Cropshare Lease Arrangements for Intensive Dryland Cropping Systems

Changes in U.S. agricultural policy implemented following the 1996 Farm Act have allowed producers to consider different cropping systems without restrictions on farm program payment eligibility. As a result, planting decisions have been shifting in response to market prices, conservation compliance and production goals. Some dryland crop producers are using more intensive dryland crop rotations to potentially increase farm income levels. In the past three years, Western Nebraska has seen a decrease in the number of acres planted to wheat, and an increase in the number of acres planted to sunflowers, proso millet, dryland corn and other specialty crops