Figure 2. Excessive Erosion on Cropland, 1997. Each red dot represents 5000 acres of highly erodible land and each yellow dot represents 5000 acres of non-highly erodible
Agricultural lands are a recognized nonpoint source of water contaminants. Currently, complete and consistent data of surface water and ground water quality is lacking at a national level. Several inventories have been done that cover different watersheds and different time periods. Perhaps the most current, albeit incomplete, data are supplied by the National Water Quality Inventory, which is completed every two years as required by Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act (USEPA, 2000). For this inventory, states, territories, tribes, and interstate commissions assessed the health of their waters in relation to designated water use and accompanying water quality standards. A subset of US rivers and streams, lakes, Great Lakes shoreline, estuaries, and ocean shoreline were evaluated. States and tribes assessed 23% of the total river and stream miles; 42% of the lake, reservoir, and pond acres; 90% of the Great Lakes shoreline miles; 32% of the estuary square miles; and 5% of ocean shoreline miles.
American Corn Growers Association Says USDA Should Stay the Course on Conservation Reserve Program (click here)
Washington, DC--Keith Bolin, President of the American Corn Growers Association (ACGA), says his organization is opposed to any actions by USDA to allow an early exit from the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
“USDA should stay the course on the CRP,” said Bolin.
“Recent discussions coming out of the Department of Agriculture suggesting an administrative action to allow farmers to exit the program early is short-sighted and ill-advised.”
The CRP was established in 1985 as a voluntary program that allows farmers to retire highly erodible land from production and also ensure a secure income during times of low commodity pricing.
As the program grew, farmers were able to retire land to reduce degradation of environmentally sensitive areas.
Some of these environmental aspects include wetland acreage, runoff into waterways, and wildlife habitat.
Currently the USDA pays $1.6 billion in annual CRP rental payments to land owners and operators.
During their 5-10 year contracts, CRP participants practice a number of conservation methods including grass and tree planting and wildlife cover.
The continuation of the CRP program is at risk due to budgetary pressures as well as those in the agribusiness sector who want more corn planted next year in order to suppress corn prices.
“The budgetary argument will not hold water,” explained Bolin.
“Last year an analysis by the University of Tennessee’s Agriculture Policy Analysis Center (APAC) revealed that federal spending on other farm programs would increase exponentially if the CRP was reduced or eliminated.
"The argument of needing more corn acres is problematic as well, since all CRP acres are highly erodible and very little of it is suitable for corn production.”
“Current USDA projections for next year’s corn crop and carryover shows there will be more than sufficient production to cover all needs,” concluded Bolin.
“Jeopardizing highly erodible land by taking it out of the reserve just so that the integrated livestock factory farms can go back to buying cheap corn as they have for the past decade is unacceptable.
"ACGA opposes any actions that threaten the integrity of the CRP."
For more information, call Larry Mitchell at 202-835-0330.
See Related Websites/Articles:
American Corn Growers Association
APAC Report in Conservation Reserve Program (click at this title - The economic impact effects TO AMERICAN AGRICULTURE should the land be used before it's recovered from OVERUSE.)
