CREP finalized?
John Schlageck
Saturday, May 19, 2007
The debate whirling in the High Plains involving the use of water, irrigated acres and compensation to water-rights holders in the impacted area has finally been finalized in the legislative arena. Details of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program or CREP were detailed recently.
Kansas legislators hammered out enrollment limitations and time lines during the omnibus budget bill conference committee negotiations on the evening of May 3.
Twenty thousand acres and $1 million have been allocated for calendar year 2007. An additional 20,000 acres and $1 million will be available for fiscal year 2008.
Producers who wish to enroll in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program will have from July ’07 through July ’08 to enroll up to 40,000 acres.
Initially the Kansas House chose not to work the bill. Members did not want to idle land in their communities. They also wanted the opportunity to dry-land farm those acres enrolled in CREP.
Farmers wanted this same opportunity, however it’s not likely to happen.
“The chances are slim,” says Brad Harrelson, Kansas Farm Bureau Governmental Relations. “It’s certainly unlikely during the beginning period of this program in Kansas. We’re hopeful this could be addressed in the farm bill.”
Harrelson says this issue is finished for now. What remains is to ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture signs off. He says the Kansas Water Office is discussing this with USDA now.
“We’re optimistic,” Harrelson says.
There is also hope for future expansion opportunities for this program, which could include more acres and more dollars, says Steve Swaffar, KFB Natural Resources.
Success of this program will be influenced by the price of corn and the yet to be established rental rates for land that could be enrolled in CREP, Swaffar adds.
“You can be certain those in agriculture will be giving this program a hard look to see how it’s working to benefit farming, rural areas and water conservation,” Swaffar says.” They’ll also be exploring to see if any opportunities exist in the new farm bill to allow for production on CRP/CREP acres.”
Like so many issues impacting agriculture, CREP is one that pulls at the economic and personal heartstrings of Kansans wherever they live and work.
CREP is being implemented because irrigation production in the High Plains region of Kansas is dwindling as the aquifer declines, and will continue to do so. CREP has the potential to help slow that process and save Kansas water.
One key component of CREP is the proposal is voluntary. CREP will allow individual farmers and landowners to make the decision of whether or not to enroll and temporarily take acres out of production. Doing so will permanently retire water rights which could help reduce the rate of decline and allow irrigation in the region to be extended.
Ag producers realize how their communities are faring economically. They understand their interdependence and do whatever they can to encourage local growth and viability.
Still, each individual farmer has to decide what it will take to run a profitable farming operation, Swaffar emphasizes. No one else can do this.
This proposal remains a voluntary option, another tool, some producers who have water rights, may decide to use. Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program should be given a chance and producers should be allowed to choose how to manage their property rights.