The CRP is a good program with a wonderful history of conservation.  It has attracted acres that probably should not be farmed.  In my county I believe about 12% of the ground is in the CRP.  One of the constant refrains from younger cow calf guys I hear is the inability to get pasture to grow their herds... $$$ is always tight for a young producer.

If the government wanted to stimulate the cow herd.. maybe they should come out with more programs to allow grazing on CRP acres..??  Where ground is hard to pick up.. and EXPENSIVE.. maybe a young cattle producer could rent a portion of a CRP lease at a value that would work for the Landowner as well as still meeting a good chunk of the government's CRP objectives.. ??

I think Brandon's comments about the CRP having a larger impact than ethanol makes sense.

Maybe the Government could allow grazing on a third.. or up to half of a lease for a period of time.. and golly wouldn't that benefit the grass longterm..??  Then rotate across the acreage...??

Even in this drought there's a fair amount of grass in these CRP acres..

On the flip side..  I believe USDA has been wise in it's stewardship of the CRP.. I do believe it's been a VERY successful program which has benefitted society in general.  In our area there are a fair number of hunting guides and enthusiast that enjoy the CRP.. so I don't want to see that messed up... also the other core benefits of the CRP are valid.

When the CRP first came out.. some used it as a farmer retirement program.. and some very good ground (that probably shouldn't have..) went in.  Now with prices for grains.. alot of that better ground is coming back out (as it should..) and there's still some ground that maye shouldn't be farmed going in.. and what not.. IF NOT for the CRP probably most of this ground would have a fence around it as Brandon notes..  Given the tightness of our resources.. we may need to search for ways to increase the mileage of this program.. I'm sure current Cow/Calf guys will want to weigh in on this.. but anyone who wants to grow their operation.. in this environment would "probably" have a favorable view to expansion.. 

Overall the CRP still has something like 30+ miln acres.. almost 10% of the nation's farmable land.. it's a chunk that is just sitting there.. about as much land as the NET useage of ethanol.. although probably NOT as productive..  In the grand scheme of things with a world that is facing tight recources.. it's probably something that needs to be looked at as we have this debate.

Good idea B!