North Dakota Grain Grower’s Association leaders are unhappy that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has entered into a working relationship with a private group, Ducks Un-Limited. Association Executive Director Dan Wogsland says having the government’s main conservation agency work with a group that has an agenda is not good policy or in agriculture’s best interest.
Wogsland is concerned that conservation decisions will be made by those with a specific agenda that is contrary to what’s best for farmers.
Ducks Un-Limited officials say that they’re not unduly influencing NRCS and that their group, NRCS and state conservation groups are working together to jointly fund farm program biologists who work with landowners. Wogsland says Ducks Un-Limited also has arrangements with NRCS in other states.