New Duck program

[Bufflehead]

 A new program to increase duck production was unveiled at the fourth annual North American Duck Symposium in Bismark last week. The USDA's farm Service Agency announced a new plan called the Conservation ReserveProgram Duck Nesting Habitat Initiative. This plan will seek to restore 100,000 acers of wet-lands and increase duck production by 60,000 annually.

 This initiative will further CRP's large scale achievements in protecting our nations wet-lands and wildlife, said Mr Johnson, deputy administrator for farm programs for the FSA. CRP has restored two million wet-land/buffer acers nationwide and adds 2.2 million new ducks to our country's flyways each year.

 Enrollment for the new program will begin Oct. 1st and is restricted to the prairie pothole region. North and South Dakota will be eligible to enroll 40,000 acers each, 8,000 acers will be signed up in Montana and Minnesota and 4,000 acers will be enrolled in the program in Iowa.

 Qualifying acers must be capable of being restored to CRP wetland standard and include a buffer to protect water quality and to provide nesting habitat.

 Participants will receive an incentive payment equal to 25 percent of the cost to restore the sites hydrology, an annual rental payment, and some cost share assistance.

 By now, anyone associated with creating and preserving wildlife habitat, as well as any type of hunting,, is aware of the phenomenal benefits of the Conservation Reserve Program. It absolutely has been the midas touch because everything related to CRP, as far as wildlife is conserned has turned to gold and that includes this new program. If you love wildlife and hunting, you should be doing everything you can to ensure the future of CRP and it's associated programs. Make sure everyone you know including your legislotors, know how you feel.

 You don't have to sing the praises of CRP to your states wildlife biologists, they're singing that song at full volume and they're hoping all hunters join the chorus.