President Donald Trump's budget is bad news for pheasants.

The White House's federal spending plan released this week would slash Farm Bill conservation programs about 20 percent over the next decade.

The programs pumped $128 million into South Dakota last year and play a key role in bolstering pheasant numbers, which in turn propel one of the state's signature traditions and tourism draws.

The proposed cuts would follow years of decline for federally funded habitat and wildlife conservation in South Dakota.

Twenty years ago, South Dakota had 1.7 million acres of land in the Conservation Reserve Program. Last year, that number had fallen below 1 million.

Participation declined a decade ago as high crop prices discouraged farmers from setting aside land. Now that prices have dropped, funding to add acres is limited.

More than 700 South Dakota farmers applied to enroll acreage in the program last year, but the government accepted just two new contracts in the state.

Congress sets caps on how much CRP land the government pays for in each state, and those caps were lowered in the 2014 Farm Bill.

“The overall picture is still pretty bleak when it comes to CRP,” said Steve Donovan, conservation manager for Ducks Unlimited.

The state's pheasants-per-mile has fallen well below the 10-year average. Meanwhile, waterfowl from the north are crossing into South Dakota later, in part because of the loss of habitat, which is also leaving less for local ducks, Donovan said.

“They don’t come down until weather really forces them,” Donovan said.

Donovan, who has hunted waterfowl for 40 years, said he doesn't think the President’s proposal for cutting conservation programs is personal. It's among cuts called for across a wide number of spending categories, Donovan said.

“We remain very optimistic that the benefits of conservation are going to be of some significance,” Donovan said. “And recognized by Congress and the administration.”

If the cuts do become reality, though, they will be felt here, said Mark Norton, hunting access and Farm Bill coordinator for South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.

“Any cuts to any of the conservation program that the federal government funds," Norton said, "would be a bad thing for wildlife habitat in South Dakota."

Argus Leader Media reporter Patrick Anderson covers trends and demographics. Contact him at panderson@argusleader.com or 605-977-3936.