pheasant hunters worry CRP changes could harm habitats

WINONA, Minn. (AP) Advocates for pheasant and quail hunters are concerned that new rule changes that allow Conservation Reserve Program lands to be used for haying and grazing this summer and fall could infringe on major nesting habitat.

The federal program, begun in 1985, pays farmers to idle their lands to conserve soil and protect wildlife. Lands enrolled in CRP are prime habitats for game birds, but those same lands are quickly becoming lucrative places to cash in on rising commodity prices.

The USDA recently opened more than 24 million acres of CRP lands for hay harvesting and grazing between Aug. 2 and Nov. 10 to help ease the sting of record feed prices for livestock farmers.

Depending on how many farmers enroll, the changes have the potential of turning a million acres of unused Minnesota prairies into production.

Information from: Winona Daily News, http://www.winonadailynews.com

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 06-08-08 1409CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list