It seems that most folks who love farming also love the outdoors and wildlife. So it was with Randy Martin. When he took over the family farm, Randy decided that one of his goals was to increase wildlife on the farm, and the best way to accomplish that goal would be to add more trees. Randy read an article about the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and decided the program was just what he was looking for.

With the help of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Martin, Randy enrolled over 200 acres in CRP and agreed to plant trees that would help attract wildlife. The benefits of enrolling in CRP included receiving both cost-share assistance for planting the trees and income while the trees grew. A few years later, Randy and his parents enrolled another 52 acres in CRP, this time planting hardwood trees. So pleased were they with the results that they kept enrolling more of their farm into CRP a parcel at a time, eventually putting nearly 150 additional acres under contract and installing two CRP Wildlife Food Plots. The Martins later added fire lanes around the wooded areas to provide safety access and riding trails. The fire lanes also created excellent wildlife viewing spots to see the deer, turkey, and quail that now flourish where crops were once intensively cultivated.

The CRP has proved to be a win-win for the Martins. It allowed them to remain on their farm and maintain it, decreased the need for farm labor, increased wildlife activity, and provided stable income.

Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Martin and son Randy Martin examine 4-year-old hardwood trees planted with CRP.

With the goal of increasing wildlife on the farm while maintaining income, the Martins enrolled in CRP and planted trees.