Commissioners deny CRP hike

Despte a split vote, Whitman County commissioners held firm Monday on the 25 percent cap on farmground that can be enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP.

“I’m not willing to take this cap off,” said Commissioner Greg Partch, who voted with Commissioner Pat O’Neill to deny an increase in the cap. “I don’t think there’s a problem.”

Commissioner Michael Largent cast a dissenting vote. He said the issues surrounding CRP are too large to rob farmers of a tool they can use to guarantee income.

“We’re not going to solve the CRP problem with this vote,” said Commissioner Michael Largent...