Prairie Congress Contact – Colorado Prairie Initiative

Protect Western Meadowlark Habitat

Much of the United States once supported a vast sea of native prairie grasslands. But in just four years, 5.7 million acres of grasslands were plowed for agricultural development. Today, over 90 percent of the remaining native prairies across the country have been converted to cropland — destroying much of the habitat that the western meadowlark depends on. As Congress debates the 2018 Farm Bill, we need you to speak out today for the western meadowlark, and urge your senators to protect native prairies in your state. Including and expanded “Sodsaver” provision in the 2018 Farm Bill will help to protect grasslands and reduce current taxpayer-funded incentives to convert our remaining native prairies to cropland. Help protect western meadowlark habitat by sending a letter to your senators, urging them to support expanding Sodsaver to include your state.

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As you work with other leaders in Congress to consider amendments to the 2018 Farm Bill, I urge you to support the expansion of Sodsaver--a provision that helps protect native grasslands by reducing taxpayer-funded incentives to convert critical grassland resources to cropland. Sodsaver will save money and protect wildlife habitat for the western meadowlark by reducing taxpayer-funded crop insurance subsidies on never before farmed prairie lands converted to cropland. Native grasslands are one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America. They're disappearing at an alarming rate, along with the wildlife that depend on them. The 2014 Farm Bill included a sodsaver provision that discouraged landowners from converting native prairie to cropland, but it only applied to six states. It also included loopholes that weaken the effectiveness of the provision. While the 2014 Farm Bill took an important step forward for the protection of native prairies, it is critical that you weigh in with Senators Roberts and Stabenow in support of the expansion of Sodsaver in our state. Please help ensure that the 2018 Farm Bill protects native prairies.
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