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Peterson points to CRP in buffer debate

Congressman Collin Peterson’s solution to the buffer bill proposed by Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton lies in the federal Farm Bill.

Peterson, the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, says a widely used provision exists that provides federal funding for voluntary buffer strips.

“The continuous CRP.  It is available year round.  There’s acres available under that program.  We’ve put in additional incentives, so we’re paying two to three times what we pay for normal CRP if people sign up in the continuous CRP buffer program.”

He tells Brownfield he thinks it’s dangerous to put any kind of set-in-stone number in place like Dayton did with the original buffer language.  Peterson has spoken to the governor and some state legislators about promoting CRP instead of pushing a mandatory taking of property.

“They’re off on their own deal (and) I don’t know where it’s going to end up.”

The buffer bill was part of the Ag and Environment Bill the governor vetoed shortly after the end of the legislative session.  It could be brought back up as a stand-alone or part of another bill in the special session.