Conservation groups are hailing a U.S. Department of Agriculture decision that forbids farmers to withdraw acreage enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program and place it in agricultural production without repayment.
But not all news is rosy about CRP, an arrangement of vital importance to the propagation of waterfowl and upland game birds. An estimated 2.2 million ducks and 13.5 million pheasants are reared on CRP lands each year. Recreation generated by this creation provides employment for approximately 1.5 million people.
USDA records indicate a 50 percent increase in the number of landowners who withdrew acreage from the program last year, largely in response to higher grain prices and a greater emphasis on biofuels. Also, approximately 1.1 million acres are set to expire from enrollment in September 2008; 8.8 million more will expire over the following two years.
The USDA decision, which gives farmers economic incentive to maintain enrollment at least through the term of the contract, was applauded by Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever.
