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USDA opens sign-up for Conservation Reserve Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently opened sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). through Feb. 28, 2020, while sign-up for continuous CRP is ongoing.
Farmers and ranchers who enroll in CRP receive a yearly rental payment for voluntarily establishing long-term, resource-conserving covers, such as approved grasses or trees.
The practice helps to control soil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat on marginally productive agricultural lands.
There are several CRP sign-up options:
CRP general sign-up will be held annually. The competitive general sign-up will now include increased opportunities for enrollment of wildlife habitat through the State Acres For Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative. 
Continuous sign-up will focus primarily on water quality within the Clean Lakes, Estuaries, and Rivers (CLEAR) Initiative, while some practices under SAFE will remain available through continuous sign-up. The 2018 Farm Bill prioritizes water quality practices such as contour grass strips, filter strips, riparian buffers, wetlands and a new prairie strip.
USDA will also be working with Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) partners to relaunch CREP continuous options in each state under new statutory provisions. CREP will continue to target high-priority local, state or regional conservation concerns.
CRP Grasslands sign-up helps landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland, and pastureland and certain other lands while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. A separate CRP Grasslands sign-up will be offered each year following general sign-up. The sign-up period for CRP Grasslands runs from March 16, 2020 to May 15, 2020.
CRP pilot programs will be rolled out later in 2020. CLEAR 30, which allows contracts expiring with CLEAR practices to be reenrolled in 30-year contracts and in the Soil Health and Income Protection Program (SHIPP) in the prairie pothole region. More information on these programs will be announced in the new year.
CRP Transition Incentives Program (TIP) is an option for producers interested in transitioning land to a beginning farmer or rancher or a member of a socially disadvantaged group to return land to production for sustainable grazing or crop production.
CRP contract holders no longer need to be a retired or retiring owner or operator to transition their land. TIP participants may have a lease less than five years with an option to purchase, and they have two years before the end of the CRP contract to make conservation and land improvements. 
Previously expired land enrolled in CRP under a 15-year contract that expired in Sept. 2017, 2018 or 2019, may be eligible for enrollment if there was no opportunity for re-enrollment and the practice under the expired contract has been maintained.   
CRP rates and payments are posted on the CRP statistics webpage. Soil rental rates are statutorily prorated at 90 percent for continuous sign-up and 85 percent for general sign-up. The rental rates will be reviewed annually. Under continuous sign-up, producers also receive incentives, including a sign-up incentive payment and a practice incentive payment.
To enroll in CRP, call the Rock County FSA office, 507-283-2369 or visit fsa.usda.gov/crp.

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