New practice will initially benefit up to half million acres for wildlife

By USDA
Mar 26, 2007

Portland, Ore. - March 23, 2007 - Last night at the 72nd North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency announced a new Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP) practice called Conservation Practice 38 (CP-38).

A new state-specific wildlife conservation practice, CP-38 will give states the flexibility to design conservation programs to fit their own specific wildlife needs.

The CP-38 announcement is significant news for Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) members and conservationists across the United States.

"We applaud the USDA for initiating this," said Dave Nomsen, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's Vice President of Government Affairs, "This new conservation practice will give us the ability, on a daily basis, to work with wildlife-conscious farmers, ranchers and landowners in developing beneficial programs for wildlife in tandem with state wildlife and natural resource agencies. This is significant in terms of strong Conservation Reserve Program policy for wildlife."

Initially, CP-38 will affect up to 500,000 acres, with those acres allocated to states based upon cropland acreage in each state. Individual states are expected to receive several thousand acres upwards to nearly 30,000 acres. States in turn will design conservation practices and policies specific to their habitat and wildlife.

"One of the great things about this country is the varying landscape from state to state," Nomsen said, "With CP-38, the USDA has developed a progressive new practice that recognizes the diverse wildlife needs across this mosaic landscape."

Last month, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced the USDA would offer no new CRP general signups in 2007 and 2008. While the CP-38 practice is not a complete replacement for general signups, the new practice does signify a strong step in the right direction. As a CCRP practice, CP-38 will be available for landowner enrollment despite the lack of a general signup. USDA officials expect the practice to be available for landowner enrollment by December 2007.

"Coming on the heels of the 20th anniversary of the CRP program, CP-38 is a stepping stone for the next 20 years of CRP, and beyond," Nomsen said, "CRP has been the most successful conservation program in U.S. history, not only improving pheasant populations, but improving water quality, preventing soil erosion and creating habitat for a variety of wildlife species. CP-38 will continue to strengthen CRP's legacy in the 21st century, with pheasants, quail and other wildlife as the beneficiaries."

Another major development announced at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference was the reallocation of Conservation Practice 33 (CP-33). Commonly referred to as Bobwhite Buffers, CP-33 is a conservation practice targeted at improving bobwhite quail habitat through the creation of habitat buffers along row crops. These transitional, or edge, areas provide important habitat for quail, grassland birds and other wildlife. The news means states that have used up existing allocations will be allowed to continue to enroll acres in CP-33.

"This is especially important news, as CP-33 is vital to the resurgence of the bobwhite quail population nationwide," Nomsen said.

In addition to the conservation practice announcements, Secretary Johanns last week directed the Farm Service Agency to adjust CRP rental rates nationwide. This is also positive news for PF and QF members and conservationists. As a voluntary program, the adjustments are needed to help the CRP program remain viable and competitive.

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are active supporters of the CRP program.

Originally established in 1985, CRP offers annual payments for 10-15 year contracts to participants who establish grass, shrub, and/or tree cover on environmentally sensitive lands. CRP also helps stabilize farmer's incomes through annual payments and contributes billions of dollars to the economy annually from hunting expenditures; much of which benefits rural communities. CRP is administered by the Farm Service Agency and is a part of the Federal Farm Bill, which the current version of expires at the end of 2007.

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Source:  http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_41409.shtml