Farmers are increasingly removing parcels of their land from the federal Conservation Reserve Program to cash in on higher-than-ever crop prices. The program pays farmers to return some of their land to natural habitat or pasture. As participation declines, Congress may cut funding for the program in the newest Farm Bill, but some say the program should be maintained to prevent soil erosion and protect waterways.
Susan Heathcore of the Des Moines Register said the program is "instrumental" in protecting Iowa's wildlife and environment and reducing pollution. "We can use proactive public policy to protect our soil, water and habitat resources, or we could allow short-term profits to drive sensitive land into row crop production whether or not that choice is the best long-term decision." She offers several solutions that would preserve CRP benefits while still allowing land to be "economically productive" for farmers. (Read more)
Dean Kuipers of the Los Angeles Times reports that the program covers 32 million acres, but Congress has proposed cutting that to 25 million or even in half. Farmers in Great Plains states removed 800,000 acres from conservation programs last year to cultivated them. Protections for 6.5 million acres will expire in September. Kuipers wrote that the smaller acreage will hurt wildlife, most notably ground-dwelling birds like quail. (Read more)
Susan Heathcore of the Des Moines Register said the program is "instrumental" in protecting Iowa's wildlife and environment and reducing pollution. "We can use proactive public policy to protect our soil, water and habitat resources, or we could allow short-term profits to drive sensitive land into row crop production whether or not that choice is the best long-term decision." She offers several solutions that would preserve CRP benefits while still allowing land to be "economically productive" for farmers. (Read more)
Dean Kuipers of the Los Angeles Times reports that the program covers 32 million acres, but Congress has proposed cutting that to 25 million or even in half. Farmers in Great Plains states removed 800,000 acres from conservation programs last year to cultivated them. Protections for 6.5 million acres will expire in September. Kuipers wrote that the smaller acreage will hurt wildlife, most notably ground-dwelling birds like quail. (Read more)
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