June 20, 2008

Even if the Bush administration were to release idled farm land from conservation reserves now, there would not be enough time for farmers to plant corn on it this year, USDA Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner said Thursday ( June 19, 2008).

Conner said it might be too late for the crop to be harvested in 2008.

Crop production, especially for corn and soy, is expected to decline due to flooding in the Midwest.

Conner's remarks come amid speculation that the USDA might drop early withdrawal penalties and allow land owners out of the idling programme to counter an expected drop in production from flooded Midwest states.

The USDA pays producers to refrain from farming 34.6 million acres under the conservation reserve programme, or CRP, which is designed to save soil from being over-farmed and keep environmentally sensitive land out of production.

There might still be time for farmers to plant winter wheat on CRP land if the USDA decides soon to allow it, Conner said, but even so, time would be tight.

That winter wheat would need to be planted in September, but preparations would have to take a while, Conner said.