Zipperer Farms
					P.O. Drawer 640
					Ft. Myers, Florida

FAX: 239-332-1473									239-332-1636
											239-332-1857 

 
March 12, 2009 
SENT VIA FAX 

Easements Program Division 
Natural Resources Conservation Service 
Wetlands Reserve Program Comments 
P.O. 2890 
Washington, DC 20013 
202-720-9689 

Attn: Susy 

Re: Docket Number NRCS-IFR-08013 

To Whom It May Concern: 

I am the managing partner of Zipperer Farms, LLC.  Zipperer Farms current] y farms approximately 6,800 acres of land in Hendry County, Florida, and is currently seeking to place some or all of this land in the Wetlands Reserve Program.
 
As you know, the 2008 Farm Bill provides that an exception to the 7 year holding period may be granted if the "Secretary determines that the land was acquired under circumstances that give adequate assurances that such land was not acquired for the purposes of placing it in the [WRP] program established by this subchapter 16 USC 3837(a)(3).”  The interim rules list the "demonstration of status as a beginning farmer or rancher" as the example of a circumstance that gives adequate assurance that the land was not acquired for the purposes of putting it in the WRP 7 CFR Part 1467 A(c )(2)(iii).
 
The WRP's self-proclaimed goal is the restoration and protection of wetlands in the United States. The successful restoration and protection of the Everglades in Florida, a national wetland treasure, hinges on our state's ability to use the WRP to help restore agricultural lands to their natural condition.  I believe it is imperative to the goal of the WRP in Florida, and more importantly to the restoration and preservation of the Everglades, that farmers, ranchers and others in the agricultural industry be able to avail themselves of the exception to the 7 year holding period requirement that I highlighted in italics above. For these reasons, I ask that you consider keeping the following language in the interim rules in place as is: 



AGRICULTURE, MANUFACTURE, COMMERCE AND TRANSPORTAT10N. THE FOUR PILLARS OF OUR PROSPERITY ARE MOST THRIVING WHEN LEFT FREE TO INDIVIDUAL ENTERPRISE - THOMAS JEFFERSON 



"(iii) The land was acquired under circumstances that give adequate assurances, as determined by NRCS, that such land was not acquired for the purposes of placing it in the program, such as demonstration of status as a beginning farmer or rancher."  7 CFR Part l467A(c) (2) (iii) 

							Very Truly Yours


							Doug Zipperer
							Managing Partner