Pass a Strong Farm Bill

Posted on June 18, 2013 by admin

Posted on June 17, 2013 by greatlakesoutdoors

The Farm Bill will be going to the House floor this week – by Wednesday – with a vote possible as early as Thursday.

If you care about our Great Lakes, our wetlands and upland game habitat – you should care about the Farm Bill.

 We are experiencing a rapid loss of wetland and grassland habitats from land conversion to agriculture and other uses.   The Farm Bill is the largest conservation bill for private lands in our country.  Its no secret that passing this provides a unique opportunity for sportsmen to partner with the farming and ranching community to encourage conservation of fish and wildlife habitat. Farm Bill programs like the CREP, CRP and WRP have made millions of acres on America’s farms and ranches more attractive to fish and wildlife. Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Farm Bill, Wildlife Legislation | Comments Off on Pass a Strong Farm Bill

Great Lakes Governors Unite To Protect Great Lakes

Posted on June 4, 2013 by admin

This past weekend, I joined several business, conservation, and industry leaders at the Great Lakes Governors summit on Mackinac Island, Michigan.  Our setting was the historic Grand Hotel which provided a fresh venue overlooking the Straits of Mackinac.  Clearly, this was the right atmosphere for this important meeting.

Great Lakes Governors_Smit

WI Gov. Scott Walker, Il Gov. Pat Quinn, MI Gov. Rick Snyder, ONT Premier Wynn, and IN Gov. Mike Pence – Photo: AP

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder kicked off the summit with a strong message that economic prosperity and Great Lakes restoration go hand-in-hand.  This set the tone for the weekend. Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Asian Carp, Invasive Species, Nuisance Species, Species Management, The Great Lakes | Comments Off on Great Lakes Governors Unite To Protect Great Lakes

Snyder signs bills to better manage Michigan wildlife/wolves

Posted on May 13, 2013 by admin

Posted on May 8, 2013 by ABC 10

LANSING, Mich. – Legislation authorizing the state Natural Resources Commission to designate game species in Michigan was signed today by Gov. Rick Snyder.

Senate Bill 288, sponsored by state Sen. Tom Casperson, gives the commission the responsibility to establish managed open season hunts for wild game and authority to regulate the taking of fish. It exempts the taking of mourning doves, pets and livestock. The Legislature maintains its ability to both add and remove species on the list. Continue reading →

Posted in Nuisance Species, Species Management, Wildlife Legislation, Wolves | Comments Off on Snyder signs bills to better manage Michigan wildlife/wolves

US rejects EU claim of insecticide as prime reason for bee colony collapse

Posted on May 6, 2013 by admin

Government study points to a combination of factors for decline in population, breaking away from singling out pesticides

 Spring lures out the bees

Researchers said it was not clear whether a certain class of pesticides was a major cause of the bee collapse.. Photograph: Julian Stratenschulte/EPA

A government report blamed a combination of factors for the disappearance of America’s honeybees on Thursday and did not join Europe in singling out pesticides as a prime suspect.

The report, by the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency, blamed a parasitic mite, viruses, bacteria, poor nutritions and genetics as well as pesticides for the rapid decline of honey bees since 2006. Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Disease, Species Management | Comments Off on US rejects EU claim of insecticide as prime reason for bee colony collapse

Kentucky to develop water pollution plan to curb ‘dead zone’

Posted on April 25, 2013 by admin

Apr. 19, 2013   |  

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MSD is expanding capacity of its Floyds Fork treatment plant, improving its ability to remove nutrients from wastewater. MSD officials will be giving a multi-state and federal task force a tour of the construction on Friday. This photo is from 2012. JOHN SOMMERS/SPECIAL TO THE COURIER-JOURNAL.

Written by

James Bruggers

The Courier-Journal

KY pollution 2 

 

Nutrient pollution comes from farm and lawn fertilizer, pet and livestock waste, runoff from roads and houses, faulty septic systems, and treated sewage. It turn waters green with algae, contaminate drinking water, pollute waters for swimming and fishing and contribute to the Gulf of Mexico dead zone.

 

 

Kentucky’s top environmental regulator on Thursday said his agency was drafting a statewide plan to control pollution that causes algae blooms around the state and contributes to an oxygen-depleted “dead zone” as far away as the Gulf of Mexico. Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Species Management, Uncategorized, Wildlife Legislation | Comments Off on Kentucky to develop water pollution plan to curb ‘dead zone’