(NAFB.com) – Congress passed a year-end bill that includes a continuing resolution extending current levels of federal funding until March, including an extension of the 2018 Farm Bill. However, the National Association of Conservation Districts was disappointed the package didn’t include Inflation Reduction Act conservation funding. “The failure to include conservation funding in an end-of-year bill forgoes an incredible opportunity,” says NACD President Kim LaFleur. “Unfortunately, it reflects Congress’ increasing inability to negotiate and pass commonsense solutions.” The American Farmland Trust was also let down by a lack of conservation funding. “Conservation programs are popular, oversubscribed, and key to helping producers remain profitable and build resilience to extreme weather,” AFT says in a release. “By transferring those dollars to build the farm bill conservation baseline, Congress could have ensured additional conservation funding to meet the high demand. Thousands of farmers won’t be able to enhance profit margins while protecting soil and water quality.“