Since 1978 Senator Thad Cochran has been a leader in formulating agricultural policy through the development and funding of farm bills every five years. In 1985 Cochran was instrumental in adding Title XII “Conservation” to the farm bill for the first time. This addition was historic in that it added significant provisions that protected wetlands and created a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) which now provides over 23 million acres nationwide, offering wildlife habitat.
Cochran led the effort to establish the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) in 1990 which has established, to date, long-term easements on 2.3 million acres nationwide. Over 150 thousand acres are in Mississippi and planted back to acorn producing bottomland hardwoods.
The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) was introduced by Cochran and passed by congress in 1996. This bill elevated wildlife to the level of soil and water as national natural resource concerns. The welfare of wildlife is inextricably tied to agricultural operations..
The chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under USDA, established a Wildlife Habitat Management Institute on recommendations of a 35-member scoping team as to agency wildlife needs. I was appointed director of the WHMI. The purpose of WHMI was to conduct technical research on wildlife issues and the effectiveness of farm bill programs on wildlife populations. NRCS field people also needed technical answers when helping landowners apply wildlife practices. Congress needed such results in making farm bill decisions. I asked Senator Cochran to “cut a ribbon” at the opening of the Institute October 15, 1997, in Madison, MS. He graciously accepted. The Institute was staffed by seven prople, four interspersed across the nation, and three in headquarters at Madison, MS.
The worthiness of the WHMI became evident when a report was produced in 2000 entitled “A Comprehensive Review of Farm Bill Contributions to Wildlife Conservation 1985-2000”. Testimony in an early farm bill hearing asked the Agricultural Committee for 5 million more acres of CRP to be authorized for the Upper Great Plains states, primary breeding ground for waterfowl. The chairman asked “What good has CRP done thus far?” Dr. Rollie Sparrow, who was testifying on behalf of wildlife interest, replied “According to this report by the WHMI in NRCS, Madison, MS, from 1992 to 1997, 10 million more ducks (mallards) have been produced as a result of CRP.” Five million more acres of CRP were granted.
An average of $2.5 million came to the Institute for the next ten years, along with a name change to the Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center. Over 160 projects nationwide were conducted. Over 700 pieces of technical information were developed. Cornell University uses the WHMI comprehensive report of 2000 in teaching its graduate course in Wildlife Management. Mississippi State University (MSU) led a nine-state bobwhite quail research study that provides recommendations on bringing bobwhite back from declines from a high population in 1980. Scott County, Missouri, has returned to the 1980 population by using such recommendations and working closely with Missouri farmers.
According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wiildlife-associated Recreation issued December 2012, 90.1 million people expended 144.7 billion dollars in pursuit of their pastime during 2011. Not only is the wildlife resource of our nation valuable to our economy, it is essential to the value of our lives and spiritual well-being. 90.1 million enjoy wildlife with a passion. The rest of us, about 220 million, cannot deny the pleasure of hearing a flock of wild geese migrating overhead in a fog-shrouded sky or the joy of hearing the male cardinal’s mating song in early spring, “what-cheer…what-cheer…what-cheer”.
No other person has made such a positive impact as Senator Thad Cochran in formulating effective farm bills and conservation and wildlife programs in his state and nation.
Pete Heard
Brandon
