USDA will accept almost four million acres into CRP

By Ryan Castle
ryan.castle@mn.usda.gov

Date Modified: 06/14/2012 2:57 PM

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All eligible CRP offers received during sign up 43 were evaluated based on the summary score of five environmental factors and cost. There were 4.5 million acres offered under CRP General Sign up 43. CRP contracts resulting from theses acceptable records will enroll 3.9 million acres that will be effective on Oct. 1.

Enrollment of the new 3.9 million acres will allow USDA to continue important targeting of CRP acres through continuous sign-up initiatives — including those announced earlier this year for highly-erodible land, as well as grasslands and wetlands — while also maintaining and enhancing the significant benefits that the program has already achieved. The two continuous sign-ups announced earlier this year will target an additional 1.75 million acres in total.

For the first continuous sign-up program, USDA encourages landowners with land that has an Erosion Index of 20 or greater to consider participating in the Highly Erodible Land initiative. Lands eligible for this program are typically the least productive land on the farm. In many cases the most cost-effective option to reduce erosion is to put the land into a wildlife friendly cover, which will improve habitat and reduce sediment and nutrient runoff and reduce wind erosion. For the second continuous sign-up program, landowners with sensitive grasslands, wetlands and wildlife habitat are encouraged to participate. The grasslands and wetlands initiative increases acres set aside for specific enrollments that benefit duck nesting habitat, upland birds, wetlands, and wildlife, and provides benefits for specific conservation practices, including new benefits for pollinator practices.

Local FSA offices will be in contact with all CRP participants in the next couple of weeks. All persons that submitted an offer under CRP General Sign up 43 will receive either an accepted or rejected offer letter.

If you have any questions regarding CRP or the new continuous sign up initiative programs please contact your local FSA County Office.