Agricultural and Food Policy
 Agri Outlook Radio
Number 142
Policy/Noteworthy: Harkin Stresses Importance of Conservation in Push for Biomass Energy
Production Following Agriculture Secretary’s Remarks on CRP (1:56 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
Dr. Bobby Coats
Extension Economist
University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition and Forestry issues statement in response to remarks made by U.S.
Department of Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer on the Conservation Reserve
Program (CRP). I’m Bobby Coats Extension Economist University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer while addressing the
National Farmers Union annual convention in Las Vegas, said that he wished all
acres enrolled in CRP could be planted instead to switchgrass and harvested for
use in bioenergy production.
Senator Harkin response, “Land in the CRP is producing critical benefits in
greater wildlife habitat, a cleaner environment and conservation of our precious
soil and water. CRP land is not simply idle or nonproductive. We
have to keep in mind our conservation goals and our responsibility to future
generations.
“There are already big challenges in CRP as contracts on millions of acres
expire and landowners face decisions whether to reenroll. So we must be
very careful about the consequences of abrupt or sweeping policy changes
affecting land in CRP. I’m a big advocate of producing energy from
biomass, yet I believe that with care and forethought we can have both more
biofuels and more conservation.”
This has been Bobby Coats Extension Economist University of Arkansas Division
of Agriculture.
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