HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 1988 (17) Resolution No. /:?(OK)
SUPPORT FOR CHANGES IN THE ELIGIBILITY RULES OF THE
CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM OF THE FOOD SECURITY ACT OF 1985
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FOR ST. CROIX COUNTY, WISCONSIN
TO THE HONORABLE SENATOR WYCHE FOWLER, JR., CHM. SUBCOMMITTEE ON
CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY; COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION
AND FORESTRY
TO HONORABLE CONGRESSMAN ED JONES, CHM., SUBCOMMITTEE ON
CONSERVATION, CREDIT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT; COMMITTEE ON
AGRICULTURE
MILTON HERTZ, ADMINISTRATOR, AGRICULTURAL STABILIZATION AND
CONSERVATION SERVICE
WHEREAS, the eligibility rules for the Conservation Reserve
Program presently require the land to be eroding above tolerable
soil loss (T), except for Class VI -VIII land, for the period
1981 -85.,
WHEREAS, the "T" requirement prohibits a considerable amount
of Highly Erodible Land from being eligible for the CRP; for
example:
1) A long rotation of hay from 1981 -85 reduces the "C"
factor of the Universal Soil Loss Equation, thereby
showing a soil loss below "T" for that 5 year period,
resulting in CRP ineligibility.
2) Contoured fields reduce the "P" factor of the Universal
Soil Loss Equation by approximately one -half (depending
upon slope)thereby also reducing "T" by the same amount
of one -half. This situation also results in
ineligibility for CRP.
AND WHEREAS: The above situations are:
1) Keeping many Highly Erodible Land acres, which are
either steep lands and /or shallow soils out of CRP,
2) Discriminating against those landowners who are "Soil
Stewards ", by using against them the very soil
conservation practices they incorporated on their farms
on a volunteer basis,
AND WHEREAS: the "T" requirement is creating hard feelings
between the "Soil Steward" and the Soil "Abusers "."
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the St. Croix County
Board of Supervisors in concert with the St. Croix County Land
Conservation Committee, the St. Croix County Agricultural
Stabilization and Conservation Committee, and many St. Croix
County conservation farmers believe that all Highly Erodible
Cropland should be eligible for the Conservation Reserve Program,
regardless of its past crop and conservation history,
AND THEREFORE: Request the requirement of exceeding
tolerable soil loss (T) for the 5 year period (1981 -85) be
eliminated for determining eligibility for the Conservation
Reserve Program.
DATED this day of 4.c' 1988.
LAND CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
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