1986-1990 Conservation Reserve Program

This interim rule amends the program regulations to allow holders of certain Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts that expire September 30, 1996, the opportunity to request and receive early release from contracts or to reduce the amount of acreage subject to the contracts. The purpose of this action is to enhance the commodity supply situation for the 1996/97 marketing year. Domestic stocks relative to use of wheat, feed grains, and oil seeds are expected to be at extremely low levels for the 1995/96 crop year. For corn, the expected stocks to use ratio in the 1995/96 crop year is approximately 6 percent while the average stocks to use ratio from 1980 through 1994 was 30 percent. For wheat, the expected stocks to use ratio in the 1995/96 crop year is approximately 16 percent, while the average stocks to use ratio from 1980 through 1994 was 43 percent. However, the domestic and export demand for these commodities are expected to remain strong during the 1996/97 crop year. The action is implemented to allow acreage that can be brought back into production without adversely impacting the environment to be released for crop production in 1996.