CRP Sign Up Announced. I’m Greg Martin, this is Market Line.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that a general sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program will begin on August 2 and continue through August 27. During the sign-up period, farmers and ranchers may offer eligible land for CRP's competitive general sign-up at their county Farm Service Agency office. Jim Miller, Agriculture Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services, made the announcement on behalf of Secretary Vilsack during a conference call with reporters.

MILLER: The 2008 Farm Bill passed by Congress revised the total maximum acres allowed in the Conservation Reserve Program to 32-million. There are currently 31-million acres enrolled in the various CRP programs including continuous sign-up programs and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement programs, however at the end of this fiscal year on September 30, 2010 about 4.5 million acres will be expiring. Therefore we are expecting to accept enough acres in this general signup to bring CRP signup close to the 32-million acre statutory cap.

Checking on the markets…On Monday Chicago September corn down 7 ¼ at 364 even
September wheat was off 6 and ¾ at 589 ½
Portland soft white wheat mostly up 5 to up 20 at 5.05 to 5.40
October live cattle down 950 at 93.775
October feeders up .15 at 115.400
September Class III milk up a quarter at 15.40
I’m Greg Martin and that’s Market Line on the Northwest Ag Information Network.