Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Director of Government Affairs Andrew Schmidt to discuss the current Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup and its relevance for bird hunters. There are currently 1.8 million acres available for CRP enrollment this fiscal year with a signup underway right now through June 6th. Schmidt also discusses new proposals aimed at improving CRP and increasing funding for walk-in access programs.

Episode Highlights:

• Schmidt examines how bird populations have correlated with CRP acreage since the program began in 1985 and emphasizes the role of CRP acres in increasing public access through state walk-in programs.

• The discussion covers a range of benefits provided by CRP, including contributions to rural economies via wildlife habitat, enhancement of water resources and soil health, and risk mitigation for farmers and ranchers.

• Schmidt outlines the distinctions between general CRP, continuous CRP, CREP, and other signups, and explains how the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) increases public access for bird hunters.