Prairie Pothole Study: Corn Ethanol is Crowding Out Critters
Thursday, January 14, 2010
SIOUX FALLS, SD - Government incentives and mandates to plant corn for ethanol are bringing some unintended consequences for wildlife, according to a study conducted for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). What once were native grasslands in the Prairie Pothole Region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, are increasingly becoming corn acreage, and NWF's research shows a significant decrease in grassland bird populations as a result.
University of Michigan graduate student Aviva Glaser is one of the report's authors and researchers. As more land is dedicated to corn production, she says, the populations of western meadowlarks, grasshopper sparrows and upland sandpipers decline.
"The increases in corn plantings have really affected the amount of habitat for wildlife, and what we've seen in our study is that it also affected bird populations."
Farmers aren't to blame, they're just following government policy, adds Glaser.
"There are a lot of incentives for farmers to plant their land in corn, but there aren't as many incentives to put their land in conservation."
The report recommends that mandates and financial supports for corn ethanol be reviewed and possibly phased out. NWF is also recommending conservation programs be strengthened so farmers are financially rewarded for preserving native grasslands.
The full report, Corn Ethanol and Wildlife, is at www.nwf.org.
get more stories like this via email
Health and Wellness
Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…
Social Issues
Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …
Social Issues
Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …
Environment
New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …
Social Issues
Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …
Social Issues
Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…