[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 28 (Thursday, March 6, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            THE CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM FLEXIBILITY ACT

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                            HON. JERRY MORAN

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 6, 1997

  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues 
to support legislation regarding one of this Nation's most important 
and effective conservation programs, the Conservation Reserve Program.
  Under the Conservation Reserve Program Flexibility Act, H.R. 861, 
producers whose contracts expire and whose bids to re-enroll are not 
accepted under new USDA rules for the CRP, will be allowed to extend, 
for up to 1 year, their existing contracts at the countywide rental 
rate as established under the new enrollment criteria.
  In Kansas, the Conservation Reserve Program protects 2.9 million 
acres of environmentally sensitive land by encouraging farmers to 
dedicate this land to conservation use. Contracts covering almost 2 
million acres of Kansas CRP land will expire by September 31, 1997. 
Unfortunately, the timing of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 
rulemaking process does not always coincide with needs of farmers. For 
producers of fall crops, like winter wheat, the enrollment decision 
date is simply too late.
  This legislation would allow producers to explore the full range of 
grazing and cropping options as they bring their CRP land back into 
production. Due to extensions over the last 2 years, contracts 
representing nearly 22 million acres of this program are now expiring 
at once. At this point, we do not know exactly what land will be 
accepted, but it is estimated that 20 to 25 percent of the currently 
enrolled acres will not even be eligible. This represents around 4 
million acres that we know will not be in CRP and will be back into 
production.
  Mr. Speaker, adding 4 million acres into production with a limited 
range of planting options could be disastrous. This sort of market 
disruption can be avoided if we allow producers across the country to 
explore all of their options on how to bring this land back into 
production.
  There are several important realities that this bill acknowledges. 
Under this legislation, the enrollment cap is not changed. As sign-up 
progresses, 36.4 million acres will still be the statutory limit on 
acres in the program. Even with the continuous enrollment for filter 
strips, riparian areas, and other high-priority areas, the current 
enrollment is only 32 million acres. Allowing a 1 year extension would 
not limit signup of new acres going into the program.
  Another important factor is the payment rate. Under this 1 year 
extension, the payment will be either the new enrollment rate or the 
current rate, whichever is lower. This bill is not designed to give 
farmers the incentive to extend for 1 year at a substantially higher 
rate, it is designed to keep CRP benefits enrolled in a cost-effective 
manner and allow for an orderly return of this land back into 
production.
  Mr. Speaker, massive changes have occurred in this Nation's 
agricultural programs within the last year. With any program changes, a 
smooth transition is both necessary and desired. This legislation will 
allow producers to make sound, market-based decisions as they bring 
their land back into production. Again, I urge my colleagues to join me 
in supporting this much needed legislation.

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