NEMO | davy crockett - 9/27/2025 07:19
in the past the argument against taking land out of production was that our foreign competitors would just take that vacuum in supply and take our market share. and that was probably true, but we are in a new ballgame "this time". brazil is increasing acres/hectares 4% next year like they always do and probably always will do.
why race to the bottom? i wouldn`t be opposed to at least looking at taking 10 million acres out of production, maybe not have juicy bids, with the farm economy as such perhaps $180/acre would get to 10 million acres for a 5 year term. there would have to be guard rails like tariffs on imported foreign commodities. that would raise domestic markets enough that there shouldn`t be need for ad hoc payments that everyone claims to hate.
if we are set up to absolutely have to export 25% of our soybeans, instead of pounding the pavement around the world for markets that will eventually be filled by south america, why tread through the cobra pit hoping that you won`t get bitten?
there would be objection to "paying farmers not to farm" but look at the alternatives. programs that "pay farmer to farm" adds to supply and cuts the farmer`s throat, to let nature take it`s course results in 1/3 or so bankrupt farmers.
it`s fall, we could get a crp expansion up for the 2026 crop, as details would come out, it would raise the value of the 2025 (not to mention what`s left of 2024 crop that partly still held). the tree hugger aspect of crp should have as much bi-partisan support as any policy can get these days. maybe have a haying and grazing option for a lesser payment to incentivize cow/calf expansion?
admittedly it`s at best a less bad answer to a problem that has only bad solutions.
CRP was/is one of the stupidest programs ever implemented.
For every acre we idle South America will replace it, multiple times over.
Mid 1980's CRP was the death of rural America. No need for seed, chemical and fertilizer or local jobs when it's in CRP. It was a major deterrent to kids coming back to the farm.
Tons of ground around me that was best suited for a cow got planted for 3 -5 years (whatever the requirement was) just so it could be put in the 10 year CRP program (which ultimately most ended up in for 20 or 30 years). There was more erosion in that short time period trying to get pasture in CRP than all the previous years combined that it was pasture. Conservation my a$$!
I was 4.5 years old when the 80's started and 14.5 when they ended. Dad grumbled a lot and it seems like I worked beside him all those years like a dedicated hired hand. Times might of been tough but all I knew was hogs, hog $#!T, grinding feed, scooping corn and hog $#!T. Fast forward to Senior Year 1993 and the vast majority of the ground around was tied up in CRP. Nothing growing on it but weeds and brush. Not much opportunity to rent anything unless an active farmer gets hurt, comes down with cancer, or dies.
Fortunately probably 1/3 to 1/2 the acres I farm today were once in CRP, so it has all worked out for me, God Blessed. But I often wonder how much different things would of been with out that program. Would there be 3 or 4 neighbors still with kids raising cows? Would we still have a car or implement dealer in our little town? Hardware or Grocery store??? If one of my cows gets out would it only wander a 1/4 mile instead of 4 because there would still be fences?
Consolidation has happened rapidly and will continue to happen I fear. CRP won't stop it. Prices suck! Good time to button down the hatches and be more efficient.
I may very well be the first to fail. But let the cycle run it's course. I've experienced more growth on the farm when times are tough. If we weather this so called doom and gloom, opportunity could be over the next horizon.
Creating demand in house is where we need to focus. Promote nation wide 15, 20 or 30 percent ethanol! That would be a good jump start to corn usage. As to beans, more Biofuel, more pigs and cattle to eat the meal. IDK the answer but CRP is not it!!! |
a case for expanding crp
