Quail, Pheasant Groups React To Farm Bill

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the acceptance of 2.8 million acres into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) so far in 2021. The positive news will help stem the tide of the 3 million acres also set to expire from contract on September 30^th. The Habitat Organization remains focused on advocating for additional CRP signup opportunities and increased incentives to assist the nation’s private landowners and agricultural communities in meeting a 27-million-acre program cap by the end of fiscal year 2023. CRP remains the country’s single most effective conservation tool creating wildlife habitat, improving water quality, protecting soil health, ensuring climate resiliency, and safeguarding robust rural economies.

“Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are thankful to USDA for implementing much-needed administrative changes to CRP earlier this year which made it a viable option again for our nation’s farmers, ranchers and landowners,” said Jim Inglis, Director of Government Affairs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “But make no mistake about it, a lot more CRP acres are needed to help landowners address resource concerns throughout the country – especially those affecting grassland birds. We look forward to working with USDA officials and Congressional leadership to help be a catalyst for the nation’s leading conservation program.”

Like other USDA conservation programs, CRP is a voluntary program that has a variety of options that can be tailored to the specific conservation issues of a state or region and desires of the landowner. The options run the gamut from working lands such as CRP Grasslands to partnerships with states and private entities to target a specific joint concern such as water quality or quantity, or specific wildlife species such as pheasants or quail.

“Despite Congress raising the enrollment target in the 2018 Farm Bill, there have been decreases in enrollment for the past two years. The changes we made this spring have put us on the path to reverse this trend,” FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux said. “Even with the improved direction, USDA will still be about four million acres below the enrollment target. The CRP benefits for producers, sportsmen, wildlife, conservation and climate are numerous and well documented. We cannot afford to let them to be left on the table.”

USDA estimates that a 4-million-acre shortfall in CRP would have the following impacts across the United States:

• More than 359,000 acres less annual forage under CRP Grasslands;
• A loss of 1,500,000 acres of quality wildlife and pollinator less habitat for wildlife;
• 20% fewer apiaries in major production regions meeting critical forage thresholds;
• A loss of more than 4 million upland game and other grassland birds;
• About 90 million pounds of nitrogen entering waterways;
• Over 30 million tons of soil eroded, leading to increased pollution and sedimentation in streams and rivers; and
• Foregone sequestration of more than 3 million metric tons of CO2.