How Will Wildlife Habitat Fare under the 2012 Farm Bill?

Pale streaks of daybreak start showing in the sky. They come in low as silver slices through the fifteen-year-old bottomland timber, and the land slowly lightens from black to gray, while the world once again takes solid shape, in the midst of this timbered flatland. Low-hanging scattering of winter clouds are backlit by the new dawn, and a knee-high mist rises from the dark wetlands and surrounding black clay soils. A new day. And a good one. I am privileged to start most days in similar Delta surroundings during the fall and winter months as I live my dream directing wildlife programs at MS Delta Ducks. Yesterday’s hours pouring over spreadsheets and financial agreements fade away in this time and place. But I keep in perspective the work and dedication of the wildlife enthusiasts and managers who have preserved these venerable grounds. The active role that landowners through the assistance of USDA programs have taken in preserving and restoring this unique bottomland habitat. And it was disappearing.

During the 1970’s production demands were high as world populations exploded, and the most efficient farmers in the world pushed back the Delta forests and wetlands to make way for increased production. It was a golden era of expansion and excitement in Mississippi agriculture. But then came the ill-advised embargos and policies of the Carter Administration, destroying export markets, sending interest rates to record highs as debt swallowed farming families whole: usher in a period of decline for production and a reprieve to wildlife habitat. The USDA put in place numerous programs designed to decrease cropland acres and address environmental issues through increased wildlife acres. The Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) formed the backbone. We enjoy the fruits of those policies and decisions made in difficult times.

Today, I see us at a crossroads. Production demands take the forefront again and agriculture is thriving. In addition a vital need to save taxpayers dollars is at the center of all Americans’ thoughts. The new farm bill will save taxpayers $23 billion. What will the effect be on wildlife habitat? It doesn’t have to be devastating. As the agriculture community has rebuilt markets, improved production and became the healthiest sector of the U.S. Economy, so can the wildlife managers and landowners be smart and make wise decisions with available resources.

According to the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (commonly referred to as 2012 Farm Bill), “Our rapidly growing population demands that America’s farmers double their production over the next few decades and use fewer acres to do so. Conservation programs ensure we have a safe and abundant food supply, clean water, and thriving wildlife populations. The Act consolidates 23 existing conservation programs into four fundamental program functions, achieving $6 billion in deficit reduction.”

I will discuss a few of the relevant programs and their potential use for and impact on waterfowl habitat. With the progress already made, the tools are there to continue to provide expansive wintering grounds for waterfowl by blending environmental concerns, habitat needs, and production considerations. First, on cropland acres “EQIP will continue to provide cost-share for certain activities on working lands that help farmers avoid and comply with regulation. Many parts of the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) have been consolidated into EQIP focusing the program on farmers and ranchers looking to create or improve areas for wildlife habitat on their working lands”.

With EQIP, which stands for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Act “adds ‘develop and improve wildlife habitat as a purpose for assisting producers to install and maintain conservation practices.” It” establishes at least 5 percent of the funds will be targeted to practices benefitting wildlife habitat “and” establishes wildlife habitat incentive practices as conservation practices that support restoration, development, and improvement of wildlife habitat for upland wildlife, wetland wildlife, threatened and endangered species, fish habitat, pivot corners and irregular fields, and other types.”

In other words, the government is encouraging the same practices that MS Delta Ducks has advocated, blending production benefits and wildlife management. For example, EQIP funds have been used to establish and build tailwater recovery systems. Now the landowner strengthens the opportunity of receiving those funds by creating food sources for wintering waterfowl in conjunction with the practice of capturing groundwater. Recreational income becomes more attractive when it is multiplied by USDA funds. We’ve previously suggested planting food in fringe areas. How much more lucrative that becomes to the landowner if the recreational income is enhanced by EQIP funds for developing wildlife habitat for wetland wildlife in pivot corners and irregular fields. I spend a great deal of creative time exploring ways to increase food sources and habitat without decreasing production. Now, I will spend time with Extension Specialists in looking for ways that efforts can be undertaken through the joint efforts of landowners and the USDA. Hunters can’t just keep saying, leave some crop in the field. The approach must be more creative and wise. It has to make economic sense.

Another program which has been renewed and tweaked under the new Act could benefit the duck hunter on production acreage. The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will authorize the enrollment of in excess of 10 million acres per year through 2017. Rigid formulas have been replaced by greater latitude and focus on identifying concerns at the local level. The modified vernacular increases the emphasis on new conservation or emerging conservation technologies on farms. Another potentially important feature is that added language allows enrollment of lands that are under WRP as well as establishes a priority enrollment consideration for expiring CRP acres. I will be exploring this option and watching closely in the MS Delta Ducks’ efforts to assist our landowners in the ongoing efforts to strengthen duck hunting along with production.

Several other sources of funds under the Act are Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) and the Conservation Loan and Guarantee Program. CIGs “are provided on a competitive basis to encourage the development of new or improved conservation practices. CIG is geared towards projects that offer new approaches to providing producers environmental and production benefits.” The Conservation Loan and Loan Guarantee Program helps famers get started with conservation by providing loans to borrowers to build conservation structures or establish conservation practices.” Clearly passing legislation is only one step in the process. Implementation of procedures and policies and the commitment of resources will tell the tale on which of these programs become effective in our efforts to improve the infrastructure for the duck hunters.

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has been providing benefits to the soil, water and wildlife across the Delta for more than 25 years. It played a major role in providing a respite from the massive clearing of bottomland forests and encroachments on wetlands. The program’s part in reversing the trend cannot be overstated. Under the current farm bill, I am excited about the new emphasis placed on the most highly erodible, sensitive acres. While CRP has helped create large expanses of habitat, its effectiveness in improving duck hunter specific groundwork has been more limited. For the average duck hunter, it is vital to have a gateway to the farmland acreage in the Delta and for that acreage to remain and become increasingly accessible on an affordable basis. CRP and WRP have helped recreational landowners by making funds available for their use in developing habitat. However, the reality is, that the sales market for this acreage is limited as is the number of hunters who are able to take advantage of the habitat created. Most producer-oriented landowners employed and planted CRP acres with little or no consideration for waterfowl food plots and duck holes. The goal was to maximize cash flow by enrolling wall to wall acres. High commodity prices will put tremendous pressure on farmers to convert some of the 10 million CRP acres expiring back into crop production. Enter the present legislation.

The Act refocuses the Conservation Reserve Program. According to the United States Senate Committee, “CRP” removes highly erodible land from production to benefit soil and water quality as well as wildlife habitats. The program currently has an acreage cap of 32 million acres. Over the next two years, the contracts on over 10 million acres will expire. The bill lowers the acreage cap through a multi-year step down to 25 million acres, allowing for the re-enrollment and prioritization of the most highly erodible, sensitive acres. There is an added focus on grassland conservation. “As I understand it, the provision for the enrollment of 1.5 million acres of grasslands is aimed at preserving grasslands and wetlands. Features of the program include a 200,000 acre increase in acreage for wetland restoration. Under the grasslands and wetlands component, landowners whose land qualifies for the program can enroll directly in this continuous category at any time, which is in contrast to the general sign-up for most CRP acres.

In the arena of the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), the act provides that “all conservation easement programs will be streamlined under one program, the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program: Agricultural Land Easements and Wetlands Easements.” The legislation, “clarifies that the Secretary may provide up to 50 percent of the appraised fair market value of an easement” and “adds a priority for CRP enrollment in the program.” I don’t envision much new acreage being enrolled in WRP in the Mississippi Delta. The exception may be some expired CRP acreage. On the real estate sales side, Cris has found, that with most existing WRP acreage, market value does not rise to the 50 percent of appraised value not covered by enrollment in the program. In other words, most landowners actually lose value by enrolling in WRP. I am optimistic, though, that some provisions of the farm bill will help to better equip existing WRP acres for duck hunting – for example the Conservation Stewardship Program.

In summary, from a duck hunter’s perspective, I feel good about the next five years under this farm bill. I envision some CRP acres on heavy soils being cleared and put in precision-leveled production with surrounding fringe, low-lying acres remaining in bottomland hardwood. This will make an excellent venue for open-field duck hunting. In addition, a change in emphasis to rewarding owners of working land for providing waterfowl habitat and infrastructure could be a big win. Expect my knowledge of the new aspects of the programs to increase significantly over the coming year.

Stay tuned and come hunt with us!