Page 67 - MFB State Annual Meeting 2018 -- RESOLUTIONS BOOK

5.3.9. Allowing enrollment of and acceptance of "infeasible to farm" acres (an area that is too small or isolated to be economically farmed);
5.4. Land retired to enhance air quality;
5.5. Full point credit in the Environmental Benefits Index under new CRP
seeding criteria for current grass stands meeting 75 percent of CRP
requirements;
5.6. A partnership with BLM's Wild Horse and Burro program whereby
contract holders could receive either a CRP rental payment or a payment for housing wild horses and burros during all or a portion of the contract;
5.7. Basing the judging criteria for CRP re-enrollment on the land's erosion potential as cropland and not on its current erosion status as CRP; and
5.8. Developing a new CRP contract that would allow grazing after five years of enrollment with payments being greatly reduced each year for the remaining 5-10 years left on the contract.
6. We oppose:
6.1. Producers being eligible to participate in the CRP who break up
fragile land (sodbust) after the CRP contract has been accepted by
USDA;
6.2. Requirements to destroy existing cover on CRP acres and reseed
with other species in order to qualify for re-entry into the program;
6.3. Haying and grazing on CRP acres during the principal growing
months, except during times of drought or for maintenance management. A fee commensurate to the value of the forage should be charged if grazing occurs after the principal growing months;
6.4. The use of government programs that provide financial incentives for grazing on expiring CRP acres; and
6.5. Any increase in the national acreage cap unless additional acres are tied to continuous sign-up practices and to the most environmentally sensitive ground.
7. CREP
7.1. We support:
7.1.1. Eligibility for enrollment for all agricultural commodities;
7.1.2. Ensuring CREP practices not jeopardize maintenance,
operation and utilization of drainage and flood control systems
or facilities;
7.1.3. Ensuring CREP practices not jeopardize the economic viability
of the operation;
7.1.4. The continuation of CREP;
7.1.5. Changes in regulation to allow annual mowing or spraying of
all CREP enrolled acres to control noxious weeds; and
7.1.6. Allowing production on acres enrolled in CREP where the
purpose is irrigation retirement.
8. CRP Grasslands
8.1. We support changing CRP grasslands haying and grazing management rules so they are less restrictive and more flexible for livestock operations.
#239 National Farm Policy
(amendments at lines 4.10, 7.2.12.1, 8.1.25, 8.1.38)
1. Agriculture is strategically important to the survival of the United States. Our nation's economy, energy, environment and national security are dependent upon the viability of the agricultural industry. Agriculture must be treated as a strategic resource by our nation and reflected as such in local, state and national government policies.
2. We support a consistent, long-term market-oriented farm policy that will:
2.1. Rely less on government and increasingly more on the market as
well as providing more options for insurance and revenue assurance products that are more equitable for all commodities in all production regions of the country against adverse market fluctuations and weather-related hazards;
2.2. Allow farmers to take maximum advantage of market opportunities at home and abroad without government interference;
2.3. Encourage production decisions based on market demand;
2.4. Develop risk management tools to deal with the inherent fluctuations
in revenue and income associated with farming;
AFBF Policies – Page 11