The Conservation Reserve Program will be re-examined in the upcoming 2007 farm bill. I have heard a lot of the negatives from farmers, but I am interested in hearing some further discussion. I have to give Ifferd the credit for getting the environmental wheels turning.
Whats the general consensus from the hunting community? Is a program that cost 1.8 billion in FY 2004 worth the benefits to the environment? Should it be tweaked? Is it just another handout to farmers?
CRP provides financial incentives to farmers to take marginal cropland out of production and return the land to its original state. Farmers are also restricted from grazing the native pastures. However, hunting is an allowed use (with restrictions on motor vehicle travel across the CRP tract). Farmers are then charged with maintaining the native vegetation throughout the contract period.
There are many public benefits from CRP that the farmer is not able to adequately catch in the open market. Native grassland acts to filter pollutants out of the water and sequester airborne pollutants. Native grassland also uses much less water than certain crops.
Cuts need to be made in the farm bill, but I think subsidies are the first thing that need to be cut.
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RE: Real Policy Discussion - CRP
I get a CRP check. My land use to be cotton farms way back in the 70s. I use it for nothing but hunting and the government insists on my keeping in CRP. I have even explained that it will never be a farm agian, but still they want to give me money.Im going to keep taking it as long as they keep giving it.
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kaafir mushrik
Unintended consequences and God have one thing in common: Liberals don’t believe in either of them.
Just curious, what are the standards for "marginal" cropland. I know of some very rich bottomland that is great for crops, but flood out every couple of years. On the other hand, I know of areas of upland that produce more milkweed than corn even in a good year.
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Location: land of the Lilliputians, In the state of insanity
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RE: Real Policy Discussion - CRP
In my case it is due to the top soil. My land is real sandy with very little humas, so it is classified as poor. They want mine to stay in CRP grass to hold the topsoil in place to allow it to reestablish and not erode any further.
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kaafir mushrik
Unintended consequences and God have one thing in common: Liberals don’t believe in either of them.
Real Policy Discussion - CRP
