Down on the Farm: January 2008
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.
Pheasants Forever Applauds USDA Conservation Reserve Program Wildlife Practice Announcement
Secretary Conner Announces CRP SAFE Practices for Wildlife
Last week, U.S. Department of Agriculture Acting Secretary Chuck Conner announced an important change to the Conservation Reserve Program that will encourage state-specific wildlife focused projects. Speaking before attendees at National Pheasant Fest 2008, Secretary Conner announced approval for 45 State Acres For wildlife Enhancement or SAFE proposals covering 259,776 acres in 18 states. The SAFE projects will be available through USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) service centers as part of the ongoing continuous sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program.
The Minnesota approved SAFE practice, called the "Minnesota Back Forty" is specifically targeted at improving habitat for ring-necked pheasants and had been allocated 23,100 acres in the CRP. Other states approved SAFE's target bobwhite quail and black bears in Mississippi, Roosevelt elk in Washington, Columbian Sharp-tailed grouse in Idaho, and numerous others. According to Secretary Conner, actual enrollment will start shortly and additional SAFE proposals will be approved shortly toward the goal to approve 500,000 acres nationwide.
Reacting to the Secretary's announcement, vice-president of governmental affairs, Dave Nomsen noted, "This announcement represents a watershed moment for wildlife conservation in association with the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). First authorized in 1985, CRP has evolved to become a true soil, water, and wildlife conservation program and today's announcement clearly elevated wildlife as a co-equal priority. CRP's wildlife legacy has been well documented for pheasants, waterfowl, and other species of wildlife. Today we were given a valuable tool to ensure those benefits continue not only for pheasants, but for many other species of wildlife; including bobwhite quail which is in critical need of an announcement like this one."
"This announcement is particularly important in light of greatly escalating land and crop prices and strong demand for additional commodity production. We are pleased to see both Signing and Practice Incentive Payments included to help make participation in the voluntary program more economically viable," continued Nomsen.
"The vast majority of CRP's wildlife benefits have historically accrued to the competitive general CRP signups. While it remains true that many wildlife benefits will continue to be associated with a fully enrolled CRP and general signups, I don't want to discount the importance of today's announcement as it may relate to future wildlife benefits. The SAFE concept will give us the ability to target wildlife conservation on America's farms. At Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, we appreciate that once enrollment begins in the coming weeks, we will have an opportunity to work with wildlife-minded farmers and landowners on a daily basis as opposed to waiting for periodic general CRP signup periods."
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.
Return to On the Wing: January 2008"On The Wing" Archive
- On the Wing: September 2008
- On the Wing: August 2008
- On the Wing: July 2008
- On the Wing: June 2008
- On the Wing: May 2008
- On the Wing: April 2008
- On the Wing: March 2008
- On the Wing: February 2008
- On the Wing: January 2008
- On the Wing: December 2007
- On The Wing: November 2007
- On The Wing: October 2007
- On The Wing: September 2007
- On The Wing: August 2007
- On The Wing: July 2007
- On The Wing: June 2007
- On The Wing: May 2007
