PLJV Position on Grazing Conservation Reserve Program Acres

Responding to recent livestock feed shortages, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the release of 24 million general sign-up Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for haying and grazing nationwide on May 27. On July 8, a U.S. District Court judge stopped this emergency haying and grazing of CRP acres at the request of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and six state affiliates. The final ruling on July 24 stated there will be no acreage cap on the Critical Feed Use provision. But the judge limited the program to farmers and ranchers who applied to use CRP acres for haying and grazing before July 8. In light of this lawsuit and the history of the CRP, the Playa Lakes Joint Venture (PLJV) is calling for a regional discussion about what the best management is for CRP acres for ground-nesting birds as well as for ranchers and farmers in the High Plains... (MORE)

Panhandle Wind and Wildlife Conference Planned in Texas

Something is blowing in the wind. That’s what many landowners are sensing with the explosion of wind-energy development and interest in the High Plains. Although there are environmental benefits to wind energy, some landowners have questions about the impact of wind-energy development on their land and the wildlife it supports. The Panhandle Wind and Wildlife Conference, scheduled for August 8 and 9 in Amarillo, Texas, will answer some of these questions. The conference is hosted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Wildlife Association and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. It also is sponsored in part by PLJV... (MORE)

RMBO Launches Online Avian Data Center

The Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) recently launched an online Avian Data Center now featured on the RMBO website. With this online launch, RMBO is providing data from 11 years of point counts and section surveys of more than 330 bird species in 12 states and Mexico. This database is now available to partner organizations, members and the public to explore. PLJV is a contributing partner to this effort... (MORE)

Regional News and Resources:

Featured Project: Huerfano Lake Conservation and Restoration Project

Huerfano Lake is a 255-acre wetland located in Pueblo County, Colorado that provides important habitat for hundreds of nesting and migrating birds such as the Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, American Avocet and Snowy Plover. This project involved installing a fence to keep livestock from the lake and surrounding wetlands and implementing a Tamarisk-control program. Browse all projects.

Featured Grant: ConocoPhillips SPIRIT of Conservation Migratory Bird Program

The SPIRIT of Conservation Migratory Bird Program is a partnership between ConocoPhillips and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The program provides grants for bird habitat conservation projects in areas where ConocoPhillips has an operating presence. ConocoPhillips provides $600,000 for this program annually; minimum grant size is $25,000. Pre-proposals are due Sept. 1 and, if invited to submit, full proposals are due Nov. 1. Browse all funding opportunities.

Happenings around the PLJV: KGLC Range Schools

The Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition (KGLC) is hosting two range schools scheduled in August. One will be August 12-14 in eastern Kansas at White Memorial Camp in Morris County and the other will be in western Kansas at Camp Aldrich in Barton County set for August 19-21. Browse all upcoming events.

Playa Country Radio August Shows - Listen NOW

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