Land owners, some of whom are farmers, are now eager to put land back into CRP. The 2018 farm bill proposes 5 million acres additional. The corn market has declined to roughly half of its high point as production outstripped demand. This was as predictable as early spring rain. Maybe some better days for pheasant hunters ahead!
I wish that was all that was needed. Sadly, I don't think it is half the battle. Even where we have expanses of excellent habitat, we have fewer birds. And fewer everything else. It is not just habitat that is a problem out there. I'm not even sure habitat is the biggest issue anymore (though it certainly was). Now I think it may be toxicity, or something similar anyway. There just aren't the bugs there used to be even down on the bottom lands, even away from the ag fields. Something ain't right.
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/qclHjMQ.jpg)
