Farmers, ranchers and landowners committed to protecting and conserving environmentally sensitive land can begin signing up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) June 9.
There are “continuous” and “general” sign-up periods. Under continuous sign-up, which begins June 9, eligible land can be enrolled in CRP at any time with contracts of up to 10 to 15 years in duration. Instead of a general sign-up, landowners with general CRP contracts expiring this September have the option of a one-year contract extension. If enrolled through general sign-up for more than five years, farmers and ranchers can choose to opt-out of the program, as long as certain other conditions are met.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), retiring farmers enrolled in CRP could receive incentives to transfer some of their land to beginning, veteran or disadvantaged farmers through the Transition Incentives Program (TIP). U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says this initiative helps farmers and ranchers overcome the rising cost of land to enter farming and ranching. Sign-up through TIP also begins June 9.
CRP and TIP were reauthorized through the 2014 Farm Bill and are administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA).
For more information on CRP, visit a local FSA county office or go online to www.fsa.usda.gov.