I'm one of the "old farts" that tells stories of the Soil Bank. Born in S.D. I started hunting in the late 50's. Pheasants had to be seen to be believed. Simply slamming the truck door would often cause HUNDREDS of birds to launch out of a field. Soil Bank, if a faulty memory serves, started phasing out in about '64. I returned from college in '69 and everbody was scratching their heads trying to figure out what happened to all the birds. Fast forward 50 years, CRP is being phased out, grazed and/or hayed. Everyone is scratching their heads trying to figure out what happened to all the birds. Duh! I don't blame the farmers, they are simply businessmen looking at high prices offset by drought---drain, plow and make a buck. Renewing CRP certainly would help them and the birds. Oh, in the "good ol' days we jumped tons of coyotes and foxes out of those fields, the dogs mixed it up with skunks and racoons were a common sight---nature can take care of itself if man gives it half a chance.
Steve
