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N.D. (AP) – Supporters of a program that pays farmers to not alter wetlands on valuable cropland want to include it in the next federal farm bill.

The North Dakota Working Wetlands Pilot Project compensates producers for what they lose by not farming seasonal wetlands that are important to duck production.

Delta Waterfowl in 2014 applied for and received $1.75 million from a state outdoor heritage fund for the effort. The group also pitched in money, along with the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service, bringing the total to about $5 million.

The project resulted in 124 contracts covering almost 9,400 wetlands.

Delta Waterfowl wants to include a larger version of the pilot project in the next farm bill. They’re being aided by research from North Dakota State University.