On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 07:40:20 -0500, Duane Bozarth wrote:
I think you overestimate this scenario extensively...for one thing, at
present there are millions of acres of formerly-producing crop ground in
the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) that could, IF (that's the "big
if" ) it were necessary and economical, be brought back into
production for many of these ancillary crops as well as corn and
soybeans.

Right. I've got 17 acres of it myself. If I could make much more with
soybeans, I'd consider it, but right now it's just as profitable, and
much less work, to let it sit.

As for land "exhaustion", if there is any segment that is
concerned w/ maintaining productivity of the land, it is we
producers--after all, that is our direct livelihood, not indirect.

Yes. The days of people being ignorant of crop rotation and soil
quality are long gone. Some may choose not to do any of it, but they're
at lesat not ignorant of it.

At 60 bucks an acre per year for CRP contracts, I can't see planting
soybeans any time soon. If fuel goes waaaaaaaaaay up, then maybe.