I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6665 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 13, 2012 Mr. Crawford (for himself, Mr. Griffin of Arkansas, Mr. Ross of Arkansas, and Mr. Womack) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to provide certain exemptions relating to the taking of migratory game birds.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Farmers Protection Act of 2012.

2.

Exemptions on certain land

Section 3 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 704) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c)

Exemptions on certain land

(1)

In general

Nothing in this section prohibits the taking of any migratory game bird, including waterfowl, coots, and cranes, on or over land that— (A)is not a baited area; and (B)contains— (i)a standing crop or flooded standing crop, including an aquatic crop; (ii)standing, flooded, or manipulated natural vegetation; (iii)flooded harvested cropland; or (iv)based on the determination of the applicable State office of the Cooperative Extension System of the Department of Agriculture at the request of the Secretary of the Interior, an area on which seed or grain has been scattered solely as the result of a normal agricultural planting, harvesting, post-harvest manipulation, or normal soil stabilization practice. (2)

Determinations

(A)

In general

For purposes of making a determination under paragraph (1)(B)(iv), each State office of the Cooperative Extension System of the Department of Agriculture shall determine the activities in that State that the State office considers to be a normal agricultural practice in the State, such as mowing, shredding, discing, rolling, chopping, trampling, flattening, burning, or carrying out herbicide treatment. (B)

Revisions

A State office may revise a report described in subparagraph (A) as the State office determines to be necessary to reflect changing agricultural practices. .