I just finished attending the annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America, and saw a good 
talk on biofuels production and grassland birds.  The research was done in Wisconsin (by Dave 
Sample), but I think the findings are broadly applicable.

There are some troubling trends.  Because of corn prices, more corn is being planted (in WI, up 11% 
in the last year).  There has been a large decline in re-enrollment of lands in the CRP (conservation 
reserve program--generally good for grassland birds).  More ethanol plants are being built to 
provide a sustained market.  This bodes ill for most grassland birds, as if they did not have enough 
to worry about already.

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