July 30th, 2010
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that the new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up will run Monday, August 2nd through Friday, August 27th.
The new general CRP signup will be the first since 2006, and landowner demand is expected to be strong, especially considering the USDA has updated soil rental rates since that last general signup. “CRP continues to be a good option for producers to ensure income on the tough-to-farm and lowest producing acres,” said Dave Nomsen, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Vice President of Government Affairs, “This general signup’s 4 million-plus acre nationwide allotment is likely to fill up quickly, so it’s critical that landowners get into their local USDA service centers or immediately to examine CRP options on their land.”
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March 8th, 2010
On February 27th, at the Pheasants Forever’s National Pheasant Fest gathering, it was announced by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack that a new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general signup will be opening. Available on March 15th 2010, there will be increased acreage allotments for three CRP practices.
These three practices include Conservation Practice 33 “Upland Bird Habitat Buffers” or “Bobwhite Buffers”, Conservation Practice 37 “Duck Nesting Habitat Initiative”, and Conservation Practice 38 “State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement program” (SAFE). Many of the states in the Mid-West have reached or are close to reaching their acreage caps for CP 38, however, with the practice reopening, Minnesota is likely to receive over 10,000 more acres for enrollment.
As stated in the USDA news release, “SAFE provides conservation partners the flexibility to create projects and install conservation practices that target the specific needs of highly valued wildlife species. By developing SAFE projects, these organizations and their partners enhance the effectiveness of CRP by helping to establish higher quality habitat and healthier ecosystems for species of concern and other wildlife”.
If you have any questions regarding the previously mentioned programs or are interested in enrolling your land in a CRP practice, please feel free to contact Heartland Conservation Services.
To read the full articles visit the following links:
USDA News Release
Pheasants Forever Press Release
Posted in CRP Programs | 1 Comment »
November 12th, 2009
Although I have some definite opinions on the DNR’s management of deer in the state, I am just one of many hunters/landowners.
What are your thoughts regarding gun hunting during the rut? Is it a good thing or bad thing? Why don’t surrounding states hunt during the rut?
Should the DNR consider the diversity in habitat across the state when managing and setting regulations? Do we need 9 days to hunt in heavy farmed areas? Do we need more days in heavily wooded/swamped areas then currently allowed?
Do you like the fact you get a buck tag automatically and must apply for a doe permit if not in a managed or bonus permit area? What are your thoughts on an either/or license (tag) to begin with and then bonus permits in appropriate areas? Wouldn’t an either/or tag give hunters an opportunity to harvest a deer of choice, while naturally helping to balance the herd sex ratio?
The link below is to a good article by Chris Nikanen of the Pioneer Press talking about some of the same or similar proposed changes brought to the DNR last year. http://www.qdmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=21505
Posted in Whitetails | 2 Comments »
November 11th, 2009
Most people feel harvesting a trophy buck involves luck, we all recognize that it usually takes more than that. But if you were one of the “lucky” ones to harvest a trophy and now want to try score it – where can you find the best information to do so?
Attached are a couple of links to websites with informationn pertaining to scoring
http://www.boone-crockett.org/bgRecords/ScoringYourTrophy.asp?area=bgRecords
http://www.nzhuntinginfo.com/printPage.php?pageName=trophy
If you know of a site that has additional information, or may be easier to use please add it for others to try! Good luck if you are still searching for your trophy.
Posted in Whitetails | No Comments »
