Monday, July 7, 2008
Statement From Governor Culver Regarding Usda Decision On Conservation Reserve Program Land Use
DES MOINES – Today, Governor Chet Culver released the following statement regarding the US Department of Agriculture’s decision to open some Conservation Reserve Program lands for grazing in Iowa.
Last week, Governor Culver and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey sent a letter to USDA Secretary Ed Schafer asking him to open CRP land in Iowa to haying and grazing.
"I appreciate the USDA taking this step today, which will help relieve some of the pressure on Iowa's livestock producers. However, I believe this must be an initial, and not a final step. As Governor, I am committed to helping our agricultural community recover from this year's historic flooding. That is why I encourage the US Department of Agriculture to immediately release Conservation Reserve Program lands for both haying and grazing, just as Sec. Northey and I asked for last week. By doing so, we will reduce costs for livestock producers, and help Iowa continue to feed the world.”