A better scam than DCP's...

Boy - think how tough it would be to get by without that direct payment this year!  I mean with gross income from corn over $1000 that $25 is C-R-U-C-I-A-L.  Well, there is a better game in town.

 The National Farmers Union said this month that some of its members had been paid a total of $8 million since 2006 by the Chicago Climate Exchange for taking voluntary actions such as no-till farming. The technique arguably cuts emissions by leaving crop waste undisturbed to decay under the soil.
But many farmers began practicing no-till years before members signed agreements with the CCX, and that is where the problem lies.
Liz Friedlander, a spokeswoman for the NFU, said many of the farmers who received the payments had made no recent changes in the way they farm. "It's not really a huge sacrifice on their part to do it," she said.
Carbon market traders have coined such credits "anyway tonnes" -- meaning they represent emissions reductions that would have happened anyway, even if the exchange did not exist. Many companies looking to offset their emissions avoid these tonnes altogether, fearing they may damage their image.
The CCX, which is run by Britain's Climate Exchange Plc , boasts a member base of over 350 members including companies, nonprofit organizations and cities, all of which voluntarily sign a legally-binding pledge to cut emissions. If members can't do so they must buy credits over the exchange, such as the no-till credits, that profess to represent emissions reductions. [More]

Almost reminds you of the the Conservation Security Program.  Another questionable attempt to spread no-till to the unbelievers. Or to simply give current adherents a check for doing were doing for free.

The trouble around here is after this spring where no-till took a real beating compared to conventional methods. Still, ya gotta wonder what we'll talk outsiders into paying us for next.

Personally, I'd like a check for mowing my roads.