03/28/06 Conservation in Idaho, part two

There are hundreds of Idaho farmers and ranchers who have taken advantage of cost share conservation programs offered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Example, M&H Farms near Burley went to strip cropping and Jack Hunsacker says they planted 16 miles of trees along Interstate 84 to help control blowing dust. HUNSACKER "We've seen some of the wrecks on the freeway over the yearas and it's a benefit to everybody to do something to control the erosion and the snow also." Near Whitebird, EQIP funds helped a group of landowners battle yellow starthistle. North of Bonners Ferry a community group improved over 12 hundred acres of wetland and wildlife habitat through the Wetland Reserve Program. Retired ranchers Shirl and Verl Arnold enrolled their St Anthony land in the Grazing Lands Reserve Program to protect it from development. SHIRL "The farm next to us has gone into 70 homes." VERL "We're all going to leave this earth sometime and it gives me the satisfaction that it will be taken care of after I'm gone." Outside Soda Springs a sportsman and a cattle ranchers worked with NRCS and Trout Unlimited to enhance habitat along the Blackfoot River while a group of small acreage owners was doing the same kind of work along Rock Creek near Twin Falls. All thanks to NRCS and programs funded through the 2002 Farm Bill. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott