"We liked the results from CRP immediately," said Colonel John Spearman, Army Reservist and full-time South Carolina farmer. John raises diverse crops on the family's gently rolling farm next to the Santee River. When CRP came along, he enrolled some poor quality fields once used for crop production.

When John received orders to go to California, "I had to either resign my position with the Reserves or quit farming." Through CRP, he kept both his farm and his military position. Knowing that he would be away from the farm's day-to-day operation, John enrolled all of the row crop land in CRP. With the help of the state Department of Natural Resources, the Spearmans developed a plan to balance wildlife habitat and timber production.

Then in 1989, Hurricane Hugo struck. South Carolina alone suffered $7 billion in losses. Directly in the path of the storm, the Spearmans' Deer Hill Farm lost almost all of its 400 acres of mature pine trees along with the anticipated timber income. CRP annual rental payments helped maintain the farm. Now wildlife is again thriving. Turkey populations have recovered and there are more deer, rabbits, bobcats, hawks, and owls. And, with the introduction of the CRP Bobwhite Quail Habitat Initiative, John may soon see more of his favorite hunting bird.

Thinned by a devastating hurricane, pine trees on Colonel Spearman's property now provide excellent wildlife habitat.

CRP wildlife foodplot.