Washington provides input on CRP

Washington Ag Today September 17, 2009 About fifty people attended a meeting in Spokane this week to provide input on one of the USDA’s most popular programs among farmers, ranchers, wildlife enthusiasts and environmentalists alike, the Conservation Reserve Program. The USDA is gathering public comment for a supplemental environmental impact statement on the changes to CRP from the 2008 Farm Bill.

Some of the public comments at the meeting;

Public: “Wind erosion is an important as water erosion and ought to be treated as such. Managed haying and grazing along with maintenance options used along with CRP are great tools in maintaining the longevity of the CRP stands.”

There were several people from Douglas County where a waiver beyond the county limit on CRP enrollment is supported, otherwise thousands of acres will be going back into crop production the next few years.

Public: “But I am being told that I have to take that 12-hundred-50 acres out. That is absolutely senseless, particularly since it is less than one mile from the state‘s largest sage grouse lek, which is absolutely imperative that that be protected so these birds can propagate, so that they can survive, so that we can see positive results with the Endangered Species Act.”

Rod Hamilton, who heads up conservation at the state Farm Service Agency office says he was pleased with the turnout at the meeting and emphasizes now is the time to comment before there is a final rule.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.