[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 32 (Thursday, March 13, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H1003-H1004]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1815
                      CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM

  THE SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member comes to the floor to raise 
concerns about the Conservation Reserve Program signup which began on 
March 3.
  Over the past decade, the Conservation Reserve Program, the CRP, has 
proven to be enormously successful. It is a national investment which 
provides dividends to farmers, environmentalists, sportsmen, 
conservationists, the general public, and wildlife. The CRP is a 
voluntary program established by Congress in 1985 that provides 
incentives for farmers to convert land poorly suited for row crops into 
grasslands and tree cover. Grasslands and trees in turn prevent topsoil 
erosion, improve water quality, and provide critical wildlife habitat.
  The CRP has now reached a critical point as previous contracts expire 
and new land is enrolled in the program. This September, the contracts 
on more than 60 percent of existing CRP acres will expire. That is 60 
percent. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued its 
long-delayed rules to govern the enrollment of new land into the 
program. The new rules make two-thirds of all existing U.S. farmland 
eligible for the program. It is possible

[[Page H1004]]

that half the program's acres could be enrolled during this upcoming 
signup period.
  These facts make it clear that a careful, thoughtful approach is 
needed to ensure that the benefits of this successful program are not 
lost. Unfortunately, this Member must be concerned that the complex new 
rules combined with the short time frame in place to implement them 
could lead to an unmitigated disaster which could tarnish this program 
for many years to come.
  By taking so long to issue the rules, the USDA left a ridiculously 
short amount of time to inform producers and employees about the 
changes, conduct the signup and reach decisions about which bids to 
accept. Mr. Speaker, this is clearly a recipe for a bureaucratic 
disaster. While the intent of the new rules to focus on more 
environmentally sensitive land is, indeed, laudable, and supported by 
this Member, this Member is also concerned that the rushed and 
haphazard signup process will make this goal much more difficult to 
reach.
  Although local USDA employees are doing their best to implement these 
new rules, they have clearly been given a demanding task which has been 
made even more difficult by shifting instructions. Recent changes in 
the rating system during the signup process has only added to the 
frustration of producers.
  Another concern about the signup is that the proposed rental rates 
announced by the Farm Service Agency office do not reflect the 
grassroots input that was solicited and furnished last fall. A related 
concern is that the resulting rates in many instances could 
significantly distort any signup efforts.
  A local County Conservation Review Group recently reviewed the rental 
rates for counties in southeastern Nebraska which were announced by the 
USDA. In one instance, the same type of soil is projected for a rental 
value of $84 per acre in one county but only $58 per acre across the 
road in another county. Disparities such as this are simply too great.
  Mr. Speaker, this Nation has invested too much in the CRP to risk it 
on a rushed signup process. This Member believes it would be wise, and 
yes, absolutely necessary to offer an extension for existing contracts 
which expire this year. Such action would allow sufficient time to 
carefully analyze the new guidelines and determine whether any 
corrections are needed before the majority of CRP signups take place.
  I would like to start it now because so much is involved in the 
signup period, but simply, we have waited too long at the USDA. It 
would be extremely detrimental if irreversible damage is done to the 
CRP during this signup period. This Member believes that the new 
process should be tested to determine whether the new rules are 
feasible and beneficial. Action must be taken now before it is too 
late.

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