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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that one of their policy options under consideration is to drop Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enrollment to 24 million acres nationwide. In Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's view, this is completely unacceptable and we urge all of our members and supporters to take immediate action by contacting the USDA in opposition of this proposal.

Additionally, Pheasants Forever considers the current 32 million acre CRP cap a short term goal, and recommends the USDA request Congressional authority to expand the program to a minimum of 40 million acres.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA) has asked the public for comments on the Conservation Reserve Program. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have some simple suggestions for what to communicate during the public comment period:

Request USDA implement CRP at its maximum acreage of 32 million acres, and that USDA request additional authority for an expanded CRP of at least 40 million acres from Congress.

Call for a new CRP General Signup.
Call for new authority for Continuous CRP programs such as CRP SAFE and CRP Upland Bird Habitat Buffers.
Ask that all Continuous CRP including CRP SAFE and CRP Upland Bird Habitat Buffers, be made available to all expiring contract holders.
Call on USDA to implement a CRP "Open Fields" Public Access program immediately.
Encourage USDA to enroll expired CRP into the Grasslands Reserve Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program.

Public Comments on CRP Due by October 19, 2009
Email comments to CRPcomments@tecinc.com
Submit comments online at the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov
Mail comments to: CRP SEIS, c/o TEC Inc., 8 San Jose Dr., Suite 3-B, Newport News, VA 23606
Fax comments to: (757) 594-1469

CRP Benefits

• CRP produces an estimated 13.5 million pheasants annually.
• CRP in the Prairie Pothole Region produces 2 million ducks per year.
• CRP boosts populations of bobwhite quail, prairie grouse and non-game grassland birds.
• CRP reduces the amount of sediment released into the environment by 200 million tons.
• CRP reduces sheet, rill and wind erosion.
• CRP sequesters carbon, helping stop more than 50 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the environment.

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