The Partners Program's Farm Bill

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and State fish and wildlife agencies to provide fish and wildlife technical assistance in the implementation of Farm Bill conservation programs.  With over $3 billion appropriated annually by Congress for the conservation of soil, water quality and fish and wildlife habitat on private lands, the voluntary incentive-based conservation provisions of the Farm Bill present a tremendous opportunity for implementation of conservation practices on a landscape scale that can benefit pollinators. 

A recent announcement by the USDA’s Farm Service Agency of a new duck nesting habitat initiative in the Conservation Reserve Program is just one example of how sharing of biological information and technical expertise can enhance the effectiveness of Farm Bill programs.  The new CRP practice will allow producers in the Prairie Pothole Region to restore up to 100,000 acres of wetland/upland complexes for breeding ducks and other wildlife.  Continued coordination between the Service, USDA, the states and conservation NGOs during implementation of this initiative will result in benefits for pollinators as wetlands and associated grasslands are restored. 

More Information on the Farm Bill