WV Farm Bureau Magazine November 2015 | Page 21

Stallman, continued stepping in where others are getting the job done, 69 percent of Americans think the federal government should offer resources to third parties to boost these efforts. It’s time for the federal government to give credit where it’s due and reward the hard work private businesses and landowners are putting into conservation efforts. These state plans work because they are created by officials and business owners who know the local landscape far better than any federal agency does. And while federal plans and listings burden landowners with costly permits and red tape, stateled plans actually create incentives for landowners to enhance habitats on their land. works instead of piling on more permitting requirements that hurt business but do nothing to protect wildlife. Today, landowners face wrongheaded restrictions that actually discourage creating habitat for endangered species lest the simple presence of protected wildlife means they can no longer use part or all of their own land. Neither farmers, ranchers, businesses nor anyone else should face extinction themselves for stepping up to protect local wildlife. Real recovery is possible, but not without a common-sense, science-based approach to preserving wildlife and protecting private property rights. The ESA should be modernized, and Congress must take the lead. The outdated ESA stands in the way of greater success. Fixing it means focusing on what actually Farming is a business of uncertainty, but here’s something you can count on. Chevrolet presents this exclusive $500 private offer 1 toward the purchase or lease of an all-new Chevy Silverado — the 2014 North American Truck of the Year. From the family of the most dependable, longest-lasting 2 full-size pickup in America, rest assured your Silverado will keep you working wit