The Farm Service Agency (FSA) would like to remind Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants of their responsibility to ensure that acres enrolled in CRP are properly maintained throughout the contract period, as agreed to in their CRP contract (CRP-1 Appendix) and the Conservation Plan of Operations (CPO). FSA encourages contract participants to regularly visit and evaluate the condition of the CRP acreage to ensure the vegetative cover and conservation practice are properly maintained to adequately control erosion, protect air and water quality and enhance wildlife habitat, as agreed to in the approved CPO.
CRP contract participants are required to control undesirable weeds, invasive plants, insects, pests and rodents on the entire CRP acreage covered by the CPO, as determined by the FSA County Committee (COC). This is to insure that the existing CRP cover, as well as surrounding landowners, air and water quality or wildlife habitat, are not adversely impacted. FSA has the authority to determine that a violation has occurred when any portion of the CRP acreage is infested, degraded, destroyed or otherwise compromised to the point that the established conservation practices no longer function as intended.
CRP policies also require CRP acreage to be in compliance with the state noxious weed law as determined by the state or local noxious weed commission.
Participant awareness of the condition of CRP acreage is crucial to remaining in compliance with CRP regulations. Failure to adequately maintain CRP acreage may result in a compliance violation. FSA randomly spot-checks CRP acreage. If the acreage is found to have areas not in compliance with the CPO, a violation will be determined by the COC. FSA is not required to notify participants of potential areas of violation on their CRP acreage. When a violation occurs, the participant will either be assessed a payment reduction on the affected acres or the affected acres may be terminated and payments refunded.
The established payment reduction for lack of control of undesirable weeds on CRP in Rock County is $50 per acre in violation.
CRP maintenance activities may be conducted without FSA approval anytime outside the established primary nesting and brood-rearing season from May 15 through Aug. 1. However, spot treatment of specific areas in critical need of maintenance may be conducted at any time with prior approval from FSA. To request approval, please contact the FSA Office.
In addition, CRP participants are required to conduct any management activities, outside of the nesting season, that are scheduled in their CPO. For any activity not scheduled in the CPO, FSA approval must be obtained prior to conducting the activity. Furthermore, don’t forget to annually certify all CRP acreage with FSA prior to the July 15 deadline; and also notify FSA of any changes that may affect CRP payment eligibility or interest in the CRP contract acreage such as transfer of ownership, establishment of trust or entities, etc.
CRP participants should review the CRP-1 Appendix for details on program responsibilities. A copy of the CRP-1 Appendix may be obtained from the FSA Office upon request.