money, Environmental Defense has been the key player in this year's farm bill debate, combining its research, advocacy in Washington and in the field, coalition-building, and passion to great effect at every phase of the process. Here's yet another example of why--a great op-ed from Glenda Neff, EDF's Northeast farm policy coordinator, in Lancaster Farming.

The House and Senate both had the chance to reform our farm safety net to benefit more farmers, free up funding for other priority programs, and ensure that the president will sign the final bill, but so far they’ve missed the opportunity.

Farmers and taxpayers in Pennsylvania and the Northeast who want to see our farms thriving, water and soil quality protected, and local healthy foods available in our schools and markets should not be satisfied with the versions of the farm bill that the House and Senate have passed. Even with funding increases for conservation programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Farmland Protection, more than half of eligible applicants will continue to be rejected because of a lack of funding. Key conservation programs will continue to be severely underfunded, even though most citizens want their tax dollars to support farmers who are protecting our watersheds and improving their practices as stewards of the land.