The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) set July 23, 2021, as the deadline for farmers, ranchers and landowners to apply for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup 56.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept applications for CRP Grasslands from July 12 to Aug. 20.
This year, USDA updated both signup options to provide greater incentives for farmers and ranchers to enroll.
Both signups are competitive and will provide for annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.
“We are excited to roll out our new and improved CRP General and Grasslands signups,” Acting FSA State Director Eddie Trevino state. “Bottom line, CRP now makes more financial sense for producers, while also providing a bigger return on investment in terms of natural resource benefits. The General and Grasslands signups are part of a broader suite of tools available through CRP to integrate key conservation practices on our nation’s working lands.”
General Signup
Through CRP, farmers, ranchers and landowners establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. FSA also added a new Climate-Smart Practice Incentive for practices that sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
FSA is also adding a one-time “inflationary” adjustment for payment rates, as well as having more flexibility on adjusting soil rental rates.
FSA opened the General Signup in January 2021 and extended the original deadline to July 23, 2021, to enable farmers and ranchers to consider FSA’s new improvements to the program.
Grasslands Signup
CRP Grasslands helps landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland, and pastureland and certain other lands, while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. Protecting grasslands contributes positively to the economy of many regions, provides biodiversity of plant and animal populations and improves environmental quality.
FSA updated the Grasslands Signup to establish a minimum rental rate of $15 per acre, which will benefit 1,300 counties.
To focus on important wildlife corridors, FSA also identified National Grassland Priority Zones, providing extra incentives to producers for enrolling grasslands in important migratory corridors and environmentally sensitive areas. The CRP Grasslands Ranking Factors fact sheet has additional information.
How to Sign Up
To enroll in the CRP General signup, farmers, ranchers and landowners should contact their local USDA Service Center by the July 23 deadline. To enroll in the CRP Grasslands signup, they should contact USDA by the Aug. 20 deadline. While USDA offices may have limited visitors because of the pandemic, Service Center staff continue to work with farmers and ranchers via phone, email and other digital tools.
To work with FSA, farmers, ranchers and landowners should contact their local USDA Service Center. Contact information can be found at farmers.gov/service-locator.
More Information on CRP
Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest voluntary private-lands conservation programs in the United States. It was originally intended to primarily control soil erosion and potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production. The program has evolved over the years, providing many conservation and economic benefits. The program marked its 35-year anniversary this past December.