In regard to the question of how many acres of Iowa native prairie would be protected by Sodsaver if Governor Culver signed onto it, the answer is about 5,400 acres.  Keep in mind that only one portion of Iowa (the Des Moines Lobe) is eligible for the current weakened optional Sodsaver, after the original mandatory national Sodsaver was eviscerated by Congress.  

 

As a side note,  that the evisceration happened via conference committee makes it worse, in my opinion.  If you're going to vote to have taxpayers subsidize environmental destruction, at least have the guts to cast that vote openly. 

 

While 5,400 acres isn't a lot of land, those acres comprise much of the last native prairie in the Lobe. As a number of organizations and individuals have already expressed to Governor Culver, it would be much better to give some protection to those 5,400 acres than no protection. 

 

There's also the ethical issue.  As taxpayers, we conservationists should not be required to help subsidize the destruction what's left of Iowa's native prairie heritage.   

 

On a personal note, I am fortunate enough to own a few acres of high-quality virgin mesic prairie, potentially very good corn ground.  Of course I will never plow them (shudder), and will protect them permanently.  But if I theoretically did want to turn that irreplaceable piece of loveliness into more corn, it would be outrageous to expect any Farm Bill money to help.  As far as I know, Sodbuster would apply to my prairie if Culver signed on.   Fine with me.  In fact, wonderful. 

 

Cindy