USDA DECISION HURTS AREA FARMERS
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Collin C. Peterson (DFL-7th District) today expressed deep regret with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recent decision not to allow waivers for additional Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage in Marshall, Pennington and Roseau counties.
“Our farmers are in a world of hurt already and USDA has blocked one way to help some of them keep their farms,” Peterson said.
According to Peterson, Minnesota State Farm Service Agency Director Tracy Beckman was notified on April 29 that the waiver was declined. USDA’s Washington office cited concerns with adverse economic impact on the local communities and a lack of conservation benefits if the additional CRP acreage was allowed.
“The real economic injury will come when these farmers are gone,” Peterson
said. “The rural communities in these counties understand that their own
economic futures depend on the survival of these farms.”
The state FSA committee requested the waiver after holding public meetings
and after gaining the support of the county commissioners. The MN Department
of Agriculture requested that the waiver not be granted.
“It’s difficult to understand how USDA and the opponents can be so short-sighted,” Peterson said. “Our farmers have fought bad weather, disease and low prices for several years now. The waiver would have offered some farms a chance to hold on. They were refused that chance.”