Hunters, wildlife finding fewer acres of CRP

HABITAT — Higher prices for farm products in recent years resulted in acreage coming out of the federal Conservation Reserve Program and going under the plow.

CRP acreage has produced a tremendous amount of habitat for upland birds, deer and other wildlife since its inception.  Some farmers have incorporated other programs in enhance the habitat quality.  Here’s an update:

CRP lands in Montana down by half in 7 years
The number of acres in the federal CRP program, which pays farmers to idle croplands, fell from 3.5 million in 2007 to 1.7 million in 2014, but now that wheat prices are half what they were a couple of years ago, some farmers may be considering putting acres back into the federal program. Montana U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester are urging U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to again maximize the acres in the program

In Washington, the total acres enrolled in CRP were:

• 2013 – 1,491,037
• 2012 — 1,461,756
• 2014 – 1,395,981

That is a decline of approximately 12% in WA from 2012 to 2015, said Kurt Merg, acting Farm Bill coordinator for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“As of the end of March, 2015, there were 1,318,928 acres enrolled in CRP in Washington,” he said, noting that those CRP contracts are currently scheduled to expire at the rate of 2,761 acres to 220,398 acres a year over the next 14 years.

“Of course, there will likely be CRP signups and contract extensions offered,” he said.

“Senators are urging USDA to keep CRP fully enrolled, even though that means fewer acres under the current Farm Bill than it did in the past.  Ultimately, however, enrollment is voluntary and producers choose to enroll based on their personal circumstances and on the market prices of crops and their inputs.  This story is unfolding.”