FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 1997
Contact: Dave Redmond
(202) 225-4050
WASHINGTON, D.C. - AN
INCREASINGLY CONCERNED CONGRESSMAN LARRY COMBEST (R-TX), CHAIRMAN
OF THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FORESTRY, RESOURCE CONSERVATION,
AND RESEARCH, TODAY PRAISED THE HISTORICAL BENEFITS OF THE CONSERVATION
RESERVATION PROGRAM (CRP), BUT REMAINED UNEASY ABOUT THE AGRICULTURE
DEPARTMENT'S FINAL RULE ON THE PROGRAM, AS THE SUBCOMMITTEE OPENED
ITS FIRST OVERSIGHT HEARING OF THE 105TH CONGRESS.
(Audio from Chairman Combest's opening statement
is available by calling (202) 226-3977. Combest's comments play
twice.)
Under CRP, which was reauthorized in the 1996 Farm
Bill, landowners enter into contracts with the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) to place erodible and other environmentally
sensitive cropland in long-term conservation practices for 10-15
years. In exchange, landowners receive annual rental payments
for the land and cost-share assistance for establishing those
practices. Of 32.9 million acres enrolled nationwide, some 22
million acres are expiring September 30.
"I have said for the last several years that
the CRP is one of the best examples of a successful government
program that produces tremendous public benefit through a public/private
partnership," Combest said in remarks prepared for Wednesday's
hearing. "Nationally, figures indicate that the CRP has saved
695 million tons of soil annually."
"As I am sure we will hear today, the CRP enjoys
wide support from many different perspectives. Farmers benefit
from the reduced soil erosion on their land, which also benefits
local residents in their area. Sportsmen benefit from the wildlife
habitat established by CRP, and environmentalists support the
conservation benefits of the program, as well. This wide support
was clearly evident when the House voted to extend the program
in the 1996 Farm Bill by a vote of 372-37," Combest said.
"However, I, as well as other Members of Congress,
farmers, and others have some very strong concerns that will be
expressed today. First and foremost is timing. The language of
the farm bill directed the Department to issue regulations for
CRP by 90 days after enactment. That means July. But the Department
missed that deadline by a few months and finally issued a proposed
rule at the end of September of last year. Now it is almost March,
and we are looking at a final rule and signup to begin in a couple
of weeks. The Department now has an enormous job to complete its
job in a short period and it is very critical the schedule that
they have set be strictly adhered to in order to let farmers know
their options in time to make decisions about the future use of
their land," Combest said.
"I believe there are some very good attributes
to the Environmental Benefits Index (EBI) that the Department
has established. However, the complexity involved with this scoring
process, coupled with the lateness of this rule, has led to much
uncertainty and fear in the countryside. The devil is in the details.
Now that the Department has had a chance to train local employees
on the procedure for assigning points under the EBI we want to
make sure that the actual comparative scoring of various types
of land around the country results in a regional balance. From
information I have received the last few days, I am increasingly
concerned," Combest said.
Combest represents Texas' 19th Congressional
District, which includes the Panhandle, South Plains, and the
Permian Basin.