[BCNnet] Article from November 6 Daily Herald
judymellin
judymellin@netzero.net
Thu, 6 Nov 2003 19:23:40 -0800
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This article appeared in today's Daily Herald. While most of us are not =
especially concerned about pheasants, it is an interesting take by a =
hunting organization on the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and =
Farmed Wetlands Program (FWP).
Judy Mellin
Bird Monitor
Poplar Creek Prairie Stewards
Hoffman Estates (Cook County)
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Changing land usage bodes well for pheasant fanatics By Mike Jackson =
Outdoor Columnist for the Daily Herald
Just as I was getting some boxes of upland bird shells ready for a hunt, =
I received an e-mail from the national office of Pheasants Forever.
The correspondence triggered boyhood memories of when my father and I =
would walk up to a farmhouse and ask permission to hunt a parcel of =
grassland.
Here's the piece from Tom Kirschenmann, Pheasants Forever Regional =
Biologist.
"There was a time when the landscape of the Midwest consisted of vast =
fields of grass with thousands of wetlands scattered throughout.
"Today, only a small percentage of those wetlands exist in their natural =
state. Most have been converted to farmland as agricultural practices =
evolved over the years. In fact, many of these farmed wetlands are =
considered 'nuisance' acres, because they often cannot be seeded to a =
crop, or if seeded, produce a marginal crop at best.
"However, federal and state conservation programs, along with =
conservation organizations like Pheasants Forever, are working to return =
some of those wetlands to the landscape. Returning these small wetlands =
to the landscape provides amazing benefits for water, soil and =
wildlife."
One particularly beneficial federal conservation program has been the =
Farmed Wetlands Program (FWP).
Originally piloted in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, =
and South Dakota, the FWP was such a success it has been adopted =
nationwide as part of the hugely successful Continuous Conservation =
Reserve Program (CRP).
Through the FWP, farmers and landowners receive financial payments for =
returning these small wetlands to their natural state. In their natural =
state, these wetlands provide habitat for wildlife and protect sensitive =
soils from erosion.
"What makes this program so successful is that it creates a win-win =
situation," said Rick Young, vice president of field operations for =
Pheasants Forever.
The FWP benefits pheasants and other wildlife by providing wetlands and =
upland cover for nesting and brood rearing. For farmers, the FWP is a =
great tool to generate a stabilized income from acreage that can be =
risky to farm.
It provides a financially viable solution to these marginal wetland =
areas and increases farming efficiency.
"The FWP can be a successful part of any farm with wetland areas, from =
California to New Jersey," Young said.
There are some basic eligibility requirements for landowners interested =
in enrolling their farmed wetlands in the program.
Wetlands must be small in nature, typically less than 5 acres, and must =
be located outside the floodplain. However, wetlands up to 10 acres can =
be enrolled under certain stipulations.
Each landowner is limited to a total of 40 acres of wetland per tract, =
but an upland buffer of up to three times the wetland acreage can be =
enrolled to protect the wetland.
Finally, all wetlands must have a cropping history in three of the last =
10 years. FWP contracts can run either 10 or 15 years in length, and =
rates are based on the average soil rental contracts of that particular =
county.
The Farmed Wetlands Program is not only improving farmers' bottom lines, =
it also is providing essential habitat for pheasants and other varieties =
of wildlife. The FWP can offer an environmentally responsible and =
financially practical solution to land that is difficult to farm, and =
not just for the Midwest farmers but across the nation.
"Both CRP and FWP really make financial sense for me, and they are good =
for wildlife," said Norm Kummer, a South Dakota farmer. "That's =
important to me."
Illinois used to be considered one of the prime pheasant-hunting states =
in the Midwest. But because of urban sprawl, family farms going by the =
wayside, (sometimes) poor farming practices and an abundance of =
predators, such as the coyote and red fox, we as hunters have had to =
swallow a bitter pill.
Is there hope for a brighter future? I think so, especially with =
leadership from groups such as Pheasants Forever and concerned farmers =
who understand the value of a well-balanced landscape.
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<DIV>This article appeared in today's Daily Herald. While most of =
us are=20
not especially concerned about pheasants, it is an interesting take by a =
hunting=20
organization on the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Farmed =
Wetlands=20
Program (FWP).</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Judy Mellin</DIV>
<DIV>Bird Monitor</DIV>
<DIV>Poplar Creek Prairie Stewards</DIV>
<DIV>Hoffman Estates (Cook County)</DIV>
<DIV>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Changing land usage bodes well for pheasant fanatics By Mike =
Jackson=20
Outdoor Columnist for the Daily Herald</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Just as I was getting some boxes of upland bird shells ready for a =
hunt, I=20
received an e-mail from the national office of Pheasants Forever.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The correspondence triggered boyhood memories of when my father and =
I would=20
walk up to a farmhouse and ask permission to hunt a parcel of =
grassland.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Here's the piece from Tom Kirschenmann, Pheasants Forever Regional=20
Biologist.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"There was a time when the landscape of the Midwest consisted of =
vast=20
fields of grass with thousands of wetlands scattered throughout.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"Today, only a small percentage of those wetlands exist in their =
natural=20
state. Most have been converted to farmland as agricultural =
practices=20
evolved over the years. In fact, many of these farmed wetlands are =
considered 'nuisance' acres, because they often cannot be seeded to a =
crop, or=20
if seeded, produce a marginal crop at best.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"However, federal and state conservation programs, along with =
conservation=20
organizations like Pheasants Forever, are working to return some of =
those=20
wetlands to the landscape. Returning these small wetlands to the =
landscape=20
provides amazing benefits for water, soil and wildlife."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>One particularly beneficial federal conservation program has been =
the=20
Farmed Wetlands Program (FWP).</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Originally piloted in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North =
Dakota, and=20
South Dakota, the FWP was such a success it has been adopted nationwide =
as part=20
of the hugely successful Continuous Conservation Reserve Program =
(CRP).</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Through the FWP, farmers and landowners receive financial payments =
for=20
returning these small wetlands to their natural state. In their =
natural=20
state, these wetlands provide habitat for wildlife and protect sensitive =
soils=20
from erosion.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"What makes this program so successful is that it creates a win-win =
situation," said Rick Young, vice president of field operations for =
Pheasants=20
Forever.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The FWP benefits pheasants and other wildlife by providing wetlands =
and=20
upland cover for nesting and brood rearing. For farmers, the FWP =
is a=20
great tool to generate a stabilized income from acreage that can be =
risky to=20
farm.<BR>It provides a financially viable solution to these marginal =
wetland=20
areas and increases farming efficiency.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"The FWP can be a successful part of any farm with wetland areas, =
from=20
California to New Jersey," Young said.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>There are some basic eligibility requirements for landowners =
interested in=20
enrolling their farmed wetlands in the program.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Wetlands must be small in nature, typically less than 5 acres, and =
must be=20
located outside the floodplain. However, wetlands up to 10 acres =
can be=20
enrolled under certain stipulations.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Each landowner is limited to a total of 40 acres of wetland per =
tract, but=20
an upland buffer of up to three times the wetland acreage can be =
enrolled to=20
protect the wetland.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Finally, all wetlands must have a cropping history in three of the =
last 10=20
years. FWP contracts can run either 10 or 15 years in length, and =
rates=20
are based on the average soil rental contracts of that particular =
county.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The Farmed Wetlands Program is not only improving farmers' bottom =
lines, it=20
also is providing essential habitat for pheasants and other varieties of =
wildlife. The FWP can offer an environmentally responsible and =
financially=20
practical solution to land that is difficult to farm, and not just for =
the=20
Midwest farmers but across the nation.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"Both CRP and FWP really make financial sense for me, and they are =
good for=20
wildlife," said Norm Kummer, a South Dakota farmer. "That's =
important to=20
me."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Illinois used to be considered one of the prime pheasant-hunting =
states in=20
the Midwest. But because of urban sprawl, family farms going by =
the=20
wayside, (sometimes) poor farming practices and an abundance of =
predators, such=20
as the coyote and red fox, we as hunters have had to swallow a bitter=20
pill.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Is there hope for a brighter future? I think so, especially =
with=20
leadership from groups such as Pheasants Forever and concerned farmers =
who=20
understand the value of a well-balanced =
landscape.<BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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