WAWG
Two Washington legislators, Rep. Dan Newhouse and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, recently sent a letter to Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini asking for his help in resolving an issue with the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and its delay in the release of participation data. That delay, the legislators say, can significantly impact growing decisions for farmers in the driest parts of Eastern Washington who have only a short window to make planting decisions. The letter says, in part:
“…In the springtime, when a CRP-applicant farmer is waiting for FSA’s decision on whether their land has been accepted into the program, weeds and naturally occurring vegetation can begin to germinate on farmland. In this very dry region, with little accumulation of soil moisture, these weeds can sap an entire growing season’s moisture from the soil very quickly if not treated. If a plot of land is accepted into CRP, obviously this is not an issue. However, if a grower is not accepted into CRP, while they are waiting to hear if their land has been accepted, they may lose all of their growing moisture for the season, thus preventing their ability to plant and grow. As you can imagine, this outcome significantly affects their livelihood, is a great stress for farmers and negatively impacts many farmers’ decision to participate in CRP.”
The authors go on to ask that if there is eligibility information at this time, that it be shared with growers in Eastern Washington.