While this year’s Michigan Ducks Unlimited State Convention in Muskegon provided an array of workshops, forums and events, one of the weekend’s highlights occurred when U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow addressed a crowd of 200 with some of the ideas, plans and challenges surrounding the upcoming 2012 Farm Bill. Sen. Stabenow is the Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, which impacts many significant conservation programs of interest to DU. Michigan DU members gather annually to celebrate conservation successes and to plan for the coming year.

During her address, the Senator stressed that "agriculture is critical to our economy, supporting one out of every four jobs in Michigan, and plays a vital role in protecting our Great Lakes and natural resources. Input from sportsmen and women and groups like Ducks Unlimited is critical as we find practical, workable solutions together that address the natural resources challenges that we're facing here in Michigan and that stretch every taxpayer dollar to get the absolute best return on our investment."

The Farm Bill includes a broad spectrum of programs that support nutrition, agriculture and conservation. DU has a long history of working with ranchers, farmers, and other private landowners across the country to enhance and restore millions of acres of critical habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. The agricultural conservation programs that are authorized and funded through the Farm Bill are the backbone of DU's cooperative conservation work with agricultural partners.

"It's important to connect the Senator with conservationists who are paying close attention to the upcoming Farm Bill," said Becky Humphries, director of DU's Great Lakes/Atlantic Region for Ducks Unlimited. "Hunting, fishing and wildlife watching are big business in Michigan/Great Lakes every year, and the success of the resource they enjoy stems from programs like the Conservation Reserve Programs and Wetlands Reserve Programs."