|
| | ||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| HOME | ABOUT US | CONTACT US | SUBSCRIBE | NEWSSTAND LOCATIONS | ||||
| ||||
|
|
| | |
Uncertainty mounts over proposed CSP rules Tuesday, February 3, 2004
Agri News staff writer
KASSON, Minn. -- The proposed rules are out, and now it is the public's turn to comment on the Conservation Security Program.
National Resource Conservation Service state resource conservationist Paul Flynn spoke to an estimated 30 people at a public meeting last week in Kasson.
"This is not what will be, it's what could be É or it could look a lot different," Flynn said.
The Conservation Security Program was passed as a way to help landowners maintain and continue conservation efforts.
"The Conservation Security Program represents a new day in conservation history," he said.
Current conservation programs apply practices to address resource concerns. The CSP is an attempt to recognize past stewardship efforts, reward farmers for good conservation and entice them to further enhance the environment.
Farmers who enroll in the CSP will be required to document what they are doing on the farm. The No. 1 issue with CSP now involves funding, Flynn said. For this fiscal year, $41 million has been allocated. When the law was passed as part of the 2002 farm bill, it was an entitlement program. Entitlement programs are typically not assigned a budget cap. As he understands right now, the CSP will have a cap.
A Goodhue man said it doesn't seem right that the rules can change the legislation as passed by Congress.
The caps were put in place after the disaster bill was passed last year, said Gary Wertish, Sen. Mark Dayton's agriculture outreach director, but the funding process is open for debate.
Several restrictions
Because of funding restrictions, the program has several restrictions, Flynn said. Those restrictions could be eased if the funding allocation grows.
Restrictions include that land must be privately owned and applicants must comply with highly erodible land and wetland provisions in the 1985 farm bill.
The land must also be in a priority watershed. The priority watersheds will be selected in Washington.
"I don't know how much involvement the governor, state agencies or our own state conservationist will have," Flynn said.
Most agricultural land is eligible for enrollment, including cropland, orchards, vineyards, pasture and range. Land that is in retirement programs, for example the Wetlands Reserve Program and the Conservation Reserve Program, are not eligible.
In Tier 1, the landowner may chose what portion of land to enroll. In Tiers 2 and 3, the whole farm must be enrolled.
The priority watershed selection drew some questions. Flynn said it is likely the program would start in the areas with the worst environmental degradation. It would recognize farmers in those watersheds who were doing the right thing. Rigorous standards will have to be met to gain admission to the program, he said.
The CSP will be similar to the CRP in several ways. The enrollment process will be competitive and there will be sign-ups. Also, the land will be slotted in a category. A category will then be selected for funding.
Tier 1 has a maximum annual payment of $20,000. The maximum for Tier 2 is $35,000 and the maximum for Tier 3 is $45,000.
Farmers' opinions
Loni Kemp of the Minnesota Project said to meet the letter of the law, the CSP needs open enrollment, significant financial incentives and elimination of priority watersheds. Kemp suggested that each state be allowed to name additional resource concerns to meet specific environmental needs in the state. Payments also need to be higher, she said.
Dan French, who farms in rural Dodge Center, said the rule-making process so far has been a huge disappointment to him.
The best don't get rewarded under the proposed rules, he said.
"One dollar an acre is not worth the paperwork," French said.
He also suggested another category be added for tillable ground that has been converted to pasture. The rules are discriminatory toward rotational graziers, said Jim Riddle of Winona. Riddle suggested money for the CSP be taken from commodity programs. |
| | |
| |
Copyright 2009 Agri News
All Rights Reserved
