CRP-message from PF

1pheas4

1pheas4

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Even though the South Dakota congress people are strong for CRP I wrote them any way.

I once asked a staff person for a Senator just how much these letters recieved helped, the answer was it just takes 5 to 10 people to show concern about a problem and it gets brought to the Senators attention---JUST 5 to 10 letters so lets get with it.
 
Just got a email back from one of my senators. His response did not sound promising. Mostly interested in cutting spending at all cost and letting our envionmental gains over the last thirty years go down the drain.:(
 
1pheas4 said:
Take a minute to read through Howard's (Pheasants Forever) letter regarding funding for CRP. Near the bottom of his letter he's posted a link to you're U.S. Senators. Take it from there.


http://www.pheasantsforever.org/page/1/PressReleaseViewer.jsp?pressReleaseId=117507
Click to expand...

Finally got time to write my senators and congressman today. I wish this would be the best all time thread here, but it sure doesn't look like we care does it? I suggested that cuts to "Breeder Welfare Moms" and illegal immigrants and other money for votes projects be first on the cut list and that wildlife be supported via the CRP program. I also requested that farmers be encouraged to plan and plant for wildlife, with emphasis given to upland species. I hope it does some good!
 
I just got done letting them have it:thumbsup: Told them you could give billions to crooks it shouldn't be a big deal to help what God gave us. Plus all the good crp stuff. I"m :mad: what only five of us care:mad: Should be 100 or better on this thread saying they wrote their senators:mad: It's easy and we all love wildlife:thumbsup: Things will never get better until we outdoorsmen start making some noise. Please guys:) what you out.
 
I wrote to ours, one who will vote for our cause, the other represents big ag, seems like he would want to encourage farm bill spending but seems to be a hardcore cutter! Probably have as much influence as I have here! But I'll fight the fight. Fearful of the outcome.
 
I just fired off three emails, we'll see how it goes. Folks, I'll tell you all just like I told my public officials, we're at a crossroads for several species of grassland birds, most notably the Bobwhite Quail. Their numbers are in a serious freefall and if we dont act and act NOW, its gonna be too late. Of course I might be preaching to the choir but maybe someone else out there will read this and act. We gotta save the Bobwhite!!
 
Those of you who are able, invite your congressmen for a tour of the farm. Or possibly with your PF chapter? Or better yet farmers who belong to PF. We just hosted forest tours to our two N WI congressmen and an aide for one of our Senators. All are sympathetic to our needs, especially jobs. In cases like SD, pheasant hunting = tourism = jobs. This coming monday we have the same two congressmen, plus one from the UP of MI and NE MN to meet with the Chief of the USFS concerning the lack of management on our national forests. Our forest products industry has similar concerns, similar needs as with agriculture. Letters help, but any time you can get in front of them is even better. Keep up the good work and good luck to all of you in your efforts to promote good habitat management.
 
You folks can write to congress if you want and that might do some good, but the fact iswe are broke everythingneeds to be cut. I would suggest that you find a farmer or landowner that thinks like you do and give him some incentive to develop or save some habitat. Rent 5 - 20 acres from him for 10 years and develop it yourself. If five guys that like to hunt together did that you would be helping the cause and would have a little spot to hunt. Take care of it yourself the USA can't afford it.
 
haymaker said:
You folks can write to congress if you want and that might do some good, but the fact iswe are broke everythingneeds to be cut. I would suggest that you find a farmer or landowner that thinks like you do and give him some incentive to develop or save some habitat. Rent 5 - 20 acres from him for 10 years and develop it yourself. If five guys that like to hunt together did that you would be helping the cause and would have a little spot to hunt. Take care of it yourself the USA can't afford it.
Click to expand...

Through wildlife enhancement, CRP brings revenue into rural areas, therefore tax revenue, cuts down on soil erosion, and keeps water clean. The cost of not having CRP could turn out to be more of a cost to the U.S. tax payer.
 
haymaker said:
You folks can write to congress if you want and that might do some good, but the fact iswe are broke everythingneeds to be cut. I would suggest that you find a farmer or landowner that thinks like you do and give him some incentive to develop or save some habitat. Rent 5 - 20 acres from him for 10 years and develop it yourself. If five guys that like to hunt together did that you would be helping the cause and would have a little spot to hunt. Take care of it yourself the USA can't afford it.
Click to expand...

I might have found my new hero.
 
Someones been watching Fox nonsense to much:) Only reason they've been pushing USA is Broke because they want to get rid of Obama Care. Close Tax loopholes and clean up gov't wasteful spending is all that needs to be done. Thats what they've all campaned on but never want to do it I wonder WHY. You guys don't think they won't go after the public hunting ground next. We could really save the USA if we sale that:thumbsup:. Then theres no need for GUNS:eek: But you'll fight to save that right won't you or will you come up with another lame excuse like I'll hide mine in the basement:thumbsup: Like I said before it's easy to send a message to a senator:thumbsup:
 
I am not trying to start an argument I love CRP and use it. I do believe changes are coming and rather than wanting the government to do everything I think I would rather have control of a little piece of paradise.
 
I see both sides of the issue. And as an aside I have done private preservation work on ground I don't own at my own expense. I think that if you asked them, Pheasants Forever would tell you they are modeled after Ducks Unlimited, easily the most successful organization of it's type, and poster child for the rest which follow. Several issues challenge the effectiveness of this type of organization in preserving pheasants. First, DU started in the thirties, a time when land costs were pennies on the dollar. DU also benefitted by seeking the use of land traditionally valued as worthless or at least to probleatic to farm, and a great deal of Canadian land beyond the tillable limits, a lot of it Crown Land, and quite a bit which was secured by Pitman-Robertson funds. Pheasants Forever has no such advantage in acquisition. Furthermore, PF has to deal with a species which lives it's entire life in a defined territory, if possible. If property can not be managed on a large block scale for both pheasants and quail the value is diminished due to fragmentation of habitat, and susceptability of the resultant population to extreme hazzard from weather,crowding, disease,et.al. The waterfowl can be crowded into comparitablly small refuges for a period of time as they migrate and winter. I agree we shoulddo more individually, but a duck hunter can buy a share in a 40 acre duck marsh next to the refuge, and shoot ducks all season leave it flooded and provide benefit before, after,and during the spring. If you want to shoot quail and pheasant during the season, and provide habitat to sustain it..... I leave it to you to do the math, I have attempted to, and what I see, is that a duck hunter can invest somewhere between $25000 and several hundred thousand, and secure a real difference. The bird hunter better start out with several hundred thousand, and millions would be better. PF and a partnership with the government are a badly needed pairing. I am a supporter of both. But the suggestion of doing it ourselves is to the point, and the only way to acheive success long term. It is an individual vision, but shared by many, and from divergent backgrounds,from tribal councils to magnates of industry,to you and me pooling our meager dollars to provide energy and foster protection of the resource and save ourselves in the process. It's gonna take a heck of a lot, and it's going to hurt, in the end it will by necessity be an effort that dwarves DU. Currently, revenue and conservation measures by PF are approximately 1/10 the size of DU, same can be said of Ruffed Grouse Society, Prairie Grouse Initiative, Quail Forever, Quail Unlimited. We got our work cut out for us.
 
Saving CRP and having a viable conservation initiative in the Farm Bill is really about saving the farmland ecosystem. It's about creating a long-term balance between food production and a healthy environment. Not an undisturbed, pre-settlement environment mind you but at least a healthy one that serves some basic human needs without creating a complete agrarian wasteland.

That vision is something that benefits all citizens of this country and is worthy of our hard earned tax dollars. As hard as it is if we don't collectively invest money to continue fixing things now it will likely reach the point of no return very quickly. With all due respect to those who think otherwise it isn't going to happen through the funding of a few thousand (or a few hundred thousand) private individuals.

By all means write your congessman and insist they excercise fiscal responsibility. Fiscal responsibility definately means eliminating wasteful or pork laden federal programs. It can also mean protecting beneficial programs and IMO CRP is one of those beneficial programs that needs to stay.
 
Here is the 2012 USDA Outlays.

2012USDABudget.jpg


Source:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=BUDGET
 
oldandnew, and DowntownBang! You guys are a treasure trove of information and wisdom IMO. Well said! We need people like you in Washington! :10sign:
 
I encourage all to contact their congressmen in Washington. The more that contact them the better and they will understand the issue is important to a lot of people.

The CRP program has had many benefits, including: reduction in soil erosion due to wind and water, cleaner streams, cleaner air, acres of private land that provide habitat for wildlife and a very important item, less ground in production.

The fact that less ground is in production means few bushels of grain produced, resulting in higher grain prices resulting in prices that are above a threshold level that typically would kick in price subsidies. Given my choices, I like CRP.
 
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