![\"map](\"https:\/\/www.stateofthebirds.org\/2017\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/map-8-ways-circles.jpg\")
Here are 8 ways the Farm Bill pays off for birds, habitat, and people across the United States:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n1. It keeps birds off the Endangered Species List<\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"Northern](\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\")
34% of duck food energy on private lands in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley comes from Farm Bill wetlands, a critical food source for waterfowl species such as Northern Pintail, Mallard, and Wood Duck.\n Northern Pintail by Stuart Lewis<\/a> via Birdshare<\/a>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThrough the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, the Sage Grouse Initiative<\/a> has worked with 1,300 ranchers across the West to improve more than 5 million acres of sagebrush habitat\u2014an area twice as large as Yellowstone National Park. These voluntary, incentive-based programs influenced the 2015 decision not to list the Greater Sage-Grouse<\/a> as endangered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWithout these [Farm Bill] lands \u2026 sage-grouse would go extinct in two of the three subpopulations.\u201d<\/em>\u2014 scientist Andrew Shirk<\/a> on the Farm Bill and sage-grouse in eastern Washington<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. It pays huge natural dividends<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Farm Bill conservation programs provide big benefits. In the Prairie Pothole Region alone:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- 37 million<\/strong> more waterfowl<\/strong> in 2011 compared to 1992 [source 1<\/a> (PDF), source 2<\/a> (PDF)]<\/li>
- 44 billion<\/strong> pounds of sediment<\/strong> prevented from reaching waterways in 2013 [source<\/a> (PDF)]<\/li>
- 150 billion<\/strong> gallons<\/strong> of floodwater catchment capacity [source<\/a> (PDF)]<\/li>
- $430 million<\/strong> annual economic impact<\/strong> of hunting and bird watching [source<\/a> (PDF)]<\/li>
- $1 billion net benefit<\/strong> of ecological services (water quality and wildlife habitat) over 20 years [source<\/a>]<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In some Illinois counties, spring counts for Henslow’s Sparrows are 25 times greater now than before the Conservation Reserve Program. Photo by Jeff Timmons\/Macaulay Library.<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. It creates eco-benefits for the entire farm<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The ecological benefits created by Farm Bill grasslands also benefit the entire farm by improving soil health and even providing pest control. In a study of rural farm areas in Wisconsin and Michigan, grassland plots within crop landscapes doubled the numbers of grassland birds and increased the rates of predation of insect pest eggs<\/a> by 30%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n4. It delivers return on investment in birds and clean water<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
In Illinois farm counties with the highest Conservation Reserve Program sign-up rates, spring bird counts for Henslow\u2019s Sparrows are 25 times greater now<\/a> than they were before CRP. In the Chicagoland area, Henslow\u2019s Sparrow grassland habitat provided $900 million<\/a> in flood control, groundwater recharge, and water purification services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n5. It sustains a timber economy and forest birds<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Private working forests account for 88% of the timber harvest in the United States<\/a> [PDF]\u2014and 83% of the population distribution of Eastern forest birds<\/a>. Farm Bill Forestry programs have grown the South\u2019s longleaf pine forests<\/a> by 50% to 4.7 million acres, providing a source of timber that keeps working forests working and offers wildlife habitat for 36 bird species<\/a>, including Northern Bobwhite quail and the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n6. It feeds North American waterfowl populations<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
34% of duck food energy on private lands in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley comes from Farm Bill wetlands, a critical food source for waterfowl species such as Northern Pintail, Mallard, and Wood Duck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two key Farm Bill provisions\u2014Sodsaver and Swampbuster\u2014have saved thousands of acres of native prairie and wetlands that are vital for sustaining populations of waterfowl and grassland birds.\nPhoto courtesy Ducks Unlimited.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n7. It protects vital prairie grasslands and wetlands<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Sodsaver and Swampbuster are two crucial protections for water quality and wildlife. These Farm Bill provisions have ensured that thousands of acres of native prairie and wetlands have remained on the land. Every year, wetlands protected by Swampbuster contribute nearly 4 million Mallards, Gadwalls, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shovelers, and Northern Pintails<\/a> [PDF] to North America\u2019s waterfowl population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n8. It promotes public-private partnerships<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Through the Farm Bill\u2019s Regional Conservation Partnership Program, 20% of California\u2019s Central Valley rice acreage is temporarily flooded after harvest to provide important shallow water habitat<\/a> [PDF] for thousands of migratory shorebirds. In the first 3 years of RCPP, USDA has used Farm Bill dollars to leverage partner contributions for $1.49 billion in total conservation impact<\/a>. (Using $590 million, the USDA leveraged an additional $900 million in partner contributions.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
![\"Northern](\"https:\/\/www.stateofthebirds.org\/2017\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/pintail-stuart-lewis-birdshare.jpg\")
Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, the Sage Grouse Initiative<\/a> has worked with 1,300 ranchers across the West to improve more than 5 million acres of sagebrush habitat\u2014an area twice as large as Yellowstone National Park. These voluntary, incentive-based programs influenced the 2015 decision not to list the Greater Sage-Grouse<\/a> as endangered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWithout these [Farm Bill] lands \u2026 sage-grouse would go extinct in two of the three subpopulations.\u201d<\/em>\u2014 scientist Andrew Shirk<\/a> on the Farm Bill and sage-grouse in eastern Washington<\/p>\n\n\n\n Farm Bill conservation programs provide big benefits. In the Prairie Pothole Region alone:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ecological benefits created by Farm Bill grasslands also benefit the entire farm by improving soil health and even providing pest control. In a study of rural farm areas in Wisconsin and Michigan, grassland plots within crop landscapes doubled the numbers of grassland birds and increased the rates of predation of insect pest eggs<\/a> by 30%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Illinois farm counties with the highest Conservation Reserve Program sign-up rates, spring bird counts for Henslow\u2019s Sparrows are 25 times greater now<\/a> than they were before CRP. In the Chicagoland area, Henslow\u2019s Sparrow grassland habitat provided $900 million<\/a> in flood control, groundwater recharge, and water purification services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Private working forests account for 88% of the timber harvest in the United States<\/a> [PDF]\u2014and 83% of the population distribution of Eastern forest birds<\/a>. Farm Bill Forestry programs have grown the South\u2019s longleaf pine forests<\/a> by 50% to 4.7 million acres, providing a source of timber that keeps working forests working and offers wildlife habitat for 36 bird species<\/a>, including Northern Bobwhite quail and the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 34% of duck food energy on private lands in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley comes from Farm Bill wetlands, a critical food source for waterfowl species such as Northern Pintail, Mallard, and Wood Duck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sodsaver and Swampbuster are two crucial protections for water quality and wildlife. These Farm Bill provisions have ensured that thousands of acres of native prairie and wetlands have remained on the land. Every year, wetlands protected by Swampbuster contribute nearly 4 million Mallards, Gadwalls, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shovelers, and Northern Pintails<\/a> [PDF] to North America\u2019s waterfowl population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the Farm Bill\u2019s Regional Conservation Partnership Program, 20% of California\u2019s Central Valley rice acreage is temporarily flooded after harvest to provide important shallow water habitat<\/a> [PDF] for thousands of migratory shorebirds. In the first 3 years of RCPP, USDA has used Farm Bill dollars to leverage partner contributions for $1.49 billion in total conservation impact<\/a>. (Using $590 million, the USDA leveraged an additional $900 million in partner contributions.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"2. It pays huge natural dividends<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Henslow's](\"https:\/\/www.stateofthebirds.org\/2017\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/16-henslows.jpg\")
3. It creates eco-benefits for the entire farm<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
4. It delivers return on investment in birds and clean water<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
5. It sustains a timber economy and forest birds<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
6. It feeds North American waterfowl populations<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"hunter](\"https:\/\/www.stateofthebirds.org\/2017\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/hunter.jpg\")
7. It protects vital prairie grasslands and wetlands<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
8. It promotes public-private partnerships<\/h4>\n\n\n\n