Agricultural Resources: Cropland, Water, and Conservation. Situation and OutlookReport, September 1992

摘要

Cropland used for crops is up from 1991 as land previously idled under Federalprograms is returned to production. Federal commodity program participation remained high with lower set-aside requirements for most program crops and new flexibility provisions. Acreage in the Conservation Reserve Program expanded, while additional acreage has been offered under a new Wetland Reserve Program. Due to drought, short irrigation water supplies continued in much of the West while soil moisture was generally favorable elsewhere. The 343 million cropland acres expected to be used for crops is up 6 million from last year, but down 44 million from the 1981 peak when no land was idled in Federal programs. The Conservation Reserve Program, now in its seventh year, has converted 35.4 million cropland acres to conservation uses. In July, USDA conducted the first signup opportunity under a pilot Wetland Reserve Program involving nine states. The use of conservation tillage continues to increase as farmers find the practice more attractive and as highly erodible fields are brought into compliance with the conservation provisions of the 1985 Food Security Act.