Ducks Unlimited, the Farm Bill & You
Farm Bill Update:
USDA Announces new incentives for Conservation Reserve Program
More than 7 million acres of wildlife and waterfowl habitat will be eligible to be open to the public for hunting and fishing, under a new plan by the US Department of Agriculture. The plan calls to open up lands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, and would almost double the acreage that is open to public access. Landowners enrolled in CRP would have additional incentives if they agree to open their land to public hunting and fishing.
In addition to the increased land open to hunters, the USDA also announced that there would be additional incentives to encourage enrollment in the Prairie Pothole Region, where more than 2.2 million birds are produced on CRP land alone.
More information
USDA allows haying and grazing on select CRP lands
2008 Farm Bill – Ducks Unlimited’s Summary of Waterfowl Outcomes
Over the past six years, Ducks Unlimited has worked with the Congress and the Administration to maintain and strengthen farm bill provisions that optimize waterfowl, other wildlife habitat, and wetland benefits. While this farm bill contains some positives, on balance it is likely to result in harm to the nation’s most important waterfowl habitats. Ducks Unlimited scientists estimate that the net effect of the 2008 farm bill over the next five years could be the loss of substantial native grassland, which is our most important duck nesting habitat in the prairie pothole states. This habitat loss will impact the reproductive success and survival of many breeding ducks. In addition, the Conservation Reserve Program was reduced from 39.2 million acres to 32 million acres, which will likely mean less grassland nesting habitat on the prairie landscape. The ultimate result of the loss of these native prairies, CRP grasslands and associated wetlands would be reduced duck populations, which could lead to more restrictive duck hunting seasons.
Previous farm bills have offered conservation options that provide long term habitat to wildlife with value to taxpayers. They were seen as desirable to our nation’s farmers and ranchers. Landowner demand for waterfowl friendly conservation incentives, such as the Grasslands and Wetlands Reserve Programs, have far outstripped available resources. While these programs are continued in this farm bill, they will be insufficient to meet the demand that farmers and ranchers have demonstrated.
This farm bill does include positives for conservation. It includes a two year extension to tax law that provides private landowners with a tax incentive for voluntary donation of conservation easements. The new Open Fields Program to encourage land conservation and provide new hunting opportunities is established. This program will help to improve public hunter access to private lands that have been conserved with federal funding. As indicated above, the Wetlands Reserve Program has been renewed in this farm bill with $1.3 billion in new funds, but it limits farmers options by capping the total acres by a quarter million fewer than the 2002 farm bill did. The Grasslands Reserve Program is continued with $300 million, but that is less than the previous farm bill. The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program will exist at the same level as previously and a new program for Chesapeake Bay will pump $372 million into conservation that will benefit water quality, waterfowl, and other fish and wildlife.
The farm bill includes benefits to farmers and waterfowl, but it also has deleterious ramifications to grasslands, wetlands and other habitat critical to the future of waterfowl and waterfowl hunting in comparison with the previous farm bill’s programs. Ducks Unlimited will continue to work with Congress, the Administration, and farm and ranch landowners on behalf of waterfowl conservation throughout the implementation of the 2008 farm bill and on future farm policy. Ducks Unlimited will continue to seek conservation programs that are beneficial to waterfowl that allow farmers and ranchers to farm the best and conserve the rest.
Farm Bill Background
The Farm Bill expired in late 2007, and was temporarily extended. The debate has carried into the new year and the Farm Bill will be reauthorized in early 2008. Given its potential for waterfowl conservation, Ducks Unlimited has made the reauthorization process and implementation a top organizational priority.
The 2007 Farm Bill will include conservation programs that provide tremendous benefits to waterfowl habitat and are vital to supporting DU's mission. DU is working with Congress, the Administration, other conservation leaders, as well as with America's farmers, and ranchers to ensure that key conservation provisions are maintained and improved in the 2007 Farm Bill.
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