Down on the Farm: November 2007
At Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever we put a great deal of effort into bringing the concerns of America's conservationists, sportsmen and women to Washington D.C. Of particular note has been our work to strengthen the conservation programs within the Federal Farm Bill. The Farm Bill addresses land use practices on over 50 million acres of America's most environmentally sensitive lands; including the 39.2 million acres making up the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). CRP has been the nation's most successful conservation program in history. Since it's inception in 1982, it has prevented soil erosion, improved water quality, created habitat for pheasants, quail, ducks, and a myriad of other wildlife species, and stabilized rural farm economies. This year is a critical year for conservationists and wildlife as the 2007 Federal Farm Bill is debated. Down on the Farm will be a monthly up-date on the status of conservation in that debate.
Senate Farm Bill Update: Stalemate
The Senate Farm Bill has now been on the floor for over a week. The continued wrangling (senators have offered over 200 amendments) over the bill makes it likely that the Senate will move onto other items before leaving for Thanksgiving recess. Several senators have said that could throw the future of the legislation into question.
In the absence of Senate floor approval, other options include extending the current Farm Bill and bringing the House version directly to the Senate floor. There are downsides to an extension, including no budget baseline for both the Grasslands and Wetlands Reserve Programs (they are both fully subscribed and would be idle unless other authority/funds are legislated), no new Conservation Reserve Program language to improve the viability of the program, no Sodsaver language to help halt prairie conversion, and no provisions for the "Open Fields" public access program. Check back regularly at www.PheasantsForever.org for additional Farm Bill updates.
If you have story ideas, dog photos, pre-1980 hunting photos and requests for future On The Wing consideration, please send correspondence to ahauck@pheasantsforever.org.
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