BARBOUR LAUNCHES COAST RESTORATION INITIATIVE - On Monday, December 5, Governor Haley Barbour announced his Mississippi Gulf Coast Environmental Restoration Initiative, the largest coastal natural resource and habitat restoration effort in the history of Mississippi. It is a 10-year plan to restore, enhance and create coastal habitat including marshes, coastal forests, beaches, barrier islands and oyster reefs. The Department of Marine Resources will implement the plan with assistance from conservation groups such as Wildlife Mississippi (www.wildlifemiss.org). The Governor's plan entails short-term and long-term goals to achieve pre-Katrina status and later, pre-Hurricane Camille status. Some of the short-term objectives of the Initiative include debris removal in the Mississippi Sound and contiguous waterways, shrimp and oyster habitat restoration and the restoration of Deer Island. The long-term objectives include the restoration of Petit Bois, Horn, Ship, Cat and Round Islands; these islands are critical for protecting the Coast from future hurricanes and also provide habitat for fish, shrimp, oysters, crabs, birds, reptiles and mammals. It also includes the restoration of damaged piers, docks, boat launches and hatchery services to restore infrastructure necessary for commercial and recreational fishing. According to Governor Barbour, “Restoring the natural resources of the Mississippi Gulf Coast is not only good for the environment, but it's good for our economy. We all know that the natural resources of the Gulf Coast serve as the primary economic driver whether it's the scenic views enjoyed by tourists or the marine habitat vital to the seafood industry. Restoring our natural resources is not just about protecting the environment; it means jobs for our residents, and ultimately restoring the Coast's economy. Even before Katrina, we were working with our Congressional delegation to garner funds to achieve some of these objectives, but following the hurricane we have even more to do. Since the storm, I have met on several occasions with the President to discuss the urgent need for environmental restoration on the Coast, and I asked him to include funds for the effort in his budget. Like rebuilding Gulf Coast businesses and public infrastructure, the goal of rebuilding the coastal environment is a daunting task, but one that we must and will achieve. I look forward to working with the Department of Marine Resources, our Congressional delegation and our partners from the natural resource community to make this plan a reality.”

CRP RE-ENROLLMENTS AND EXTENSIONS ANNOUNCED - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced that the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin notifying certain agricultural producers with Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts expiring in 2007 that they may extend or re-enroll their contracts. “Approximately 16 million acres subject to CRP contracts expire in 2007,” said Johanns. “Fulfilling President Bush's directive to allow eligible farmers and ranchers to re-enroll or extend their CRP contracts helps ensure that the quality of soil, water, air and wildlife benefits of the CRP continue across the nation for years to come.” Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices will begin notifying certain CRP participants by mail with expiring contracts in 2007 if they are eligible for re-enrollments or 2- to 5-year extensions. Participants eligible for re-enrollment will be offered a 10- or 15-year contract provided there are restored wetlands on the original land enrolled in the contract. Fifteen year contracts expiring September 30, 2007, are not eligible for extension. The FSA used the Environmental Benefits Index (EBI) to determine eligibility for CRP re-enrollments or extensions. Additional credit was considered for contracts within national CRP conservation priority areas. The EBI addresses expected benefits to water quality, erosion, enduring benefits, air quality and wildlife habitat. The FSA ranked individual contracts into one of five tiers based on the environmental benefits of the original EBI score. Eligible participants ranking in the first tier (i.e. between 81 - 100 percent) of the EBI will be afforded the opportunity to re-enroll their land in new contracts. Farmers and ranchers with wetlands in this top tier ranking are eligible for a 15-year contract. Eligible participants ranking in the second tier (i.e. between 61 - 80 percent) may extend their CRP contracts for 5 years. Eligible participants ranking within the third tier (i.e. between 41 - 60 percent) may extend their CRP contracts by 4 years. Eligible participants ranking in the fourth tier (i.e. between 21 - 40 percent) may receive 3-year extensions. Eligible participants ranking in the bottom tier may extend their contracts by 2 years. Before approving a re-enrollment contract or an extended contract, the FSA will review the contract to ensure that the required cover is maintained and there is compliance with other contract provisions. In addition, to be eligible, participants must be able to show that they meet eligibility requirements for the new enrollment period. In the case of re-enrollments, updated rental rates will apply. The USDA also announced that a general CRP sign-up will be held this spring. Farmers and ranchers will be able to make offers for the CRP's competitive general sign-up from March 27, 2006, through April 14, 2006, at their local FSA offices. Offers for general sign-up will be evaluated based on five environmental factors (wildlife, water, soil, air and enduring benefits) and cost. “President Bush stated that he is committed to fully utilizing the 39.2 million-acre enrollment authority under the CRP,” said Johanns. “This general sign-up demonstrates the administration's dedication to maintaining the CRP's wide-ranging environmental benefits.” The CRP is a voluntary program that helps farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers protect their environmentally sensitive land. Producers enrolling in the CRP plant long-term, resource-conserving covers, with Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) providing rental payments, cost-share and technical assistance. For more information on the CRP, contact your local FSA office or visit the FSA website at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/crp.htm.

SMALL-SCALE/LIMITED RESOURCE FARMER INITIATIVE ANNOUNCED - The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Mississippi will make available $1,000,000 for a new Small-Scale/Limited Resource Farmer Initiative. These funds will help farmers with 100 acres or less of cropland or pasture land to implement conservation practices that are cost effective. These practices include: erosion control, water management, grazing land management, livestock watering facilities, fencing and irrigation systems and sustainable forestry. To be eligible for irrigation practices, at least 10 percent of the cropland acres must be planted in alternative crops. That means if you place 25 acres of cropland into this new program, at least 2.5 acres must be planted in alternative crops. Alternative crops are crops other than cotton, soybeans, wheat, rice, field corn or similar crops grown on large acreage and produced for off-farm sale. Crops such as annually planted vegetables and herbs are considered alternative crops. Cost-share rates will be up to 90 percent for all practices, with contracts limited to $10,000. To sign-up for this initiative, contact your local NRCS office. This office is located in the USDA Service Center in your county. For more information, contact your local district conservationist in the office mentioned above or visit www.ms.nrcs.usda.gov.

FOREST RECOVERY AND REFORESTATION BILL INTRODUCED - Representative Greg Walden (R-OR), chair of the House Resources, Forests and Forest Health Subcommittee, along with Representatives Stephanie Herseth (D-SD) and Brian Baird (D-WA) introduced HR 4200, the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act (FERRA). The bi-partisan bill, which has approximately 100 co-sponsors, would provide rapid assessments of damage following forest catastrophes, allow quick action where necessary to recover and reforest, strengthen research and provide flexible funding to support the work of recovery and reforestation.

FOREST SERVICE UNVEILS NEW ATV POLICY - The U.S. Forest Service has announced a new regulation for recreational motor vehicle use in national forests and grasslands. The new rule, which is designed to create a sustainable system of routes and areas designated for motorized use, requires each national forest and grassland to identify and designate those roads, trails and areas open to motor vehicle use. Local units will seek public input and coordinate with federal, state, county and other local governmental entities, as well as tribal governments, before any decision is made on a particular road, trail or area. The final rule addresses the more than 80,000 comments received on last year's proposed rule. Once the designation process is complete, motor vehicle use off these routes and outside those areas will be prohibited. This prohibition will not affect snowmobiles.