10-02-2007, 04:10 PM
Bismarck, North Dakota - Ducks Unlimited says there is no need for early releases of Conservation Reserve Program contracts because 2.5 million acres will expire this Sunday.
Acting U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner says he will decide soon whether to allow farmers to plant crops on idled Conservation Reserve Program acres.
"One of DU's strongest concerns is the possibility of early contract releases, especially without penalty," said Scott McLeod, farm bill specialist with the Great Plains Regional Office in Bismarck. "Several million more CRP acres will expire and return to cropland over the next couple of years. There is no reason to release additional acres."
Many conservation organizations consider CRP the most important conservation program ever offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program is responsible for increasing the population of several grassland bird species and adding 2.2 million ducks annually.
The program also provides billions of dollars in water quality improvements and reduces soil erosion by more than 400 million tons annually.
"We expect this to remain an issue as the corn ethanol industry grows," McLeod said. "We ask the Secretary to carefully consider any decisions that may lead to the loss of CRP habitat."
DU also urges the Secretary to update CRP rental rates and provide enough opportunity for voluntary sign-ups into the program.
With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with almost 12 million acres conserved. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature's most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.
Media Contact:
Becky Jones Mahlum (701) 355-3507 bjonesmahlum@ducks.org
Acting U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner says he will decide soon whether to allow farmers to plant crops on idled Conservation Reserve Program acres.
"One of DU's strongest concerns is the possibility of early contract releases, especially without penalty," said Scott McLeod, farm bill specialist with the Great Plains Regional Office in Bismarck. "Several million more CRP acres will expire and return to cropland over the next couple of years. There is no reason to release additional acres."
Many conservation organizations consider CRP the most important conservation program ever offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program is responsible for increasing the population of several grassland bird species and adding 2.2 million ducks annually.
The program also provides billions of dollars in water quality improvements and reduces soil erosion by more than 400 million tons annually.
"We expect this to remain an issue as the corn ethanol industry grows," McLeod said. "We ask the Secretary to carefully consider any decisions that may lead to the loss of CRP habitat."
DU also urges the Secretary to update CRP rental rates and provide enough opportunity for voluntary sign-ups into the program.
With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with almost 12 million acres conserved. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature's most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.
Media Contact:
Becky Jones Mahlum (701) 355-3507 bjonesmahlum@ducks.org