Farm Service Agency announces continuous sign-up for CRP Highly Erodible Land Initiative

[August 13, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- Continuous sign-up for the Highly Erodible Land Initiative under the Conservation Reserve Program is under way. Illinois received a total allocation of 50,000 acres to enroll in this plan for erodible land. Sign-up began on July 23, and offers will be accepted until either the state acreage allocation limit is reached or Sept. 30, whichever occurs first, according to Scherrie V. Giamanco, state executive director for the USDA Farm Service Agency in Illinois.

"CRP is a voluntary program that has protected environmentally sensitive land for more than 25 years," said Giamanco. "This initiative will accept offers with an erosion rate of at least 20 tons per acre per year for new cropland or CRP acres that expire on Sept. 30, 2012; however, existing grass stands that are not considered expiring CRP will not be considered eligible," she said.

Producers should contact their FSA county office to determine if their land qualifies for the Highly Erodible Land Initiative and to receive additional location-specific details.

Landowners enrolled in CRP receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving covers on eligible farmland. Incentive payments are not authorized under this initiative.

New land contracts approved during this continuous sign-up initiative will become effective the first day of the month following the month of approval and are valid for 10 years.

CRP contracts set to expire on Sept. 30 may be offered for consideration, and approved contracts will become effective Oct. 1 and are also valid for 10 years.

For more information on FSA's CRP continuous sign-up, contact your local FSA office or visit FSA online at www.fsa.usda.gov.

[Text from file received from Illinois Farm Service Agency]