{"id":110228,"date":"2019-12-23T13:58:19","date_gmt":"2019-12-23T18:58:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=110228"},"modified":"2019-12-23T13:58:19","modified_gmt":"2019-12-23T18:58:19","slug":"usda-announces-opening-signup-for-conservation-reserve-program-on-december-9-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=110228","title":{"rendered":"USDA Announces Opening Signup for Conservation Reserve Program on December 9, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Signup for the Conservation Reserve Program began Dec.\n9, 2019. The deadline for agricultural producers to sign up for general CRP is\nFeb. 28, 2020, and signup for continuous CRP is ongoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Farmers and ranchers who enroll in CRP receive a yearly\nrental payment for voluntarily establishing long-term, resource-conserving\nplant species, such as approved grasses or trees (known as \u201ccovers\u201d) to control\nsoil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat on marginally\nproductive agricultural lands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CRP has 22 million acres enrolled, but the 2018 Farm Bill\nlifted the cap to 27 million acres. This means farmers and ranchers have a\nchance to enroll in CRP for the first time or continue their participation for\nanother term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By enrolling in CRP, producers are improving water quality,\nreducing soil erosion, and restoring habitat for wildlife. This in turn spurs\nhunting, fishing, recreation, tourism, and other economic development across\nrural America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CRP Enrollment Options<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

General Signup<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CRP general signup will be held annually. The competitive\ngeneral signup will now include increased opportunities for enrollment of\nwildlife habitat through the State Acres For Wildlife Enhancement initiative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continuous Signup<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While some practices under SAFE will remain available\nthrough continuous signup, CRP continuous signup will focus primarily on water\nquality with the Clean Lakes, Estuaries, and Rivers Initiative. The 2018 Farm\nBill prioritizes water quality practices such as contour grass strips, filter\nstrips, riparian buffers, wetlands and a new prairie strip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

USDA will also be working with Conservation Reserve\nEnhancement Program (CREP) partners to relaunch CREP continuous options in each\nstate under new statutory provisions. CREP will continue to target\nhigh-priority local, state or regional conservation concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grasslands Signups<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CRP Grasslands signup helps landowners and operators protect\ngrassland, including rangeland, and pastureland and certain other lands while\nmaintaining the areas as grazing lands. A separate CRP Grasslands signup will\nbe offered each year following general signup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pilot Programs<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later in 2020, (FSA will roll out pilot programs within CRP:\nCLEAR 30, which allows contracts expiring with CLEAR practices to be reenrolled\nin 30-year contracts and in the Soil Health and Income Protection Program\n(SHIPP) in the prairie pothole region. More information on these programs will\nbe announced in the new year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Land Transition<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CRP Transition Incentives Program (TIP) is an option for\nproducers interested in transitioning land to a beginning farmer or rancher or\na member of a socially disadvantaged group to return land to production for\nsustainable grazing or crop production. CRP contract holders no longer need to\nbe a retired or retiring owner or operator to transition their land. TIP\nparticipants may have a lease less than five years with an option to purchase,\nand they have two years before the end of the CRP contract to make conservation\nand land improvements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previously Expired Land<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Land enrolled in CRP under a 15-year contract that expired\nin September 2017, 2018 or 2019, may be eligible for enrollment if there was no\nopportunity for re-enrollment and the practice under the expired contract has\nbeen maintained.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CRP Rates and Payments<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FSA recently posted updated soil rental rates for CRP.\nCounty average rates are posted on the CRP Statistics webpage<\/a>. Soil rental rates are statutorily\nprorated at 90 percent for continuous signup and 85 percent for general signup.\nThe rental rates will be assessed annually. Under continuous signup, producers\nalso receive incentives, including a signup incentive payment and a practice\nincentive payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To enroll in CRP, contact your local FSA county office or\nvisit fsa.usda.gov\/crp<\/a>. To locate your local FSA office,\nvisit farmers.gov\/service-locator<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Higher Limits Now\nAvailable on USDA Farm Loans<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Higher limits are now available for borrowers interested in\nUSDA\u2019s farm loans, which help agricultural producers purchase farms or cover\noperating expenses. The 2018 Farm Bill increased the amount that producers can\nborrow through direct and guaranteed loans available through USDA\u2019s Farm\nService Agency (FSA) and made changes to other loans, such as microloans and\nemergency loans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key changes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n