Hello again!
Easy money, restoring the environment, being good stewards of what we are graced with and leaving a sound future for our children; these are all good reasons to participate in the Conservation Reserve Program.
The Conservation Reserve Program is offering a general sign-up that ends April 15. During the sign-up period, farmers and landowners may offer eligible land for CRPs competitive general sign-up at their county Farm Service Agency office.
Benefits
Landowners enrolled in the CRP program receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource conserving covers on eligible farmland.
Cropland that has been planted or considered planted at least four of the six years from 2002 to 2007 and is not currently enrolled in CRP can be offered during sign-up if all eligibility requirements are met.
CRP participants with contracts expiring this fall can make new contract offers during the sign-up period. Contracts awarded during this general sign-up will become effective October 1.
The FSA office staff will guide you through the application process. If you qualify you will be given a proposal of the approximate value of the project.
Once your offer is submitted, FSA will evaluate and rank all eligible CRP offers using an environmental benefits index that shows the environmental benefits to be gained from enrolling the land in CRP.
Factors
The EBI consists of five environmental factors — wildlife, water, soil, air and enduring benefits — and cost. Decisions on the EBI cutoff will be made after the sign-up ends and after analyzing the EBI data of all the offers.
For more information, please contact your local county FSA office or to view the CRP general sign-up fact sheet go to: www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/crpsignupjan.pdf.
That’s all for now,
FSA Andy
