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 Interested producers with CRP contracts expiring September 30,
2021, should sign up by August 6, 2021. CLEAR30 provides an
opportunity for producers to receive incentives for a 30-year
commitment to water quality practices on their CRP land,
building on their original 10- to 15-year CRP contracts.
These long-term contracts ensure that practices remain in place
for 30 years, which improves water quality through reducing
sediment and nutrient runoff and helping prevent algal blooms.
About CLEAR30
CLEAR30 was created by the 2018 Farm Bill to better address
water quality concerns. Originally, CLEAR30 was only available
in the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay watersheds. Now, access is
expanded to agricultural producers nationwide.
Eligible producers must have certain water quality benefitting
practices currently enrolled under continuous CRP or through the
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), under contracts
that are expiring on September 30, 2021.
These long-term contracts will help ensure that conservation
impacts and benefits remain in place for 30 years, reducing
sediment and nutrient runoff and, ultimately, algal blooms.
Conservation in riparian areas also provides important carbon
sequestration benefits. Traditional CRP contracts run from 10 to
15 years.
Annual rental payments for landowners who enroll in CLEAR30 will
be equal to the current Continuous CRP annual payment rate plus
a 20% water quality incentive and annual rate adjustment of
27.5%.
How to Sign Up
To sign up for CLEAR30, contact your local USDA Service Center
by August 6, 2021. While USDA offices may be closed to visitors
because of the pandemic, Service Center staff continue to work
with agricultural producers via phone, email, and other digital
tools. To conduct business, please contact your local USDA
Service Center. Contact information can be found at farmers.gov/service-locator.
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More Information
CLEAR30 is an option available through CRP, which is one of the
world’s largest voluntary conservation programs with a long track
record of preserving topsoil, sequestering carbon and reducing
nitrogen runoff, as well providing healthy habitat for wildlife.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is engaged in a
whole-of-government effort to combat the climate crisis and conserve
and protect our nation’s lands, biodiversity, and natural resources
including our soil, air and water. As such, CLEAR30 contracts
receive a water quality incentive and a climate-smart practice
incentive. Through conservation practices and partnerships, USDA
aims to enhance economic growth and create new streams of income for
farmers, ranchers, producers, and private foresters. Successfully
meeting these challenges will require USDA and our agencies to
pursue a coordinated approach alongside USDA stakeholders, including
state, local, and tribal governments.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive
ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming
America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local
and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers,
ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all
communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers
and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices,
making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy
capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the
Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce
more representative of America.
To enroll in CLEAR30, please contact your local USDA Service Center.
For more information on CRP, visit the Conservation Reserve Program.
[Illinois Farm Service Agency]
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