Source: USDA, 6/15/21
Interested producers with CRP contracts expiring
September 30, 2021, should sign up by August 6, 2021. CLEAR30 provides an
opportunity for producers to receive incentives for a 30-year commitment to
water quality practices on their CRP land, building on their original 10- to
15-year CRP contracts. “We are excited to expand this option to enable more producers to take their conservation efforts to the next level,” said Zach Ducheneaux, USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) administrator. “Offering CLEAR30 in all states enables durable maintenance of conservation investments and enhanced stewardship of the land and waterways on a larger scale.” These long-term contracts ensure that practices remain in
place for 30 years, which improves water quality through reducing sediment and
nutrient runoff and helping prevent algal blooms. About CLEAR30 CLEAR30 was created by the 2018 Farm Bill to better address
water quality concerns. Originally, CLEAR30 was only available in the Great
Lakes and Chesapeake Bay watersheds. Now, access is expanded to agricultural
producers nationwide. Eligible producers must have certain water quality
benefitting practices currently enrolled under continuous CRP or through the
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), under contracts that are
expiring on September 30, 2021. These Long-term contracts will help ensure that
conservation impacts and benefits remain in place for 30 years, reducing
sediment and nutrient runoff and, ultimately, algal blooms. Conservation in
riparian areas also provides important carbon sequestration benefits.
Traditional CRP contracts run from 10 to 15 years. Annual rental payments for landowners who enroll in
CLEAR30 will be equal to the current Continuous CRP annual payment rate plus a
20% water quality incentive and annual rate adjustment of 27.5%. How to Sign Up To sign up for CLEAR30, contact your local USDA Service Center by August 6, 2021.
While USDA offices may be closed to visitors because of the pandemic, Service
Center staff continue to work with agricultural producers via phone, email, and
other digital tools. To conduct business, please contact your local USDA Service Center. Contact information can
be found at farmers.gov/service-locator. More Information CLEAR30 is an option available through CRP, which is one of the world’s largest voluntary conservation programs with a long track record of preserving topsoil, sequestering carbon and reducing nitrogen runoff, as well providing healthy habitat for wildlife.
To enroll in CLEAR30, please contact your local USDA Service Center. For more information on
CRP, visit the Conservation Reserve Program.
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