WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture will accept more than 300,000 acres in 43 states that were offered by producers during the recent ranking period for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands enrollment, with emphasis placed on small-scale livestock operations.
Through the voluntary CRP Grasslands program, grasslands threatened by development or conversion to row crops are maintained as livestock grazing areas, while providing important conservation benefits.
Small operations
Approximately 200,000 of the accepted acres were offered by small-scale livestock operations.
The most recent ranking period closed on Dec. 16, and included for the first time a CRP Grasslands practice specifically tailored for small-scale livestock grazing operations to encourage broader participation.
Submit applications
Under this ranking period and for future periods, small-scale livestock operations with 100 or fewer head of grazing cows (or the equivalent) can submit applications to enroll up to 200 acres of grasslands per farm.
Larger operations may still make offers through the normal process.
CRP Grasslands participants can use the land for livestock production (e.g. grazing or producing hay), while following their conservation and grazing plans in order to maintain the cover.
A goal of CRP Grasslands is to minimize conversion of grasslands either to row crops or to non-agricultural uses. Participants can receive annual payments of up to 75 percent of the grazing value of the land and up to 50 percent of the cost of cover practices like cross-fencing to support rotational grazing or improving pasture cover to benefit pollinators or other wildlife.
To find your local FSA office, visit http://offices.usda.gov, or to learn more about conservation, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation.
