By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois state chapter of Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever (PFQF) is concerned high farm commodity prices may discourage producers from reenrolling their acreage in the USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

According to information PFQF received from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), some 6,000 CRP contracts are set to expire in Illinois on Sept. 30, representing roughly 69,000 acres of grassland habitat. Aaron Kuehl, state director for conservation for PFQF, commented on what the loss of such a large amount of CRP contracts and acreage could mean to the state’s bird population.

“Roughly one pheasant is produced in a bag per two to four acres of grassland. (The loss) would potentially reduce the pheasant harvest by 20,000, along with the loss of a suite of other wildlife,” said Kuehl. “Production numbers would be four or five times that. If we lose a lot of the best habitat we have, it will definitely affect the (bird) population.”

Kuehl said last fall’s CRP signup resulted in a net loss of roughly 10,000 acres of Illinois CRP grasslands. With commodity prices remaining high – corn was at $5.60 per bushel and soybeans, $12, as of Feb. 15, according to revised figures issued by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service in Illinois last week – PFQF officials are fearful of an even greater decline in habitat.

“With corn and bean prices fairly high and inputs low this year, a lot of those landowners might look at the short-term financial benefit of pulling these sometimes sensitive acres out of CRP and putting them into production,” Kuehl said. “However, soil rental rates for CRP just went up again, which makes it a little more attractive to landowners.”

PFQF fears with a new farm bill coming in 2012, failure to show a high demand for CRP might result in reductions in future conservation programs.
“We’d certainly hate to limit the tools available to landowners in the future because of the current (spike) in commodity prices that might make conservation practices not as appealing right now,” he said.

PFQF members have been encouraged to promote CRP signup benefits at banquets, through informational landowner meetings and other venues. Last weekend, the group greeted visitors to their booth at the Peoria Deer and Turkey Classic, promoting CRP.

“Word of mouth has been our best message,” Kuehl said. “We believe CRP is an important tool for landowners who want to keep conservation on their ground. We want to make sure that landowners know of (CRP’s) availability.”
Farmers have often worked hand-in-hand with PFQF in enrolling and developing acreage for CRP, and Kuehl said the organization looks forward to continuing that relationship.

“The farmers are the land stewards; they understand that you must treat the land right. In many cases these acres are marginal to begin with in terms of agricultural production,” he said.

Illinois landowners have through April 15 to sign up or reapply for general CRP.
“Over the past two years, support for CRP has grown thanks to strong backing from farmers, ranchers, conservationists, hunters, fishermen and other outdoor sports enthusiasts,” stated Scherrie Giamanco, state executive director for the Illinois FSA.