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<br />consistent and mutually supportive of other related policies. This is <br />not currently true. For example, the federal government guarantees <br />that producers receive certain minimum prices for some commodities. <br />This encourages production of these commodities even when supplies <br />exceed demand, which leads to continued production on marginal <br />agricultural lands and the conversion of other lands to agricultural <br />production. Also, the federal government often provides technical <br />and/or financial assistance for draining wetlands even as other <br />agencies are purchasing wetlands or wetland easements. Such <br />inconsistent and conflicting programs not only waste scarce funds but <br />also are detrimental to wildlife values. Many conflicting policies <br />were developed independently in response to specific problems, but <br />they now must be reexamined to ensure that they are in the overall <br />public interest. <br />Any policies developed must recognize the interdependencies of <br />agriculture, forestry, fish and wildlife, and other sectors of the <br />national economy. None is of such overriding importance that it can <br />be considered independently of the others. <br />Public policies must recognize that agricultural land use and <br />practices and their impacts on fish and wildlife habitats vary from <br />region to region. Guiding principles are best set by national policy, <br />but the diversity of needs and opportunities mandates that specific <br />programs implementing these principles be developed at community and <br />regional levels. <br />The most important component of successful existing agricultural <br />policies is incentive. In most cases, producers are rewarded for <br />taking specific actions. Too often, wildlife and habitat conservation <br />programs lack financial incentives and instead rely on penalties. <br />Such approaches have not worked well. New wildlife and habitat <br />conservation programs must be developed, funded by fees from users or <br />beneficiaries, which will allow wildlife to be considered on an equal <br />basis along with other products of the land, and which will, in turn, <br />motivate individuals and communities to move toward optimal use of <br />national resources given the multiple objectives of society. <br /> <br />xx <br />