Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joseph-Ohio on October 23, 2012 at 6:05am

Meg R.,

ANOTHER Duck.

What da ya know.

 

Permalink Reply by Paul Martinelli on October 23, 2012 at 6:09am

CRP  program   pays farmers to not farm land.

Permalink Reply by Rick on October 23, 2012 at 10:10am

Seems the CRP program doesnt just pay farmers not to plant for the sake of not planting, or reducing production. The crp website says it provides assistance in converting highly erodable or sensitive lands to grasslands, waterways and such... sounds like a fair program to me. Afterall would you rather just tell the farmer to stop farming a peice of land improperly, or help them establish better ways to farm so that they arent destroying someone elses access to clean water with runoff. But when people say they pay farmers not to plant, I get the impression that they are paying farmers to just not plant perfectly good fields for no good reason. I dont think that happens, at least not around here. Now from what I understand that dairy farmers are paid a subsidy for each cow they milk., just for owning them... I could be wrong though, but thats what I have been told by a dairy farmer. I think that is beyond wasteful.  From crp website: http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/CRP/crphomepage.html

The Conservation Reserve Program reduces soil erosion, protects the Nation's
ability to produce food and fiber, reduces sedimentation in streams and lakes,
improves water quality, establishes wildlife habitat, and enhances forest and
wetland resources. CRP encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland or
other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as grass
waterways, native grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filter strips and riparian
buffers. Farmers receive an annual rental payment for the term of the contract.
Cost sharing is provided to establish the vegetative cover practices.

Permalink Reply by Joseph-Ohio on October 23, 2012 at 10:14am

Rick,

CRP = A Worthy Subsidy

Converting From Diesel and Gasoline To CNG Would = Another Worthy Subsidy

Permalink Reply by Rick on October 23, 2012 at 1:11pm

Ok Meg, Back on topic sorta! Although this is about Marcellus, Its still an interesting read about the miscalculations.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/10/marcellus_shale_...

Permalink Reply by Dan on October 23, 2012 at 2:15pm

I met folks from Kentucky that were offered 10's of thousands every year for many years to not plant crops, they had never grown crops on their land and never planed to.  They never accepted the subsidies and were offended of the whole situation.  Better yet the news recently talked about the obesity rate will soon be 50% in the US and recent research shows that suger and processed grains may be responcable for dementia and a host of other illness but yet the farm bill for many decades has garanteed suger cane growers a profit.  The farm bill covers many subsidized food programs like food stamps but also picks winners in the food growing business like peanuts and suger.

Permalink Reply by lynn on October 26, 2012 at 11:36am

A farmer can get paid to not plant crops on land that is determined to be environmentally sensitive.  There a lot of standards that have to be met and the payment barely covers the cost of required mowing.  It used to be called soil conservation program, now it's called crop reserve program.  Because of the extreme drought in places this year the government allowed farmers (who had to mow it anyway) to take the residue off as hay to help replace what they didn't get on regular hayfields.  The idea is to help stop erosion and provide wildlife habitat by letting grasses grow.  When you complain about the 'farm bill' try to remember that well over 80% of the money goes to programs like food stamps and school lunches.

Permalink Reply by Samuel J. Orr on October 23, 2012 at 9:29am

I tend to agree but sometimes the exception proves the rule. Assuredly pouring tax money into wind and solar like Obama did with Solyndra was a diasaster. 

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Permalink Reply by Kathleen on October 23, 2012 at 12:55pm

Rick,

I bet they were referring to the grasslands you mentioned when the federal government said they could make hay this year due to the declared drought (no rain, no hay, but who knows).
I know this is so off topic but its true, so many people, myself included, pictures fields just being left dormant with no crop but farmers get paid as if one was grown. I need to educate myself on this one to get the facts. I'm sure there is absurd subsidies still in the program (I might buy a cow now :0) ) but I wonder how the whole of it works. Hmmmmm Thanks for the insight.

Permalink Reply by Joseph-Ohio on October 24, 2012 at 12:40am

'Production' is supposed to be 'Market Driven'.

If there were a larger 'Market' there should be more 'Production'.

I think we ought to be real smart and pressure our politicians to 'Develop' more of a 'Market' which should lead to more 'Production'.

Or would it be smarter to let the politicians continue arguing about how to sock it to the public forever ?

You tell me.

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Permalink Reply by Dan on October 24, 2012 at 1:39am

Joseph,

I'm not one to brag up politicians but credit is due in this matter.  Many politicians have been right on top of creating a bigger market for NG products.  For months I have been receiving several dozen plastic coated paper flyers and pamphlets from them thru the mail at home in Ohio and at my Post office box in WV.  The shiny plastic coating and colors are most likely made from NG ethanes.  Just yesterday I had received 18 of these at home.  A few politicians have gone as far as to send me plastic DVD's through the mail to prove their efforts to increase NG use!  Considering some of these plastic enhanced mailers started their production with heat that most likely was created with NG and their initial transportation could have been on a NG powered truck these politicians deserve credit where credit is due. 

I like to take all these non-essential mailers and put them in my burn barrel to increase atmospheric carbon so concern for cleaner burning transportation fuels becomes more desirable sooner.  

There is a easy step we can all take at home to increase the NG market size.  If you recycle plastic bottles STOP!  Get this plastic out of the loop and start with fresh plastics.  You must smolder them in your burn barrel though.  If you put them in the trash all the plastic will end up back in the loop as trash dump mining starts to go on-line.  This is a vital concern because several companies across the US and the world now have the ability to turn old plastic bottles back into raw crude oil, not bio-oil, real crude and the process is cheap.  One company claims they get a barrel of crude for about $10.  This could devastate current drilling efforts.  Didn't see any of these plastic to crude companies in the Obama green subsidies program?  

Everything above I believe to be true and is said with complete sarcasm and I approve of this message.

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Permalink Reply by Joseph-Ohio on October 24, 2012 at 2:15am

Now Dan,

I don't think you would look like a duck, or sound like a duck, or walk like a duck, but based on what you've written, and if a duck could write......I'd conclude that you were a politician !

A little good humored comic relief attempted here Dan.

I enjoy reading your posts even though it appears there are times when we are not in complete agreement.

Thanks.

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