July 2008 Updates page 4
1 July
Jon, Wanted to send a couple photos from a recent fishing trip. With all of the rain, We've only been able to get out a couple of times. Hit several spots and caught a lot of bass between 2 and 3 pounds. Ended the day with 11 crappies, 4 -14" plus. The largest was just under 16". AN
One of those fishermen that always seems to have a good day on the water. Thanks.
14 July
Waterfowl Food Plots
This spring and summer the rivers have been up and down so much that it’s been unworkable to plant food plots in many of our duck marshes. Floodwater washed holes in several of our levees, but we’ve slowly been able to repair each of them one at a time like the photo below taken last week.
Fifteen years ago feed was not an issue, but now some type of feed on several properties is essential to compete with adjoining private farms and clubs. Food plots without water are useless for waterfowl hunting, so we try to only drain lake beds with holding water or a reliable water source.
Also, fifteen years ago the ducks were not as wary of blinds as they are today, so we're putting more effort into improving and establishing wade-in areas. Below is a photo of some seed being spread by a four wheeler which was later lightly disked to cover the seed.
This year since floodwater has been such a concern, as a precaution we mixed millet with milo since millet can survive in the water if the head stays above water.
CRP
The current fight came about when the USDA released CRP (certain sub-programs, 1.2 million acres in Iowa alone) for haying and grazing above pre-existing allowances submitting to farm lobby demands. Conservation groups that advertise supporting hunters were largely silent. The issue of CRP being for water quality and soil conservation was not part of the discussion. The farm lobby has been very successful at convincing congress and government agencies that CRP is a hunter and wildlife quality issue alone that adds to increased consumer food costs. Stepping up to defend CRP is the National Wildlife Federation and its successful lawsuit to stop (temporarily until another court appearance) the additional CRP release. The NWF position is that current haying and grazing regulations allow farmers any needed addition required of weather extremes while not disputing the wildlife benefit. Active farmers simply want to exercise their will regardless of contract requirements. Farmers have yet another reason not to enroll or re-enroll land in low paying CRP simply due to the difficulty of staying compliant with changing and restrictive regulations.
The issue for farmers is about money. Until CRP land pays equal to crop land, CRP will continue to decline. For hunter conservation groups they have failed to get involved with something so simple as leading the effort to increase CRP payments. Conservationist groups like the NWF are a two edge sword for hunters. The NWF supports husbandry of wildlife but not necessarily hunting.
