Bush, Cochran Praised for Support of Conservation in Farm Bill

STONEVILLE, MS - The Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation has voiced support for the efforts of President George W. Bush and U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) that resulted in the funding of the largest conservation bill in the history of the United States. It is the "Farm Bill". According to Senator Thad Cochran, "The agreement that farm bill negotiators have reached will provide an 80 percent increase in funding for conservation programs. Most importantly, that funding will provide farmers and private landowners with numerous options when it comes to conservation."

According to James L. Cummins, Executive Director of the Foundation, "President Bush's and Senator Cochran's efforts to improve the conservation provisions in the Farm Bill are known throughout the nation. Senator Cochran is regularly referred to as the 'voice of reason' on conservation in the U.S. Senate and we are very blessed to have him in Washington to provide the leadership to make sure we have sound conservation programs."

The efforts of Senator Cochran will benefit Mississippians in a wide variety of ways. Mississippi is one of the largest participants in the Forestry Incentives Program (FIP). Regarding the forestry provisions in the bill, Cochran states, "This legislation provides $100 million for a newly created forestry program. The Forest Land Enhancement Program provides cost-share assistance to state foresters to encourage long term sustainability of private forest lands."

Cochran's efforts to reauthorize the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) also drew praise from the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Congressmen Chip Pickering (R-MS) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) were the lead sponsors of the WRP reauthorization legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

WRP is a voluntary program that offers financial incentives to landowners to restore bottomland hardwoods and wetlands. Mississippi ranks second in the nation in WRP enrollment, with over 100,000 acres entered since 1990.

"The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), which was authorized in the 1996 Farm Bill at my request, is funded at $700 million. This level of commitment proves that the program is successful and will continue to provide Mississippi landowners with meaningful incentive to enhance wildlife habitats," continued Cochran. WHIP will continue to cost-share with landowners to provide cover for wildlife as well as nesting and brood habitat for species like turkey and quail. Nationally, it has already improved over 650,000 acres of wildlife habitat.

President Bush has promised to sign the bill. Before the Farm Bill passed the Congress, Bush stated, "I support - strongly support - a strong conservation effort in the Farm Bill before the Congress. With more funding and incentives for conservation, we can help our farmers preserve wetlands and wildlife habitat, and better protect water quality." Earlier, Bush had called on the Congress to pass the strongest conservation title of the Farm Bill ever.

"This valuable piece of conservation legislation would not have been possible were it not for the efforts of Mark Keenum and Hunter Moorhead of Senator Cochran's staff, Chris Henick, President Bush's Deputy Senior Policy Advisor, Hunt Shipman, formerly of Senator Cochran's staff and now Deputy Under Secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, David Anderson of The White House Council on Environmental Quality, Dave White of Senator Richard Lugar's (R-IN) staff, Allison Fox of Senator Tom Harkin's (D-IA) staff and John Rounsaville of Congressman Pickering's staff. These people have gone beyond the call of duty to make sure we have sound conservation programs that work. They are to be commended," concluded Cummins.

Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.