Washington, DC - The Agriculture and Wildlife Working Group (AWWG) of the
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) today released
recommendations for the conservation programs of the federal legislation
commonly known as the Farm Bill. Encapsulated in a report entitled “Growing
Conservation in the Farm Bill,” these recommendations show how the U.S. can make
conservation a new priority commodity.

“Few people realize just how much the Farm Bill matters for fish and wildlife,”
said Barton James of Ducks Unlimited, a co-chair of the AWWG. “Its importance
is huge -- it’s the single largest federal investment in conservation on private
land, which covers more than half of the landscape in the lower 48.”

“Through two years of close study, we’ve found a crystal-clear rationale for
expanding Farm Bill conservation programs,” said Dave Nomsen of Pheasants
Forever, a co-chair of the AWWG. “We’ve also identified a series of balanced,
realistic, achievable and necessary program improvements.”

“The approach of the AWWG has been hallmarked by care for the details, which is
not always easy when the political sands are shifting under your feet,” said
George Cooper, Acting President of the TRCP. “The working group’s efforts have
been a model for persistence and constant collaboration. We owe a debt of
gratitude to the efforts of Lynn Tjeerdsma, whom the USDA shared with us for
almost three years to make this collaboration possible, and our deepest thanks
go to the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation for its ongoing commitment to
supporting our work.”

“Seeding well-thought-out conservation practices enables farmers, ranchers and
forest owners to grow conservation in harmony with food, fiber and fuel,” said
Adrienne Wojciechowski of The Nature Conservancy. “Carefully crafted, the 2007
Farm Bill has the potential to positively alter the lives of every American.”

“Never before has such a broad and diverse coalition with such a compelling and
proactive vision for growing conservation in the Farm Bill come together,” said
Julie Sibbing of the National Wildlife Federation. “We are eager to work with
Congress to make this vision a reality.”

“America’s hunters, anglers and conservationists need to fully engage in the
public debate on the Farm Bill if the resources so crucial to our outdoor
heritage are to continue to be there for our enjoyment,” said Jen Mock Schaeffer
of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “Our coalition’s aim was to
build a sound, science-based foundation on which we can build for the future. We
hope federal policymakers have the same goals and will embrace our consensus
recommendations.”

You can download a copy of the full news release, which includes a summary of
the report, and the full report itself from the Farming for Wildlife USA web
site, http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FarmingforWildlife_USA/.

Duane Hovorka
National Wildlife Federation
Farm Bill Outreach Coordinator