Conservationists Promote Focus on CRP, Open Fields
January 13, 2009
News for Immediate Release
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Conservationists Promote Focus on CRP, Open Fields
Partnership welcomes Secretary Vilsack and new committee members, points to opportunities to promote healthy fish and wildlife
In a joint letter to congressional leaders, members of the Agriculture and Wildlife Working Group of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership point out that decisive action is necessary to reinvigorate the largest Farm Bill conservation program, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which is in a veritable free fall. The coalition also advocates full and expeditious funding for The Voluntary Access and Habitat Incentive Program, or “Open Fields,” which was authorized by Congress for the first time ever in the 2008 Farm Bill. This new program provides for $50 million in federal money over the next four years to the states to enhance or create voluntary sportsmen’s access programs on private lands.
The groups write: CRP stands as our nation’s largest and most successful conservation program on private lands. Through CRP, farmers and ranchers are making a real difference in the protection and enhancement of the environment. This vital program is extremely important to sportsmen as millions of acres of wetland, grassland,and forest habitats benefiting many fish and wildlife species have been conserved. Enrollment in CRP has continued to decline in recent years,however, as millions of acres have come out of the program due to contract expirations, limited opportunities to enroll new lands, and heavy competition from other land uses.
To reverse this downward spiral,the groups recommend: Steps should be taken to ensure continued enrollment opportunities, including regularly-scheduled (at least once per year) general sign-up periods, continuous sign-up opportunities, and additional sign-ups for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The payment structure for CRP should be modernized to compete with the many land use challenges that face landowners. We support establishment of an annual CRP rental-rate review and adjustment process to ensure these rates are competitive and accurately reflect local rates.
“USDA research shows natural resource conservation serves to reassert economic viability in rural areas,” said Brad Redlin of the Izaak Walton League of America. “Conservation funding to address environmental concerns will simultaneously support and spur farm and rural economies in a volatile marketplace.”
In regards to Open Fields, which provides for $50 million in federal money over the next four years to the states to enhance or create voluntary sportsmen’s access programs on private lands, the groups write:
Landowners can voluntarily enroll their land in one of these state-access programs and receive a small financial incentive in exchange for opening it to the public for hunting,fishing and other outdoor recreation. Not only will these landowners receive a bit of a financial infusion in difficult financial times – helping the national economy – they will simultaneously boost
The coalition concludes: We also request full funding of the program over the next four years in the new administration’s budget requests as well as appropriate apportionment of those funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation.
“As Governor of Iowa, Tom Vilsack demonstrated strong support for conservation programs,” said Dave Nomsen of Pheasants Forever, “and as a sportsman he knows firsthand about the passions and commitments of hunters toward wildlife conservation.”
“We’re hoping that the hallmarks of Governor Vilsack’s tenure will be the rebirth of CRP and an unprecedented push to expand sportsmen’s access through Open Fields,” said TRCP President and CEO George Cooper.
Click here to read the entire letter
Inspired by the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, the TRCP is a coalition of organizations and grassroots partners working together to preserve the traditions of hunting and fishing.
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