08/01/05 NAWG president testifies on CRP

Farm and Ranch Aug 1, 2005 National Association of Wheat Growers President Sherman Reese testified before a U.S. Senate subcommittee last week on how to handle the high number of Conservation Reserve Program, CRP contracts, expected to expire in the next few years. The eastern Oregon farmer said the concentration of CRP acres in major wheat producing states gives NAWG a very strong interest in the present and future management of the CRP. Reese said NAWG supports USDA's recent announcement that producers with CRP contracts set to expire this year may extend their contracts for one year. Reese: "These should be staggered through extensions ranging from one to five years with longer extensions for lands with higher environmental benefits index rankings. We would discourage the use of early or automatic re-enrollments and strongly suggest that any acreage re-enrolled be administered through the competitive bid system. We would also encourage the application of revised rental rates to all full term re-enrollments to ensure that payment rates are up to date and reflect actual local land rental market conditions. " For acreage not re-enrolled and put back into production, Reese urged that USDA restore crop base acres that were lost when the land was initially enrolled into CRP. On longer range policy issues, Reese suggested that CRP focus on the most environmentally sensitive lands and that CRP cover vegetation be allowed to have a dual use as a biomass feedstock, which may help offset program costs. Reese also commented on the differing opinions that exist among the nation's wheat producers regarding the CRP. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.