When Minnesota farmer and conservationist Arthur “Art” Hulberg celebrated his 100th birthday this month, he also marked the 30th anniversary of USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)–a program in which Hulberg has participated since its inception. Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini traveled to Benson, Minnesota, to offer birthday wishes and hand deliver a personal letter from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Hulberg and his brother Clifford farmed nearly 200 acres in Pope County, Minnesota. When CRP began, the Hulbergs eventually enrolled 188 acres in the program. When Clifford passed away in 1989, Art took over as full owner of the property and to this day works with USDA staff to manage his CRP acres. For example, when the Walk-In-Access (WIA) program began, Hulberg immediately enrolled to allow for hunting on his CRP acreage. WIA is supported by a grant through the USDA’s Voluntary Public Access Program that assists with public access to CRP for wildlife-dependent recreation. Hulberg also has helped fellow farmers and livestock producers in his community by allowing them to use his CRP acres for managed haying practices.
In his letter to Hulberg, Secretary Vilsack said, “It is a true privilege to be a part of the celebration marking your birthday and honoring your longstanding commitment to conservation work… you can contemplate your many outstanding contributions to our Nation with deep satisfaction. You have meant a great deal to a great many people, and your dedicated work on behalf of conservation is an inspiration to us all.”
When a guest asked Hulberg how he felt about the Secretarial letter and visit by FSA Administrator Dolcini during an open house to celebrate the milestones, Hulberg responded, “Did I just dream this?”
Dolcini says that meeting Art was one of the most meaningful things that he has done since becoming FSA Administrator. When asked by Dolcini of his secret to longevity, Hulberg thoughtfully replied, “Take it one day at a time.”
Since its creation on Dec. 23, 1985, CRP has prevented more than 8 billion tons of soil from erosion, and protected more than 170,000 stream miles with riparian and grass buffers, more than 100,000 acres of bottomland hardwood trees, nearly 300,000 acres of flood-plain wetlands, and 250,000 acres each for duck nesting habitat and upland bird habitat.
For an interactive tour of CRP success stories from across the U.S., please visit the FSA CRP 30th Anniversary website at www.fsa.usda.gov/CRPis30.
