Farmers and ranchers interested in the general Conservation Reserve Program have until Feb. 28 to sign up.

Those who enroll in CRP receive a yearly rental payment for voluntarily establishing long-term covers, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat on marginally productive agricultural lands.

USDA marks CRP’s 35-year anniversary in 2020. The program has 22 million acres enrolled nation-wide. The 2018 Farm Bill lifted the cap to 27 million acres. This means farmers and ranchers have a chance to enroll in CRP for the first time or continue their participation for another term.

As of October 2019, there were 54,060 total contracts on 28,653 farms covering just over 1 million acres in Minnesota. Of that total, 10,133 were general contracts and 43,877 were continuous contracts.

Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest private-lands conservation programs in the U.S. The program was originally primarily intended to control soil erosion and potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production.

This farm bill program has evolved over the years, providing a variety of conservation and economic benefits. CRP has:

CRP sign-ups

CRP general sign-up will be held annually. The competitive general sign-up will now include increased opportunities for enrollment of wildlife habitat through the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement initiative.

While some practices under SAFE will remain available through continuous sign-up, CRP continuous sign-up will focus primarily on water quality within the Clean Lakes, Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR) Initiative. The 2018 Farm Bill prioritizes water quality practices such as contour grass strips, filter strips, riparian buffers, wetlands and a new prairie strip.

USDA will also be working with Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program partners to relaunch CREP continuous options in each state under new statutory provisions. CREP will continue to target high-priority local, state or regional conservation concerns.

Grasslands sign-ups

CRP Grasslands sign-up helps landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland, and pastureland and certain other lands while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. A separate CRP Grasslands sign-up will be offered each year following general sign-up. The sign-up period for CRP Grasslands in 2020 runs from March 16 to May 15.

Pilot programs

Later in 2020, USDA’s Farm Service Agency will roll out pilot programs within CRP: CLEAR 30, which allows contracts expiring with CLEAR practices to be reenrolled in 30-year contracts and in the Soil Health and Income Protection Program in the prairie pothole region. More information on these programs will be announced in the new year.

Previously expired land

Land enrolled in CRP under a 15-year contract that expired in September 2017, 2018 or 2019, may be eligible for enrollment if there was no opportunity for re-enrollment and the practice under the expired contract has been maintained. In Minnesota, contract acres expired in September for the following years: 2017, 97,945; 2018, 203,002; and 2019, 96,502.

CRP rates and payments

FSA recently posted updated soil rental rates for CRP. County average rates are posted on the CRP Statistics webpage. Soil rental rates are statutorily prorated at 90% for continuous sign-up and 85% for general sign-up. The rental rates will be reviewed annually. Under continuous sign-up, producers also receive incentives, including a sign-up incentive payment and a practice incentive payment.

To enroll in CRP, contact your local FSA county office or visit fsa.usda.gov/crp. Go online to locate your local FSA office.

Source: Minnesota FSA Office, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.