Recently, farmers and ranchers have been calling on Congress to pass the Farm Bill, which comes as no surprise since this legislation authorizes programs that ensure drought funding as well as agricultural and food safety policies. However, many Americans may be surprised to learn that hunters and conservationists have also been rallying for a vote. That’s because the Farm Bill contains provisions affecting important wildlife conservation programs.

These programs have allowed conservation groups like Ducks Unlimited to work hand-in-hand with farmers and ranchers to restore and conserve millions of acres of wetlands, grasslands and other vital wildlife habitats across America. The Farm Bill’s Conservation Reserve Program and Wetlands Reserve Program not only have a positive impact on wildlife populations but also help conserve soil and keep our streams, rivers and lakes clean. These incentive-based programs benefit wildlife, ranchers and farmers, the environment and wildlife-associated recreation, which generates significant financial support for our nation’s economy. A preliminary report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicates that hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers spent $145 billion on wildlife-related recreation in 2011.

Waterfowl are a migratory resource, and Ducks Unlimited and its many partners work across the continent to conserve habitat that fulfills the needs of waterfowl throughout their life cycle. One of our conservation priorities is the Prairie Pothole Region of the Northern Plains, which is the most productive — and most threatened — breeding habitat for North American ducks. The PPR has already lost half of its wetlands, and more than 3.2 million acres of grassland were converted to cropland in the Northern Plains between 1982 and 2003.

Ducks nesting in the PPR need both grasslands and shallow wetlands to be successful. Grasslands provide nesting cover, and nearby wetlands provide food for hens and their broods. That’s where the Farm Bill’s conservation programs come into play. These programs help prevent wetland drainage and keep native grasslands intact. However, congressional inaction on the Farm Bill jeopardizes these programs and, in turn, millions of acres of habitat and millions of ducks that rely on it.