Conservation program deadline extended
By Turner Walston
Published in News on April 14, 2006 1:45 PM
The sign-up deadlines for both the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the special CRP re-enrollment and extension opportunities have been extended until April 28, USDA's Farm Service Agency announced.
FSA will evaluate offers based on cost and the Environmental Benefits Index factors of wildlife, water, soil, air and enduring benefits. Accepted offers will become effective Oct. 1.
Additionally, CRP participants with contracts expiring on Sept. 30, 2007, now have until April 28 to apply for special re-enrollment or extension opportunities offered by FSA, subject to a compliance review. Participants ranking in the EBI's top one-fifth can re-enroll their land in a new 10-year contract. For lands with restored wetlands, FSA offered the opportunity for a new 15-year contract. FSA offered the second one-fifth group the opportunity for a 5-year extension; the third one-fifth a 4-year extension; the fourth one-fifth a 3-year extension; and the remaining participants a 2-year extension.
FSA county offices are notifying CRP participants with contracts expiring in 2008-2010 of their re-enrollment and extension opportunities. The deadline for participants to respond is June 30.
CRP participants enroll highly erodible and other fragile cropland through contracts of 10-15 years. In exchange, they receive annual payments and a payment of up to 50 percent of the cost of establishing covers.
Wayne County is located in a Conservation Priority Area for longleaf pine. Landowners interested in CRP should contact the Wayne County FSA Office at 209 West Spruce Street. For more information on CRP, visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/crp.htm