CRP could see large payment increase in bipartisan bill

[Treeshark]

I hope you can bring some insight to the conversation beyond the state vs fed thing.

I think these types of programs are well-intended and do some good. I also think they very often get highly abused, and have the tendency to become little more than poorly disguised landowner welfare.

I am less enthusiastic about paying for that as some on here, and that’s ok.

 

[Forkyfinder]

I think these programs are well-intended and do some good. I also think they very often get highly abused, and have the tendency to become little more than poorly disguised landowner welfare.

Precisely. Lets talk reform - beyond state level funding - what do you think would fix it?

Landowner welfare is a good way to describe it. It gets even worse than that. I considered buying some land in texas quite a while ago. The crp payment would pay for the mortgage and taxes.

 

[sclancy27]

I get your frustration. I will very likely never be able to hunt where i grew up doing it. I dont get your inability to see issues beyond whether you can get a permit to hunt or not.

I hope you can bring some insight to the conversation beyond the state vs fed thing. Those threads dont really bring much as far as new thoughts/ideas only bickering and bitching we have all heard.

If i were king for a day - id be more inclined to make crp contingent on being enrolled in a state access program for recreation. Heres the top 5 states - i imagine accessing those private lands is quite costly for the people who are footing the bill for the CRP program.

Colorado: 2.78 million acres
South Dakota: 2.39 million acres
Texas: 2.157 million acres
Nebraska: 2.2 million acres
Kansas: 1.95 million acres

The funny part is a certain natural resource agency has the ability to push public access programs....

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/2015-National-Programmatic-VPA-HIP-EA-June-2015.pdf

In 5-6 yrs working for that agency I never heard of one being implemented. Admittedly, that is prob dependent somewhat on the state leadership, but still.

You know what our "success metric" was in that agency......"dollars spent".....

 

[Treeshark]

Lets talk reform - beyond state level funding - what do you think would fix it?

Why would you eliminate the best and most fair idea right from the start?

SD is not broke. They are sitting on a pile of gold.

 

[SAJ-99]

This my chief complaint. For the investment - its not yielding a lot of results (for conservation) beyond making people with existing assets more money and those assets worth more money.

Same with any government program- hard to measure the result/benefit. That’s why the DOGE cuts went down so easily. Hard to tell someone that the water is cleaner today than the 1970s or that the loss of soil we saw in the Great Depression is less likely now. It’s like insurance. Seems like a waste of money when you don’t use it.

We could cut minimum prices on some farm products and turn farming into the risky proposition it was originally. The bottom line is it’s about buying votes. When something is “bipartisan” it means someone on both sides is buying them.

Remind me again why SD can’t have an income tax…?

And kill SD as a prime retirement destination like Florida? No chance.

 

[El Jason]

How about changing regulations? Perhaps following the same ones every other industry does?

Its pretty comical seeing all the storm water quality controls that cost hundreds/thousands to maintain on a construction site - all for the field next to it to be bare and open with no stubble.

I merely made a statement. I’m not as well versed in ag economics as you clearly are.

 

[Forkyfinder]

I merely made a statement. I’m not as well versed in ag economics as you clearly are.

Ag economics? I am referring to whats below.

Developing a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) | US EPA

Instructional resources for developing effective Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP).

www.epa.gov

 

[Wild Bill]

Wildlife management is best left to the states. Part of that management includes the privledge of paying for it.

CRP isn't a (solely) wildlife program.


(edited for clarity)

 

[Forkyfinder]

CRP isn't a wildlife program.

Are you okay with 23 million acres of private land you cant access getting more "conservation funding" than 245 million that you can?

 

[Treeshark]

CRP isn't a wildlife program.

Meh. Close enough.

 

[El Jason]

Ag economics? I am referring to whats below.

Developing a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) | US EPA

Instructional resources for developing effective Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP).

www.epa.gov

Carry on.

 

[seeth07]

CRP isn't a wildlife program.

Sure it is. Its directly stated right in the single sentence purpose of the program: "To protect soil, water, and wildlife"

 

[Treeshark]

Are you okay with 23 million acres of private land you cant access getting more "conservation funding" than 245 million that you can?

Right on brother, this is a great point.

 

[Wild Bill]

Sure it is. Its directly stated right in the single sentence purpose of the program: "To protect soil, water, and wildlife"

I'll eat that one.

 

[El Jason]

“The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a significant initiative by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, originally established in 1985 to address agricultural surpluses by incentivizing farmers to remove land from crop production. This initiative aimed to mitigate the economic pressures on farmers and rural communities caused by excess crop yields. Over the years, CRP has evolved into a multifaceted program focusing on environmental protection, including soil erosion prevention and carbon sequestration.

Farmers voluntarily participate in the CRP by submitting bids to receive payments for taking their land out of production for periods of ten to fifteen years. The program not only supports agricultural stability but also enhances environmental benefits, such as improved water quality and wildlife habitat. With substantial enrollment growth, CRP has contributed significantly to carbon reduction efforts and provided essential habitats for various wildlife species, particularly migratory birds.”

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) | EBSCO

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a significant initiative by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, originally established in 1985 to address agricultural surpluses by incentivizing farmers to remove land from crop production. This initiative aimed to mitigate the economic pressures on...

www.ebsco.com

 

[Wild Bill]

Are you okay with 23 million acres of private land you cant access getting more "conservation funding" than 245 million that you can?

I am happy with private land getting conservation funding, and I also wish that the 245 million acres of public land received far more funding.

Also, not all is lost if I can't directly access the private land that's enrolled because all the other critters are free to leave via their wings and legs and I can hunt them somewhere else. CRP acres are incredibly important for waterfowl and tons of other birds so the funding is something that I care about.

 

[TheTone]

Having worked for an agency that administrates CRP and other Farm Bill programs it's hard for me to be positive about it. The most wasteful agency (and I've worked for many) I've worked for and with administered "aid" or "programs" to ag producers. IME, there are occasional feel-good projects but most are glorified money grabs.

Was that a matter of the agency or the people receiving the money or support?

 

[sclancy27]

Was that a matter of the agency or the people receiving the money or support?

You'd have to clarify your question for me to give you the best answer.

 

[seeth07]

The problem that I have with the farmers by me enrolling and receiving the CRP funds is they are getting the funds for land that is untillable. Marsh/swamps that without drain tile can't be tilled. So they got these portions enrolled in the program.

The WDNR could just be way more strict on installing drain tile (like straight up just outlaw it statewide would be great)

 

[seeth07]

Another thing - CRP is already going away fast in our neck of the woods because everything is turning into large corporation farming and they can afford the investment in drain tile and the payments from the CRP program are less than profits from tilling the acreage. So the lands bought up by these corporations are taking their lands out of the CRP programs as soon as their terms are up.