Conservation Reserve Program sign up ends June 14

The local Farm Service Agency Office is reminding farmers and landowners that signing up for the long term Conservation Reserve Program, known as CRP, will be ending this coming June 14.

Landowners having CRP contracts expiring Sept. 30, 2013, have already been reminded of their upcoming expiration date. Producers with expiring contracts will have to re offer their land for future consideration.

Landowners must have owned their land with cropping history for a minimum of one year. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion and develop wildlife habitat. In return, USDA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance.  Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years. Currently, 27 million acres are enrolled in CRP through 700,000 contracts on 390,000 farms throughout the U.S., with enrollment in 49 states and Puerto Rico. Contracts on an estimated 3.3 million acres will expire on Sept. 30, 2013.

Offers for general sign-up CRP contracts are ranked according to an Environmental Benefits Index. USDA’s Farm Service Agency collects data for each of the EBI factors based on the relative environmental benefits for the land offered. CRP soil rental rates for non-irrigated cropland were updated this year to better reflect location and market conditions.

A nationwide cap was placed on the maximum amount that may be paid per acre for the general sign-up. Taken together these steps help ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent in a fiscally responsible manner while producing the maximum environmental benefits for each dollar spent.

Reminder: June 14 is the final date to contact the office to make an offer for the Conservation Reserve Program. For more information on CRP and other FSA programs, visit a local FSA service center or www.fsa.usda.gov. Also, any questions may be directed to the local Saline County FSA Office by calling 252-8621, extension 2.