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The 2007 Farm Bill will play a vital role in Ducks Unlimited’s wetlands conservation mission. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has provided an opportunity for DU supporters to voice their support for conservation programs. It will be critical that farmers, ranchers, and landowners show their support for programs like the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) that are improving their land and wildlife habitat.

The USDA is holding several 2007 Farm Bill Forums http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdafarm ... ILL_FORUMS across the country to receive input and provide an opportunity to direct questions to USDA Secretary Mike Johanns and his staff regarding the policies of the 2007 Farm Bill.

We understand that many of you will not be able to attend these forums. If you are unable to attend any of the remaining forums, you can use the comment period to ensure that your voice is heard.

You can help NOW by visiting the above link on our website or the link below and submitting written comments during the open comment period until December 31st 2005 for the 2007 Farm Bill to USDA. For your convenience, we have compiled a list of sample comments that you can personalize and use if you wish http://www.ducks.org/2007FarmBill/sampleComments.asp; or, you may go directly to the 2007 Farm Bill Official Comments page on the USDA web site.

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/...=FARM_BILL_COMM

Make sure to stay in tune with what is happening with the 2007 Farm Bill through http://www.ducks.org/2007FarmBill/

These programs are critical to the future of waterfowl. How about a little help for the ducks!

For goodness sake, make sure that this is not viewed as taking money away from subsidy programs!!!!!!!!!!!!! OR make sure the money doesn't conflict with subsidy programs.
I just asked a farmer, "You want to go to the Delta Waterfowl Banquet or the DU Banquet?". His reply was, " I sure ain't going to the DU Banquet!". You'd better watch what cap you were on some farms. No kidding!

Farmers and Waterfowlers Join Forces to Support Farm Bill
Ducks Unlimited Says Strong Conservation Programs are Critical for Farmers and Wildlife

Little Rock, Ark., October 18, 2005 – Representatives from Ducks Unlimited (DU) joined Arkansas farmers and waterfowlers at the State Fair Grounds last Friday for a meeting with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner. During the meeting, several attendees encouraged the USDA to maintain strong conservation programs in the next Farm Bill.

“The resounding message from farmers and waterfowlers was that the 2002 Farm Bill is working well for Arkansas farmers and sportsmen,” said Craig Hilburn, director of conservation programs for DU in Arkansas.

The present Farm Bill expires in 2007. It has provided critical assistance for farmers and ranchers, and vital conservation programs for waterfowl and other wildlife.

Two of the most successful conservation programs in history, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) are part of the Farm Bill. These voluntary programs pay farmers and ranchers to restore, protect and enhance wetlands in exchange for retiring marginally productive land from agriculture. Getting paid to stop farming marginally productive land allows farmers to concentrate money and resources on farming their most productive land. Waterfowl and other wildlife benefit as the marginal lands revert back to a more natural habitat.

“The conservation programs in the Farm Bill are extremely important to the future of waterfowl populations, especially programs like CRP and WRP,” said Hilburn. “CRP is critical to conserving grasslands where waterfowl breed.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that the Conservation Reserve Program, itself, increases duck populations by more than two million birds per year. Hilburn says that’s good news for waterfowl hunters.

Presently, there are nearly three million acres set to expire from CRP programs across North and South Dakota – the heart of U.S. waterfowl production. Without continued funding to re-enroll these lands in CRP, waterfowl populations will likely suffer.

“Likewise, the Wetlands Reserve Program restores much needed migration and winter waterfowl habitat,” Hilburn said. “Many of those wetlands are right here in Arkansas, the duck hunting capital of the world.”

“The reason that waterfowl come to the lower Mississippi Valley, and Arkansas specifically, is because of farmers and ranchers across the south who farm their lands and practice conservation day in and day out,” Hilburn said.

Hilburn says it’s important for the conservation programs in the Farm Bill to remain well funded.

“Waterfowl are not the only ones that benefit from these popular programs,” said Hilburn. “Many landowners are able to retire croplands that are unproductive for agriculture, while retaining ownership of the land. Waterfowl benefit from the improved habitat, and those that love the land are able to keep and manage it for wildlife.”

To voice your support for the upcoming Farm Bill, log on to http://www.ducks.org/2007FarmBill/ or visit the USDA website at http://www.usda.gov and submit your feedback in writing. Individuals may also mail comments to U.S. Secretary Michael Johanns at the U.S. Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, DC 20250.

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest wetlands and waterfowl conservation organization. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands – nature’s most productive ecosystems – and continues to lose more than 100,000 wetland acres each year.

Chad with deficits our Federal Government is running now I KNOW the farm bill will be one of the first cuts. I look for it to be catastrophic for farmers. With cuts I forcast the bill to look like the one in the late seventies and early eighties. I really can't see them funding more conservation programs (CRP WRP). I hear people who are signed up in the programs now are worried about future payments. What do you think

Lordy, lordy, lets don't get all that farmers v DU crap going again over the Farm Bill. I've pretty much been a man of peace on this board since the last Farm Bill flap, with only a couple of cantankerous relapses. Please don't make me have to get all stirred up again in defense of DU and the ducks. I won't be as nice and gentle this time around.

torch wrote:Chad with deficits our Federal Government is running now I KNOW the farm bill will be one of the first cuts. I look for it to be catastrophic for farmers. With cuts I forcast the bill to look like the one in the late seventies and early eighties. I really can't see them funding more conservation programs (CRP WRP). I hear people who are signed up in the programs now are worried about future payments. What do you think

Recent news regarding funding for re-enrollment of CRP....

Waterfowl and Hunters to Benefit from Ducks Unlimited’s CRP Extension Work

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 4, 2005 –Ducks Unlimited (DU) lobbied hard for the inclusion of critical wetlands in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) recent decision to re-enroll or extend Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts set to expire during 2007-2010. Securing this priority recognition to re-enroll or extend contracts in the Prairie Pothole Region for this important conservation program was important to DU, because it will greatly benefit waterfowl and hunters.

“We worked hard to have these wetlands included in the CRP contract extensions, because the continued conservation of the Prairie Pothole Region wetlands and grasslands is crucial to the long-term success of duck populations,” said Ducks Unlimited Executive Vice President Don Young. “We applaud the USDA for taking the steps needed to help protect this area that is so valuable for waterfowl.”

Ducks Unlimited was the only waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization that pushed for the CRP re-enrollments and extensions.

The announcement to offer farmers and ranchers re-enrollments and extensions on their CRP contracts was finalized last week by Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns.

“Balance is the key to any good conservation plan,” Johanns said. “Re-enrolling and extending these contracts is part of the President’s (Bush) plan to fully use the nearly 40 million acres of CRP to improve water quality as well as wildlife habitat.”

According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates, the CRP is increasing duck populations by more than two million per year, and new bird habitats in the Northern Great Plains are emerging.

The CRP is a voluntary conservation program within the Farm Bill that makes annual payments to farmers who convert marginal cropland acres to permanent vegetative cover and/or establish vegetative buffers in the areas. The USDA Farm Service Agency administers CRP, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides technical assistance for the program in the Prairie Pothole Region.

According to DU’s Young, the Prairie Pothole Region is Ducks Unlimited’s main focus area in North America. “Duck hunters know these breeding grounds are the ‘duck factory’ for North America,” Young said. “These CRP re-enrollments and extensions will protect many of the gains we’ve made in this program during the last 20 years.”

Nearly 51 percent of the CRP acres in North and South Dakota’s Prairie Pothole Region are set to expire in 2007. But the Bush Administration’s recent decision now allows farmers and ranchers to take full advantage of the program’s opportunity to improve the environment and protect wildlife by extending or re-enrolling their contracts for up to 15 years.

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature’s most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 100,000 wetland acres each year.

Well Chad, all I can say is I hope you know what the hell you are talking about! There hasnt been any wrp or crp money left around here in several years now! I personaly think your, never mind!

its late right now and my brain is not working very well, but i will comment on this farm bill and conservation program. first of all the farm bill is only 1% of our federal budget.this also includes food stamp and wic program money as well as farm money. so as far as a deficit reduction it will not have a great impact. that will take making cuts in other areas that the farm bill.

from my stand point i dont think subsidies should be cut but i am a little bias because i am a farmer. if i had it my way the govt would get out completly and let us sell our crops to whatever country we wanted to. but with the govt limiting our market and not allowing the creation of new demand for our products we will never get what we need to for our crops.

now i have heard some of you boys say "well you farmers will just have to wait for that new truck or not spend so much money"
most of you havent price new farm equipment lately. a new combine is over $200,000 and a tractor is over $100,000 not to mention the $3 diesle that they burn to boot. but we are still geting the same price for our products that my grand father got in the 1960's now i know that we are more productive and more efficint than those times but it is not enough to make good. the reason prices have not changed is because our govt is trying to keep our food supply cheap so we can all eat and not cost an arm, leg, and your first born.

i dont think most people understand just how there lives are impacted by farming. maybe not directly but indirectly some way or some how. just think about were every thing starts and ends.