Recent News Releases: May 09, 2008 Mixed Results for Farm Bill Conservation Provision Washington, DC—What members of Congress hope is that the final version of the Farm Bill will head to the House and Senate for a vote next week. | Full Article | May 08, 2008 Congressional Ag Leaders to Announce Farm Bill Agreement Washington, DC—Congressional negotiators are expected to announce a final farm bill conference agreement today at 1:30 p.m. EDT in Washington, D.C. | Full Article | May 01, 2008 Two-Week Extension of Farm Bill Washington, DC—The Senate, by unanimous consent, voted Thursday to extend the 2002 Farm Bill for two weeks until May, 16 to give the conference committee more time to complete the bill. | Full Article | April 29, 2008 U.S. Sen. Harkin: Bipartisan Farm Bill Agreement Will Lead to Strong Final Bill Washington, DC—Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of Senate-House conference committee on the farm bill, Monday said that the core farm bill utilizing the $10 billion above baseline has been worked out among key farm bill negotiators. | Full Article | April 17, 2008 Forestry Protections Clear Farm Bill Conference Committee Washington, DC—Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and the Senate-House conference committee on the farm bill, announced the committee had approved the Forestry title of the bill. | Full Article | April 15, 2008 Congress Still Falling Short On Farm Bill Washington, DC—Differences on how to pay for the budget overages may make it difficult to complete the legislation by April 18. | Full Article | April 04, 2008 House Members Join Conservation Groups Against Cutting Farm Bill Conservation Washington, DC—Cut would be from $5 billion for conservation that the leaders had agreed to earlier, down to $4 billion. | Full Article | March 05, 2008 Farm Bill Countdown Continues Washington, DC—Lawmakers could finish up by April 15th, however concerns are emerging that the current delay will force another change in baseline funding. | Full Article | February 27, 2008 Congressional Committees Work to Complete Additional Farm Bill Funding in Conservation Edgefield, SC—A general agreement would establish about $10 billion in additional spending over 10 years to the 2007 Farm Bill. | Full Article | January 17, 2008 With Congress Soon to Conference, Coalition Comments on Growing Conservation in the Farm Bill Washington, DC—Fish, wildlife and agriculture policy specialists that have met for three years to analyze bill offer updated program-by-program guidance | Full Article | December 21, 2007 Farm Bill Financing Mechanisms a Key Concern Washington, DC—On Wednesday, Acting U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner delivered remarks to the Agribusiness Club in Washington, D.C. | Full Article | December 14, 2007 Senate Passes Farm Bill Washington, DC—Quail Unlimited's top priority amendment, the Wyden-Harkin biomass crop transition program amendment was withdrawn, after widespread support for the amendment forced opponents to compromise. | Full Article | December 14, 2007 FARM BILL UPDATE: Senate Moving Quickly On Farm Bill, Could Finish Soon Washington, DC—After weeks of deadlock between Democrats and Republicans on the terms for the floor debate of the farm bill, agreement was reached last Friday on a plan for handling the bill and floor debate began in earnest this Monday. | Full Article | Information related to all these programs can be found at: Forests in Farm Bill Coalition (TBA) www.nwf.org (Search for the biofuels innovation program) www.trcp.org/ ("Growing conservation in the farm bill") Statement of Purpose Quail Unlimited, Inc. is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the wise use and management of America's wild quail, doves, upland game birds and other forms of wildlife.

Farm Bill Conservation Programs have played a huge role in creating millions of acres of diverse habitat for a variety of wildlife species. Many of these programs

Steve Capel    (804) 598-5271    steve.capel@comcast.net   Dave Howell    (812) 536-2272    dhowell@qu.org

have been extremely beneficial in providing long-term benefits that have resulted in increased populations of certain wildlife, such as waterfowl, pheasants, prairie chickens, etc. However, short-term increases for species such as quail and early succession dependent wildlife have not been sustained, and continued refinement of existing Conservation Programs is necessary.

Quail Unlimited® has been working diligently with state, federal and other conservation partners in helping craft recommendations for the 2007 Farm Bill. We have been a partner in or support the following:

Member of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership's (TRCP) Agricultural and Wildlife Working Group (AWWG) and we support its "Growing Conservation in the Farm Bill."

Member of the Southeast Quail Study Group (SEQSG) and we recommend its "Quail In The Farm Bill" considerations.

Member of the Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition and we promote its forest/wildlife opportunities for the 2007 Farm Bill.

Believe that the Biofuels Innovation Program as proposed by the National Wildlife Federation has merit and should be seriously considered for the 2007 Farm Bill, with adequate safeguards for creation and maintenance of wildlife habitat.