USDA
Announces Dates for Conservation Reserve Program General and
Grasslands Signups
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[June 22, 2021]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) has set a July 23, 2021, deadline for agricultural producers
and landowners to apply for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
General signup 56. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA)
will accept applications for CRP Grasslands from July 12 to August
20. This year, USDA updated both signup options to provide greater
incentives for producers and increase its conservation benefits,
including reducing the impacts of climate change.
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Both signups are competitive and will provide for annual rental
payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.
“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, producers 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. Lands enrolled in CRP also
play a key role in mitigating impacts from climate change, and
FSA has 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 producers 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 has updated the Grasslands Signup to establish a minimum
rental rate of $15 per acre, as well as new National Grassland
Priority Zones.
How to Sign Up
To enroll in the CRP General signup, producers 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 August 20 deadline. While USDA offices may
have limited visitors because of the pandemic, Service Center
staff continue to work with agricultural producers via phone,
email, and other digital tools. To work with FSA, producers and
landowners should contact their local USDA Service Center.
Contact information can be found at farmers.gov/service-locator.
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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.
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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. Through
conservation practices, 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 learn more, visit
www.usda.gov.
[ Farmers.gov] |