U.S. FARM GROUPS URGE SOWING ON PROTECTED LAND - Would You??

[erikjohnson61y]

Informal poll - who has CRP ground they would break up early to plant crops to support the war effort??

I have 13 acres in the pollinator habitat program that expires 9/30/24. It's not the greatest ground, but has made 150bu corn before, so it would definitely be productive. Rent is $150/acre, which is not bad for CRP payments. One reason to accept some sort of out on the contract is that the field has become infested with volunteer Chinese Elm trees. After a few years of telling me to hand cut them after August 1 (just what I want to be doing when it's 95 degrees out), they (FSA and NRCS) realize what a problem it is and say "do whatever you have to to control them - tordon+diesel if necessary". I've got the worst part under control, of course at the expense of the wildflowers in that area. On the other hand, it makes great pheasant hunting and we have bees at one end of it. All in all, I probably would not take an offer to break it up early. 

[rickgthf]

I didn't know we were at war.  What war are you talking about, the war against high grain prices?  I'm sorry but I can't help wondering if maybe you see that $6 corn price and think you can do better than the $150 rent.  When corn was $3 and beans $7 you were happy to take that $150 rent but now that $150 maybe doesn't look so good.

   But remember, you still got to buy fertilizer, and sometimes that idle ground doesn't produce that well the first year.  The fastest way to get back to $3 corn is to plant too much of it.  I think the real question is, will the Ukrainian farmers get their corn planted this spring?

[erikjohnson61y]

Guess you didn't see the article I was referencing - it was making the case that with the expected problems planting in Ukraine, political problems with exporting Russian wheat, weather problems in North and South America and a poor wheat crop in China, maybe we should plant more acres here to avoid an actual shortfall in world food production - i.e. to stave off starvation. Raising more food for the sake of having enough food, not for profit, per se.

Also, I said was inclined to NOT break up my CRP. And it went in in 2014, when prices were high coming off the 2012 drought, which explains the $150 CRP rental rate. Your knee-jerk reactions are showing your bias. 

[BA Deere]

I broke up CRP once, the contract expired, so it was planed. The fall before I burned it, moldboard plowed and organic beans went about 40 with no weed challenges.

But I suppose Bigshots today would figure on spray burndown and no-til drill.  Few things to consider planting it on the fly like this for a one year deal, as Erik says if you`ve sprayed Tordon, then beans would be out. Corn right after CRP might need more than average nitrogen, high seed treatment for the hungry bugs.

Then if you`d have to reseed it for the remaining years of the contract, there`s expense that might not be covered and that first year of seeding establishment, I think they ding that first payment for not being established cover the entire year (but maybe Bigshots with their cover crops could get a warm fuzzy) .  IMO the only way I`d go through the hassle is if this would be the last year of the contract.

[Hobbyfarmer]

NO

Wrong on several counts.

Most tripped over each other to get it in.

Now that there may be more potential $ to rape it again they now want it out to help over produce again.

If you can't live up to the agreed terms don't do it to start with.

My wife has a farm all in crp that comes out this fall.

60% decent ground

40% mountain sides.

Just found out the new rate will be almost $50 an acre more than the current rate.

Based on the price she paid for it decades ago after expenses (taxes etc) it is a 40% return.

Based on what she might be able to sell it for is a 4% return.

It will be reinrolled. 

Edit/continuation.

The other falsity in that above premise is it is NOT our job to feed the world.

It is very nice that we produce enough to have excesses to generate enough extra income to have many of the latest greatest bells and whistles equipment.

If this skirmish in a corner of Europe gets out of hand and those satellites get hacked or blown out of the sky, how's some of that stuff gonna work?

These prices will not last past the first big crop in South America then what?

[Blacksandfarmer]

Highly erodable land- No 

Flat productive land- Yes 

At this point I don't see many farmers surviving a major dip in crop prices vs cost of production. 

My young farming career was put down in 2018 partly because CRP rental rates paid far more than I could on a large portion of what I was farming. Everything I was farming was flat productive land. FSA was on a big push that year, they wanted 40,000 acres in Michigan enrolled in the pollinator program.... they got it.

Fast forward to now, I farm 33 acres for a hobby and drive truck full-time. I haul cattle out west often. I've been in many Kansas dust storms created by wind blowing across acres that should be in CRP, then I drive home to Southern Michigan where we get plenty of rain, the ground is flat, the wind isn't howling, the dust isn't blowing, but CRP surrounds my home.  

It isn't a game, food production is life. If it isn't highly erodable land, our tax dollars shouldn't be paying to fallow it. 

[roarintiger1]

This is a terribly stupid idea.  Which is why it would be most likely to happen under this administration.  

But, doesn't this idea go against their green agenda?  

[bruce MN]

“Farm groups”??????

How’d anything to do with the government get into your vision of these private sector group proposals?

*****

[k-289]

ENROLLED   in ''''' 2018 '''' ,  being  the  clear  clue ,  not  2022  -   -   -    

[Hobbyfarmer]

Had interesting chat with good friend in small seed business.

Had numerous orders for CRP  seed for new enrollments.

Was surprised at amount of alfalfa and grass seed sold.

Said guys aren't interested in fence row to fence row farming at the current fert and chemical prices. Most don't think these prices will last long enough to collect.