Latest news with #ConservationReserveProgram
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
South Dakota records best pheasant season in 13 years, state parks department says
A male ring-necked pheasant. (Photo by Travel South Dakota) Hunters bagged more pheasants last fall in South Dakota than they have for 13 years, the state department of Game, Fish and Parks said Thursday. More than 1.3 million roosters were harvested during the 2024 pheasant hunting season, the department said, with another 380,000 harvested within defined shooting preserves. 'The 2024 South Dakota pheasant season was absolutely spectacular,' South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden said in a press release. South Dakota, the governor said, is 'truly the greatest state to pheasant hunt.' The state saw more roosters harvested in two weeks of October 2024 than any other state during their entire season, the release says. South Dakota's postseason pheasant harvest figures come from 15,000 random surveys of resident hunters and 13,000 nonresident hunters, the Mitchell Daily Republic reported Tuesday. Questions include the number of days hunted, areas hunted and how many birds were harvested are all part of the survey. Pheasants Forever launches new initiative to expand outdoor access in South Dakota More than a million birds have been harvested in each of the past five years in South Dakota, but Upland Game Biologist Alex Solem of the parks department told the Republic that 2024 stood out. 'Our over-winter survival was absolutely phenomenal,' Solem told the Mitchell publication. 'It was certainly evident just driving around this spring, tons of roosters crowing everywhere, lots of hens selecting those roosters for mating purposes. Pheasant hunting is an economic engine for South Dakota. Pheasants Forever, a private conservation organization, put the financial impact of the 2023 pheasant season on the state's economy at $281 million. The release from Game, Fish and Parks on Tuesday did not include a financial impact estimate of the 2024 pheasant season, instead focusing on bird harvest numbers. Hunters averaged approximately nine birds per hunter, said Kevin Robling, secretary for the parks department. 'Habitat and access have been a top priority for the department, and that has played a key role in both abundant bird numbers and ample locations for hunters to target them,' Robling said in the press release. Landowners and farmers partner through habitat programs to open conservation land, using programs offered by the State of South Dakota, the federal government, and multiple conservation groups. Pheasants Forever partnered with the state in 2023 to pay landowners additional stipends for enrolling land in conservation programs, with the goal of adding 10,000 acres a year. In the press release on the 2024 pheasant harvest, Robling pointed specifically to the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) on the James River and Big Sioux River valleys, which provides the benefits of the long-standing Conservation Reserve Program, but also ensures access for hunters. 'These CREP lands are directly in the primary pheasant range and provide high quality grassland habitat and access as well,' added Robling. The 2025 pheasant season in South Dakota will take place Oct. 18 to Jan. 31, 2026. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Game and Fish announces reduction in North Dakota deer gun licenses
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways May 7—BISMARCK — The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is offering 42,300 licenses for the 2025 deer gun season, down 7,800 from last year. In addition, muzzleloader licenses decreased by 150 and restricted youth antlered mule deer licenses remained the same. Game and Fish announced the license reduction — which wasn't unexpected — Wednesday, May 7, in a news release. According to Casey Anderson, wildlife division chief for Game and Fish in Bismarck, population, harvest and survey data indicate the state's deer population is stable to decreasing throughout the state. "The state's deer population continues to recover from the 2021 EHD (epizootic hemorrhagic disease) outbreak and the severe winter of 2022-23, which limited population growth despite reduced gun licenses during 2023 and 2024 hunting seasons," Anderson said. "Modest license allocations are intended to maintain hunting opportunities while encouraging population growth in the state." High-quality deer habitat is not abundant, which has limited the potential for population recovery. If contracts for land enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program continue to expire, Anderson said 85% of the once-3.4 million acres present in 2007 will be lost by 2026. The spring mule deer survey showed western North Dakota's mulie population is 14% lower than last year, despite a reduced harvest and consecutive mild winters. North Dakota's 2025 deer gun season opens at noon Nov. 7 and continues through Nov. 23. Applicants for regular deer gun, gratis, youth and muzzleloader can apply online through the Game and Fish Department's website at . The deadline for applying is midnight June 4. Those who didn't apply last year will lose accrued points by not applying or purchasing a point this year, the department said. State law allows residents ages 11, 12 and 13 to obtain any antlerless licenses, except in units 3B1, 3B2 and 4A through 4F, where mule deer doe licenses are restricted. Total deer licenses are determined by harvest rates, aerial surveys, depredation reports, hunter observations, input at advisory board meetings and comments from the public, landowners and department field staff. Game and Fish reported in March that hunters shot approximately 23,300 deer during the 2024 gun season. Hunter success for antlered white-tailed deer was 49% and 44% for antlerless whitetails. Mule deer success was 80% for bucks and 78% for antlerless mule deer. Game and Fish offered 50,100 licenses for the 2024 deer gun season.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Landowner enrollment begins for Walk-In Access program
Mar. 18—Enrollment is open for Minnesota's 2025 Walk-In Access program, which pays landowners to allow public access on private lands. Since 2011, the Walk-In Access program has enrolled parcels of 40 acres or larger with high-quality natural cover. These parcels are usually enrolled in conservation programs like the Conservation Reserve Program or Reinvest in Minnesota. Although it is not a requirement, it is preferred to ensure quality habitat for outdoor recreation. For enrolling in the program, landowners can receive $18 per acre. The DNR partners with select soil and water conservation districts across the state to assist landowners in enrolling parcels into the Walk-In Access program. The participating counties along with their contact information are listed on the Minnesota DNR's website ( A $3 Walk-In Access validation is needed to gain access to enrolled parcels, which are marked with highly visible signs. The one validation allows access for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy a variety of activities, whether it be hunting, bird watching, nature photography and more. "Walk-In Access is often seen as a win-win for outdoor enthusiasts and landowners," said Amber Knutson, Walk-In Access program coordinator. "With almost 30,000 acres of privately-owned Walk-In Access land available to use, outdoor enthusiasts can have confidence that they're welcome on these parcels. And landowners receive a monetary incentive while also gaining liability protection through the recreational use laws written in Minnesota state statute." Participating outdoor enthusiasts can access Walk-In Access parcels from Sept. 1 through May 31, one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset with a current Walk-In Access validation. All hunting laws apply and are enforced by Minnesota DNR conservation officers. For nonhunting users, it is advised to wear blaze orange or pink during firearms seasons to make yourself visible to hunters. This program is primarily funded through the Voluntary Public Access-Habitat Incentive Program grant offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service. Additional funding sources include a $5 surcharge on all nonresident hunting licenses, Walk-In Access validations, and donations made by individuals. Landowners can sign up for the program at their local soil and water conservation district office or by contacting Amber Knutson at 507-706-6172. More information is available at the Minnesota DNR's Walk-In Access webpage (
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Landowner enrollment begins for Walk-In Access program
Mar. 18—Enrollment is open for Minnesota's 2025 Walk-In Access program, which pays landowners to allow public access on private lands. Since 2011, the Walk-In Access program has enrolled parcels of 40 acres or larger with high-quality natural cover. These parcels are usually enrolled in conservation programs like the Conservation Reserve Program or Reinvest in Minnesota. Although it is not a requirement, it is preferred to ensure quality habitat for outdoor recreation. For enrolling in the program, landowners can receive $18 per acre. The DNR partners with select soil and water conservation districts across the state to assist landowners in enrolling parcels into the Walk-In Access program. The participating counties along with their contact information are listed on the Minnesota DNR's website ( A $3 Walk-In Access validation is needed to gain access to enrolled parcels, which are marked with highly visible signs. The one validation allows access for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy a variety of activities, whether it be hunting, bird watching, nature photography and more. "Walk-In Access is often seen as a win-win for outdoor enthusiasts and landowners," said Amber Knutson, Walk-In Access program coordinator. "With almost 30,000 acres of privately-owned Walk-In Access land available to use, outdoor enthusiasts can have confidence that they're welcome on these parcels. And landowners receive a monetary incentive while also gaining liability protection through the recreational use laws written in Minnesota state statute." Participating outdoor enthusiasts can access Walk-In Access parcels from Sept. 1 through May 31, one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset with a current Walk-In Access validation. All hunting laws apply and are enforced by Minnesota DNR conservation officers. For nonhunting users, it is advised to wear blaze orange or pink during firearms seasons to make yourself visible to hunters. This program is primarily funded through the Voluntary Public Access-Habitat Incentive Program grant offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service. Additional funding sources include a $5 surcharge on all nonresident hunting licenses, Walk-In Access validations, and donations made by individuals. Landowners can sign up for the program at their local soil and water conservation district office or by contacting Amber Knutson at 507-706-6172. More information is available at the Minnesota DNR's Walk-In Access webpage (
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former USDA worker says layoffs hurt Wyoming agriculture
CHEYENNE – As cuts are made across the federal government, farmers in Wyoming have been left with some uncertainties related to the work of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. On Feb. 12, Hannah (who asked that we not disclose her last name out of fear of retribution), a former USDA employee living in Wyoming, was assured by her colleagues that the agency would be safe from massive cuts being made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). On the evening of Feb. 14, Hannah joined the thousands of workers across the country to be laid off in a 'Valentine's Day massacre.' 'People are really struggling,' Hannah told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. 'It's been a shock. I don't know what my next steps are.' Hannah was lucky to have some savings to lean on. Some of her peers who were fired have had to re-evaluate offers made on homes or how they will take care of newborn children. While she isn't trying to back out of a down payment on a house, Hannah will likely have to leave the state to find work. 'We've loved living in Wyoming,' Hannah said. 'I thought this job would mean that I could stay in Wyoming and continue working with Wyoming farmers, which I'm really passionate about. And with these firings, I just don't see us being able to stay in Wyoming.' She and her peers were let go for 'poor performance,' even though Hannah had not even had a formal performance review yet and received a letter on Feb. 17 praising her high performance. Leaving farmers vulnerable Like many federal workers, Hannah chose to pursue a career with the USDA because of her passion for supporting local farmers. With her doctorate in soil sciences, she easily could have gotten a job in the private sector; instead, she chose to work with local farmers. Though she is currently dealing with the shock of being fired, Hannah's concerns extend beyond herself and to the farmers with whom she previously served. 'These farmers are extremely vulnerable to things like drought, hail, high winds,' she told the WTE. 'And they really rely on government programs to stay afloat.' The USDA uniquely offers research and support programs for Western farmers that private companies, like Monsanto and Bayer, won't, simply because of location, according to Hannah. Instead, private companies focus on large corporate farms in less drought-prone areas, like the Midwest. 'There's really nobody else giving this sort of support to small farmers,' Hannah said. 'Almost all of the farmers I work with, which are pretty much all smaller family farms, rely on some form of government assistance.' Should the new administration follow Project 2025 promises to reduce subsidy and insurance programs, local agriculture could be hit hard, according to Hannah. 'Some of (the administration's) stated goals are to cancel the Conservation Reserve Program and greatly reduce subsidized crop insurance,' Hannah said. 'Without those programs, I see a lot of small farmers going out of business.' Released funds When Hannah was fired, federal funds for these programs were frozen. However, newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has recently begun to release some of the funds following a review. In a statement released on Feb. 20, Rollins stated that USDA will be 'releasing approximately $20 million in contracts for the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQUIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program, and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.' 'American farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our nation,' Rollins said. 'They feed, fuel and clothe our nation — and millions of people around the world. The past four years have been among the most difficult for American agriculture, due in no small measure to (former President Joe) Biden's disastrous policies of overregulation, extreme environmental programs and crippling inflation.' Rollins said the Biden administration had rushed out hundreds of millions of dollars in IRA funds, which were supposed to be distributed over eight years. 'After careful review, it is clear that some of this funding went to programs that had nothing to do with agriculture — that is why we are still reviewing — whereas other funding was directed to farmers and ranchers who have since made investments in these programs,' Rollins said. 'We will honor our commitments to American farmers and ranchers, and we will ensure they have the support they need to be the most competitive in the world.' Rollins was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Feb. 13 by a vote of 72-28. She was a senior aide for President Donald Trump during his first administration, and was most recently president and CEO of the conservative think tank America First Policy Institute. To soon to panic, local farmer says Rollins' message has resonated with some local producers, including the owner and operator of Rabou Farms, Ron Rabou. Rabou lives and works in southeast Wyoming, one of the key areas for Hannah's previous work. While Rabou empathized with those who had lost their jobs and acknowledged that virtually all farmers would be impacted by a reduction in subsidized crop insurance, he also stated that it's too soon to panic. 'I think that we have to let this process unfold," Rabou said. "And if there are programs that producers are noticing that have gone away, that are essential to their existence and their operation? They need to let their delegation know so that they can address that with the USDA.' Rabou was part of a group of producers from across the nation who were recently able to speak with Rollins during a private conference. 'My personal conversations with the (congressional) delegation, and with Secretary Rollins herself, all indicate that farmers and ranchers are a major priority,' Rabou said. 'The Department of Agriculture, and certainly our delegation, wants to make sure that that remains a priority.' For Rabou, a major overhaul for an organization can't happen overnight, and the only way to navigate it is to pay attention and speak with representatives about farmers' needs as programs are evaluated. 'I think that American farmers and ranchers can be confident in the fact that we have such a strong advocate that is leading the USDA,' Rabou said. Support for Trump Wyoming's representatives in Washington, D.C., echoed support for Trump's massive cuts. 'President Trump is right to rein in wasteful Washington spending and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal government,' U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., wrote in an email statement to the WTE. 'We need to cut wasteful and duplicative spending to protect American taxpayers. 'At the same time, we are working with the administration to make sure key personnel and programs, basic government functions, and public safety and health are not compromised. I am committed to ensuring any communities in Wyoming impacted by the proposed cuts have a seat at the table. "I have made it my priority to make sure the administration knows how important it is to keep our national parks, forests and federal lands adequately staffed. I will continue to work with the Trump administration to make sure the right personnel and public safety officials, like our wildland firefighters, are protected and have a voice during this process.' U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis and Rep. Harriet Hageman, both R-Wyo., echoed support for the president's cuts made through DOGE, saying the efforts will save Wyoming taxpayer dollars. Hard to rehire Though Hannah said she would likely take her job back if offered it, the process is complex. 'It takes a lot of resources to hire these positions, and it often takes over a year to find a qualified candidate,' Hannah said. 'These positions often pay less than the private sector and require pretty specialized experience.' Even if hiring freezes are lifted and funds are released, some damage has already been done, she said. The USDA works on addressing drought, pests and herbicide-resistant weeds. This research into major issues in this region will likely not be taken over by the private sector, according to Hannah. From Hannah's perspective, the loss of researchers and staff will cause a lot of good research in Wyoming to go to waste. 'Now that travel is restricted because we've lost resources and support staff, a lot of our research around Wyoming is going to suffer," Hannah said. In spite of these concerns, Rollins and the USDA have reiterated that in order to support Trump's efforts to "optimize government," the termination of probationary employees was necessary. "We have a solemn responsibility to be good stewards of Americans' hard-earned taxpayer dollars and to ensure that every dollar is being spent as effectively as possible to serve the people, not the bureaucracy," a statement from the USDA to the WTE read. "As part of this effort, USDA has released individuals in their probationary period of employment. "Secretary Rollins understands the array of mission critical positions and programs at the Department, and she will ensure that those areas have the resources and personnel they need to continue serving the American people.'
