Farmers Still Penalized if They Plant on Conservation Land: Ruling is a major victory for conservationists and hunting groups

The New York Times reported Wednesday that Ed Schafer, the United States agriculture secretary, decided that farmers will still be penalized if they plant crops on land set aside for conservation.

His decision was made based on improving harvest expectations for this year. Recent forecasts indicate that there will be a larger crop than was expected after the floods in the Midwest this June.

After the floods washed farm fields in the Midwest, bakers and livestock owners began to intensify the pressure to erase penalties for planting on lands designated for conservation. If bakers and livestock owners could increase the harvest it would lower high crop prices.

But Schafer says, "We don't feel that the corn and soybean crop will be as bad as we originally feared."

Director of agriculture conservation policy for Ducks Unlimited said, "The Conservation Reserve Program is the holy grail of conservation, and we are pleased that the U.S.D.A. will maintain the program and the benefits that it has had."

On the flip side many farmers believe that the penalty will hurt business owners and consumers who are struggling to pay higher prices for commodities and food.

Schafer did acknowledge that the situation is one that can change rapidly, and that he would reconsider his decision depending on crop conditions.