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Opening CRP ground for ag use would benefit cattle, not crops

An ag economist says opening Conservation Reserve Program ground for agricultural use could be positive for cattle producers.

The University of Missouri’s Ben Brown…

“It could be the relief for cattle ranchers in the western part of the Cornbelt to extend cattle on grass for a period of time,” he said. “And so, it doesn’t provide that big incentive for cattle to go into the feedlot for a period of time.”

Brown said that would be a positive for cattle prices.

But he tells Brownfield planting crops on CRP ground would do little to alleviate market pressures on the crop side.

“What’s going to come in is going to be marginal ground, it’s not going to be high yielding,” Brown said. “It’s going to come in areas where it’s already a challenge to, maybe, get additional fertilizer for this year. So, I’m not optimistic about that.”

He said there isn’t enough CRP ground that can be planted in corn and soybeans to make a major dent in expected lost global stocks anyway.