What the 2014 Farm Bill Means for Ducks and Upland Birds

by
posted on February 10, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
dogs_ah2015_fs.jpg (8)

With passage in the House and Senate, the Agriculture Act of 2014—commonly known as the Farm Bill—has all but been signed into law. Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, and Pheasants Forever are among the groups urging President Obama to sign it into law. Here are the key ways that the bill benefits waterfowl, upland birds and other grassland- and wetland-dependent wildlife.

Reauthorizes Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
The bill reauthorizes CRP, which provides financial incentives to farmers to essentially farm their best land while leaving the rest as cover habitat. Any CRP acres are better than none, but the program is weakened: By 2018 the acreage cap is 24 million acres, 8 million fewer than afforded by the 2008 Farm Bill.

Re-links conservation compliance to crop insurance
Farmers who drain wetlands will once again risk losing their crop insurance. According to Delta Waterfowl, this conserves about 1.375 million critical wetlands in South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana alone. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that region involves about 1.4 million breeding pairs of ducks—32 percent of North America's entire breeding population.

Creates regional "Sodsaver" program
"Sodsaver" protects the nation's last remaining native prairies—vital to many upland species and nesting waterfowl—in the very states where they're most threatened: South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Montana and Nebraska.

Continues Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program ("Open Fields")
Operated by state fish and wildlife agencies, this program improves hunter-access through such initiatives as Montana's "block management" and North Dakota's "Private Lands Open to Sportsmen." Funds of $40 million were approved through 2018.

Creates new Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
The priorities of which include targeting wetland and grassland easements.

Three hard-fought years led to the Farm Bill's passage. It remains a controversial piece of legislation, even dividing sportsmen to some degree. However, when faced with the conservation components, one would have a hard time arguing that the bill isn't of vast benefit to ducks and upland birds.

Latest

Bear Walking By River
Bear Walking By River

A Brown Bear Hunt On Baranof

A spring hunt for brown bear on Alaska’s Baranof Island is a bucket-list experience, and, on the author’s hunt, included buckets of rain. 

Smith & Wesson Adds .30-30 Win. to Model 1854 Line

Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. has announced the release of its Model 1854 chambered in .30-30 Winchester.

Hardware Review: Savage Axis 2 Pro

This year Savage has upped the budget bolt-action ante with the introduction of the Axis 2 Pro. You don’t get something for nothing, and upgraded features do bump up the price a bit, but also the overall value.

First Look: Barnett’s Hyper Raptor T-Rex Crossbow

New for 2025, Barnett has introduced its Hyper Raptor T-Rex, transforming the hunting experience with an Integrated Planetary De-Cocking System.

Treestand Site Prep 101: Attract Bigger Bucks

We examine multiple ways to make the bucks you want get close to your stand.

New for 2025: Charter Arms Pathfinder II .22 LR Revolver

Charter Arms, manufacturers of 100-percent American-made revolvers for more than 60 years, has announced the introduction of the new Pathfinder II .22 double-action/single-action (DA/SA) revolver, chambered in .22 Long Rifle.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.