Consider CRP Enrollment to Help Michigan’s Pheasants
PF offers landowners tips for bidding wisely during the limited-time general CRP sign-up
DeWitt, Michigan – April 3, 2006 - Pheasants Forever (PF) is encouraging Michiganders to consider enrolling in the current Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) sign-up running now through April 28th. CRP is the nation's single most effective conservation program for improving wildlife habitat, protecting water quality, and preventing soil erosion. In Michigan, CRP has been a vitally important tool for increasing pheasant numbers and other wildlife populations across the state’s agricultural lands. Michigan currently has more than 270,000 acres enrolled in CRP.
As a result of the combination of CRP acres, PF habitat projects, and favorable weather conditions, Michigan roosters have experienced improved habitat conditions in recent years. Al Stewart, DNR Upland Gamebird Specialist reports “We know that habitat is the most important thing for wildlife in Michigan and CRP helps us to meet that goal. CRP provides food and cover for wildlife and we have found in the past that wildlife flourishes on CRP sites once they are established. The bottom line is we know CRP works.”
Originally established in 1985, CRP offers annual payments for 10-15 year contracts to participants who establish grass, shrub, and/or tree cover on environmentally sensitive lands. Not only have these CRP lands been shown to improve water quality, protect environmentally sensitive soils from erosion, and provide critical wildlife habitat, but CRP also helps stabilize farmer's incomes through the annual payments.
"We are encouraging landowners to submit a bid during this general CRP signup," said Mike Parker, PF wildlife biologist in Michigan. “The primary limiting factor on pheasant populations in Michigan is undisturbed nesting cover – upright grassland that is safe and undisturbed during the nesting season – generally running from May 15th to August 1st. The Conservation Reserve Program is a great way to increase wildlife habitat in your area and we never know when the next general sign up will be offered.” USDA’s general CRP sign-up allows landowners to bid eligible environmentally sensitive lands that establish those larger blocks of grassland habitat needed by nesting pheasant hens for contract periods of 10 – 15 years.
The current CRP General Sign-Up #33 kicked off on March 27th at local county USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices and continues through April 14th. The general CRP sign-up allows landowners to bid eligible environmentally sensitive lands that establish larger blocks of grassland habitat needed by nesting pheasant hens for contract periods of 10-15 years. Interested landowners should contact their local USDA Service Center. To find the FSA office in your area visit: www.fsa.usda.gov/ia.
"There are several strategies that landowners can use to score a few extra points, and hopefully gain a successful bid," stated Matt O'Connor, PF's habitat team coordinator. General sign-ups are competitive and are weighed against each other based on the number of points received using an Environmental Benefit Index (EBI). The EBI assigns points to the type and location of land, the type of conservation practice, land rental rates and other factors. O'Connor suggests that you "take an extra 15 minutes in your FSA office and try a few different options to increase your chances of being accepted and to maximize your rental rates and the benefit to our natural resources."
O’Connor provides the following tips for landowners bidding land into CRP and urge landowners to consider these items to give your bid the best chance at competing in this national sign-up.
* Sign up for the CRP practice that will give you the highest score; generally this is prairie grasses and flowers (CP25).
* If CP25 doesn't fit into your management goals, at the very least sign up for a 50 point practice like prairie grasses (CP4D or CP2).
* Consider partial field enrollment. Bid in highly erodable land and farm the less sensitive areas.
* You can get extra points by reducing your annual rental rate by up to $15/acre.
* Consider the continuous CPR practices that might be available on your land such as filter strips or CP33 upland bird buffers. "Farm the best, buffer the rest!"
"We anticipate that following this sign-up, CRP will be a fully-enrolled program," said Dave Nomsen, PF's VP of government affairs. There are currently 35.9 million acres enrolled nationally with nearly a million more acres available for Continuous CRP practices and state-initiated Conservation Reserve Enhancement Programs. "With a fully-enrolled CRP, we will head into the 2007 Farm Bill fight with demonstrated demand for not only continuing CRP, but for expanding it."
"CRP has been a crucial private land conservation program in Michigan," added Parker. "It has protected our soil, water and wildlife. When you have the habitat, you have the birds. CRP really works! Think about wildlife. Think about future generations of Michiganders and continuing our great outdoor heritage. Consider CRP in the next two weeks."
For additional information about Pheasants Forever, please visit www.pheasantsforever.org
Mike J. Parker
PF Regional Wildlife Biologist - MI
1313 Sandhill Dr., DeWitt, MI 48820
Ph/Fax: (517) 668-1033 Cell: (517) 896-4178
Email: mparker@pheasantsforever.org
On the web: www.pheasantsforever.org
THINK HABITAT!