What does the Federal Farm bill have to do with hunting?

From the Office of Rep. J.C. Kuessner, Jefferson City, MO- August 19, 2008: As co-chairman of the Missouri Legislative Sportsman Caucus I am inundated with information consisting of polls, opinions, facts figures and industry reports.

One recent report caught my eye concerning the importance of the 2008 Federal Farm Bill to the future of hunting not only in Missouri but the whole country.

The number one reason that sportsmen stop hunting is loss of access to land. This makes sense to me because I have experienced loosing some of my favorite hunting spots over the years. These spots were not only good for the game that I was hunting but also provided me with a wealth of great hunting memories.

There are some solutions in the farm bill that will help maintain and possibly increase the available acreage for hunting. With hunters on the decline here in Missouri due to high gas prices and the rising cost of ammunition we could use a boost.

The Conservation Reserve Program and the Wetlands Reserve Program are two proven programs that have enhanced fish and wildlife habitat on tens of millions of acres on America's farms and ranches.

The Grassland Reserve Program covers more than 525 million acres of private owned grasslands making up the largest land cover on America's private lands. The Grassland Reserve Program encourages landowners to protect, restore, and enhance grasslands on their property through financial incentives.

The Sod Saver Program is aimed at dramatically reducing the loss of native grassland in the Prairie Pothole Region which is critically important habitat for prairie wildlife and is the heart of the breeding range for many North American ducks and shorebirds.

The Open Fields Program: Finding a place to hunt and fish is one of the most fundamental hindrances for sportsmen. Open fields seeks to address that issue, by providing 20 million dollars annually to help states promote public sportsmen's access on private lands or develop new programs where they do not currently exist.

The Conservation Tax Incentives Program provides tax deductions to landowners who enter into irrevocable conservation easements on their properties, potentially allowing sportsmen access to thousands of acres of forest ranch and farmlands currently locked.

Hunting and Fishing across these United States have long been part of our American heritage. I am hopeful that with the help of the State and Federal Government we can preserve these sports with an abundance of fish and game for years to come.

The Federal Farm Bill does not simply address the concerns of the family farm, it also address the needs of the sportsman as well.

If I can be of assistance please call the office at 573-751-2112 or e-mail me at jc.kuessner@house.mo.gov