Is DU really feeding the birds up north?

[mottlet]

BigCountry,
PM me which DU lobbyist you spoke with. I'm not saying that they didn't say that, I'm just interested in knowing who it was.

If farmers don't want to enroll in CRP or WRP due to the hassle involved in getting enrolled, then why is there a waiting list to enroll in these programs? These programs are good for the land, good for the wildlife, and good for the farmer.

Subsidies are a necessary component of farming today. That doesn't mean that they aren't necessarily abused (a lot) and that they aren't in need of some overhauling to get it right. If the government cuts subsidies, I understand that it takes money of a farmer's pocket and he has is not going to be happy with that. But forgive for not feeling a whole lot of sympathy while I listen to some millionaire farmer complain about not being able to buy a new Z-71 this year because he just HAD to get his wife that new Lexus. Kinda like listening to Patrick Ewing say that NBA players were just trying to feed their families during the basketball lockout a few years back.

Plenty of farmers get by without subsidies (catfish farmers) and without crop insurance. And I know some that get by on nothing but crop insurance and subsidies on land that a.) never should be farmed in the first place and b.) didn't GET farmed, but received a payment anyway. These guys are farming the Farm Bill and coming out smelling like roses, heaven forbid the government throw a little more money towards the ducks.

mottlet

[BigCountry]

Mollet


i am not some millonair farmer and i know very few that are. most of us are just getting by the same as the rest of the world. there is abuse in the system but i dont abuse it and alot of others dont either so why should we suffer for thier faults.

i do not remember the guys name but i will find out.

Ironically, the crop subsidies available are encouraging landowners in the PPR to break up virgin grasslands to plant crops to qualify to receive the subsidies. IF they could get money through a conservation program, then they perhaps would not be inclined to go this route. written by po monkey.



i know there are waiting list for the programs avalible. so what po monkey said, sould not happen.

[cajun squealer]

Motlett, BigCountry,

Good posts on subsidies. There appears to be way to much beauracracy and abuse involved with these programs. Would love to hear more on this complex issue. Start another thread on it.

[Chad Manlove]

Damn, I step out of the office for a few days....trying to kill a few ducks.....and look what happens

[Chad Manlove]

DU's position is simple: Keep buying land, ignore everything else, and let the chips fall where they may.

GC,

I hope you were just kidding with this statement. Actually, DU owns very little land in North America. DU owns 300,000 acres in Canada and 25,000 acres in the northern US. However, our mission definitley involves protecting as much breeding habitat as possible.....We've helped protect 10 times more acres of breeding habitat than we actually own....through conservation easements and providing funding to states to help acquire WMAs.

[Chad Manlove]

MSDAWG,

There already is such a group. It's call Delta Waterfowl. I've been supporting them for years. Long before the hats, stickers, tee-shirts, and now truck tags. I support them because the support EDUCATION. Education is the key to the future of duck hunting as well as the key to everything else. My money goes to the kids that are tomorrows biologist, scientists, and educators. DW also stands up for the waterfowl hunters, and they don't mind saying so. I agree with GC. DU is a conservation group that thinks buying up land is the key to that conservation. Maybe so, but they won't take a stand for the hunter. It's to controversial for them. Thats's OK, just go to DW's site and read a little. Then call them, and ask questions. I bet you'd agree....

Yes, DU will take a stand for duck hunters.......I think Wildfowler already posted this....but it deserves another...

DU Continues Effort to Preserve Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges

Memphis, TN, September 24, 2003 –Ducks Unlimited (DU) continues to work toward the preservation of recreational hunting as a compatible use of National Wildlife Refuges. This week DU received important news that House Resolution 362 (the sportsmen's appreciation resolution) passed the House by unanimous consent. The letter signed by DU and the various sportsmen conservation groups in support of this resolution was also read into the Congressional Record. The effort was led in the House by Congressmen James Walsh (25th District -NY) and Sherwood Boehlert (24th District – NY) who expressed congressional support for America's millions of hunters and anglers.

Reacting to the passage of the resolution, John Tomke, President of Ducks Unlimited said, "with the incorrect unflattering portrayal of hunters and anglers in the mass media at times, it's good to see that members of Congress recognize the role hunters play in conservation and the contributions sportsmen make to the environment."

The resolution aids DU and more than 40 other conservation-sportsmen organizations who are opposing an anti-hunters’ suit to ban hunting on refuges. The Fund for Animals seeks to eliminate hunting opportunities on 39 wildlife refuges nationwide, which may lead to reviews of all hunting on the National Wildlife Refuge System.

According to Jeff Crane, Director of Policy and Programs with the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, "Sportsmen have been on record for years as being the primary benefactors of conservation and fish and wildlife management. It is appropriate that Congress, with the leadership of the 320 members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, recommit to the country's hunters and anglers just days before National Hunting and Fishing Day on September 27.”

With the enactment of this resolution, Congress officially recognizes the importance and contributions of sportsmen to American society; supports the traditions and values of sportsmen; supports the many conservation programs implemented by sportsmen; recognizes the many economic benefits associated with outdoor sporting activities; and recognizes the importance of encouraging the recruitment of, and teaching the traditions of hunting, trapping, and fishing to future sportsmen.

H.Res. 362 was introduced shortly after Labor Day with a bipartisan group of 37 original cosponsors and passed the House on Tuesday, September 23 by unanimous consent.

[Chad Manlove]

Po monkey
i know this because i had a converstion with a lobbiest for DU and he flat told me that they sponsored the knowing what it would do to farming.

BC,

That is simply not true. I would like to know the name of this individual, please provide. DU never intended to hurt the farming community. Farmers are our biggest supporters and cooperators. We would literally be "cutting our throat" to support such an idea. Does not make sense from even a business point of view.

[mottlet]

Don't worry Chad, I got the fort.

On second thought, you probably oughta to get in here.

mottlet

[tunica du4u]

Okay. Just got back from a top secret DU meeting where it was all explained. DU is not feeding the ducks up north and no they don't have a net stretched from the Rockies to the Applachians to prevent them from coming south. DU has a top secret program, where they have hired Russians ex-cosmenauts to come to Canada and are training the ducks not to fly south past northern Illinois, much like circus animals are trained. A few stubborn ducks are "untrainable", escape and these are the ones we are seeing in Mississippi now. Most of which are smiley's, which these scientist/cosmenauts have discovered are smarter than mallard and have twice the brain size, according to Dr. Jethro Bodine, head double naught agent in charge of this project. Peta is not involved and no agriculutrial subsidy money is being used. This program has been secretly funded with Social Security benefit money for several years now thru a special bill sponsored by Bennie Thompson. Several of the Bush cabinet members were and/or being replaced for not supporting the idea of this program. Starting salary for the Russian was $200 per day plus expenses, thus making this a very effecient program. Each scientist is responsible for training 20 ducks in a month.

[tunica du4u]

forgot to mention this is all top secret so keep a lid on it

[Spoonallard]

[
I hope you were just kidding with this statement. Actually, DU owns very little land in North America. DU owns 300,000 acres in Canada and 25,000 acres in the northern US. However, our mission definitley involves protecting as much breeding habitat as possible.....We've helped protect 10 times more acres of breeding habitat than we actually own....through conservation easements and providing funding to states to help acquire WMAs.[/quote]




If we are members can we hunt it cause there ain't any ducks down here!

[SoftCall]

Chad - you still haven't addressed the PETA issue - I mean my gosh...where does it end????

I will have to give Wildfowler credit on his fishing skills...he actually got some folks to think he was serious

I SUPPORT DU
I SUPPORT DW

nuff said

[Bustin' Ducks]

Why do ya think I have an avatar that says they suck? Gentlemen, if you are confused, please refer to my avatar for more assitance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Duck Sniper

..Thank you Sir..

[Dutch Dog]

Yeah, I killed a bunch of ducks the other day and cut open the craw's just to see what was inside. and I'll be dammed if it wasn't a bunch of corn kernels with DU logos stamped on them.