The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday announced a general signup for the Conservation Reserve Program will begin Monday, Dec. 9, and continue through Friday, Feb. 28.
In a news release, USDA said 22 million acres are enrolled in CRP, but the 2018 Farm Bill raised the acreage cap to 27 million acres.
This will be the first general signup since 2016, USDA said.
“CRP sign-ups heading into 2020 represent significant opportunities for landowners, wildlife, economic development in rural communities and the nation’s most pressing conservation needs,” Jim Inglis, director of governmental affairs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, said in a statement. “Featuring new acreage allotments for each state and a variety of conservation practices, Conservation Reserve Program sign-ups in 2020 and beyond will allow producers to target difficult-to-farm acres of low productivity, which will ultimately provide wildlife habitat, create long term soil health and improve water quality, while maintaining productive agriculture on the best crop acres.”
CRP has supported wildlife populations and rural communities since President Ronald Reagan signed the program into law on Dec. 23, 1985. Enrollment peaked at 36.8 million acres in 2007, corresponding with modern-day highs for upland bird harvest in many Midwestern states. CRP also helped drive population increases for deer and other wildlife species.
With the CRP cap raised to 27 million acres and millions of acres set to expire, there is a significant opportunity for enrollment of more than 8 million acres over the next year, Inglis said.
Landowners should visit their nearest USDA Service Center to learn more about general CRP eligibility.
More info: fsa.usda.gov/crp.
-- Herald staff report
Fargo ice show begins Friday
The second annual Fargo Ice Fishing & Winter Sports Show is set for Friday, Dec. 13, through Sunday, Dec. 15, at Scheels Arena in Fargo. Last year’s inaugural event drew nearly 7,000 people, and organizers this year hope to surpass 10,000.
More than 95 vendors, including five major retailers and various manufacturers, will be at the show to highlight ice fishing products, including hard-sided ice houses, snowmobiles, ATVs and utility vehicles, and the latest electronics, augers, shelters and more.
Additional vendors include custom rod builders and lure painters, guides, resorts and outfitters.
The event includes a New Product Showcase with over $5,000 in prizes that will be given away. Also on tap throughout the weekend are 17 seminars and panel discussions.
Family events include Santa’s Winter Fishing Village for kids to visit with Santa. The Kids Zone, hosted by Fargo-Moorhead’s FM Walleyes Unlimited and Clam Outdoors, will be open all weekend with games, virtual reality ice fishing, knot tying and fish identification stations and lots of prizes. Sunday, Dec. 15, is Family Day, when kids under 12 get in free with a paid adult and special family and kids’ seminars are scheduled.
Veterans and active duty military will get in for half price Friday and will receive a discounted rate all weekend.
More info: fargoicefishingshow.com or by the show’s Facebook page, @fargoiceshow.
-- Herald staff report
House panel advances conservation bills
The House Natural Resources Committee on Thursday passed two key conservation bills -- the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act and the Pittman-Robertson Modernization Act -- setting the stage for votes on the House floor.
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would fund roughly $1.4 billion in proactive conservation efforts to prevent species from becoming endangered and provide additional funding for species already listed.
The Pittman-Robertson Modernization Act would authorize some existing Pittman-Robertson funding for recruiting and marketing to hunters and recreational shooters in an effort to reverse declines in hunting participation, which provides funding for wildlife conservation.
Conservation groups lauded the House committee’s actions.
“We’re thrilled to see momentum behind a new investment in conservation that recognizes the real need to get ahead of habitat challenges — rather than scramble to revive a species on the brink,” Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, said in a statement. “Together, these two pieces of legislation represent a forward-thinking approach to conservation that should be applauded, and we hope to see bipartisan support on the House floor very soon.”
Passed in 1937, the Pittman-Robertson Act includes an 11% tax on firearms, ammo and archery equipment that is apportioned to state wildlife agencies each year for conservation and hunter education programs.
The legislation has provided $18.8 billion to state fish and wildlife agencies since distribution began in 1939. The bill the House committee advanced Thursday would maintain those excise tax funding streams.
-- Herald staff reports
NDGF outlines fish house regs
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds winter anglers that any fish house left unoccupied on North Dakota waters must be made out of materials that will allow it to float.
Other fish house regulations include:
-
Fish houses do not require a license.
-
Occupied structures do not require identification. However, any unoccupied fish house must have an equipment registration number issued by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, or the owner’s name, and either address or telephone number, displayed on its outside in readily distinguishable characters at least 3 inches high.
-
Fish houses may not be placed closer than 50 feet in any direction to another house without consent of the occupant of the other fish house.
-
All unoccupied fish houses must be removed from all waters after midnight March 15.
Check out the 2018-20 North Dakota Fishing Guide or the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov. for other winter fishing regulations.
-- Herald staff report
"Key" - Google News
December 07, 2019 at 11:00PM
https://ift.tt/2RvTqDK.
Outdoors Notebook: General CRP signup begins Monday, House committee advances key conservation bills etc. - Grand Forks Herald
"Key" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2YqNJZt
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
No comments:
Post a Comment