Pheasants Forever Opposes Early Outs to CRP

Conservation Groups Send Letter to USDA Secretary

Flying Bird

Flying Bird

Saint Paul, Minn. - July 01 -

July 1, 2008

The Honorable Ed Schafer Secretary of Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20250

Dear Secretary Schafer:

As the coalition of America’s leading conservation organizations, we write to ask that you maintain the great value of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to fish and wildlife conservation, local economies and sportsmen/-women. In light of recent calls to allow eligible CRP contract holders the opportunity to exit the program early and without the contractual reimbursement of the taxpayer dollars invested in their land, we reiterate the program’s importance and ask again that you not grant these requests. As stated in previous letters and communications from our community, we feel strongly that CRP and its existing priorities to conserve and improve the soil, water, and wildlife resources of enrolled land should not be compromised for this reason. Through CRP, farmers and ranchers are making a real difference in the protection and enhancement of the environment by helping: - Restore 2 million acres of wetlands and adjacent buffers;

- Restore over 8 million acres of valuable grassland and forest habitats;

- Reduce soil erosion by more than 40 percent;

- Protect 170,000 miles of streams;

- Sequester 48 million tons of carbon dioxide;

- Produce 13.5 million pheasants each year; and

- Support 2.2 million ducks per year in the Prairie Pothole region.

CRP also promotes underlying economic benefits as well. In 2006 alone, over 87 million Americans enjoyed recreational activities related to fish and wildlife. As a result, sportsmen/-women and others injected $120.1 billion into rural economies throughout the country. Releasing millions of acres from CRP will reduce the amount of fish and wildlife habitat and thereby the economic stimulation it provides - negatively impacting revenues and the thousands of jobs that follow; particularly in rural communities. We oppose the early release of CRP acres without the appropriate contractual reimbursement of taxpayer dollars and again ask that you decide against allowing this to occur. Preparation of the required NEPA environmental review is sure to reveal the serious nature of the impacts this policy would cause to soil, water and wildlife resources. Altering the existing CRP priorities on millions of acres of enrolled land could dramatically reverse many of the gains realized to date in protecting our environment, improving water quality, and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat. Our coalition members would be pleased to meet with you in person to discuss this decision and provide you with further information.

Sincerely,

American Sportfishing Association

Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Ducks Unlimited

Izaak Walton League of America

Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation

National Wildlife Federation

The Nature Conservancy

Pheasants Forever

Quail Forever

Quail Unlimited

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

Trout Unlimited

The Wildlife Society

cc: Chairman James Connaughton, Council on Environmental Quality

Director James Nussle, Office of Management and Budget

Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry

House Agriculture Committee

Dave Nomsen (320)491-9163

Pheasants Forever is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasants, quail and other wildlife populations in North America through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness and education. Such efforts benefit landowners and wildlife alike.