The really serious issue here is the possibility that the Feds may require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the ENTIRE CRP program! Partly due to the lawsuit filed against them last year concerning haying and grazing under "drought emergency" rules. Of course an EIS on the entire program is totally ridiculous. What negative environmental impact could it have, when you remove row crops and replace with grass? But if they go through with the EIS process, not only won't there be a new signup this year, but there won't be one next year either. Meanwhile, expiring contracts will not be renewed. Essentially everything on hold (except the "permanent" CRP provisions, like buffers) until the EIS is completed. If that happens, we will lose a lot more than 8 million acres.
