Source: USDA 7/12/21 Agricultural
producers and landowners can apply for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands signup from today until August 20. This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated signup options to provide greater incentives for producers and increase the program’s conservation and climate benefits, including setting a minimum rental rate and identifying two national priority zones.The CRP Grassland signup is competitive, and USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will provide for annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes. “We are excited to roll out our new and improved CRP Grasslands signups,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Bottom line, CRP now makes more financial sense for producers while also providing a bigger return on investment in terms of natural resource benefits. The Grasslands signup is part of a broader suite of tools available through CRP to integrate key conservation practices on our nation’s working lands.” Grasslands Signup CRP Grasslands helps landowners and operators protect
grassland, including rangeland, and pastureland and certain other lands, while
maintaining the areas as working grazing lands. Protecting grasslands
contributes positively to the economy of many regions, provides biodiversity of
plant and animal populations, and provides important carbon sequestration
benefits. FSA has updated the Grasslands Signup to establish a
minimum rental rate of $15 per acre, which will benefit 1,300 counties. To focus on important wildlife corridors, FSA also
identified National Grassland Priority Zones, providing extra incentives to producers for enrolling grasslands in important migratory corridors and environmentally sensitive areas – the Greater Yellowstone Elk Migration Corridor and the Severe Wind Erosion – Dust Bowl Zone. Counties within these two zones get extra ranking points as well as $5 added to their rental rate. The CRP Grasslands Ranking Factors fact sheet has
additional information. How to Sign Up To enroll in the CRP Grasslands signup, producers and
landowners should contact USDA by the August 20 deadline. Service Center staff
continue to work with agricultural producers via phone, email, and other
digital tools. Because of the pandemic, some USDA Service Centers are open to
limited visitors. Contact your Service Center to set up an in-person or phone appointment. Additionally, more information related to USDA’s response and relief for producers can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus. More Information on CRP Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest
voluntary private-lands conservation programs in the United States. It was
originally intended to primarily control soil erosion and potentially stabilize
commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production. The program has
evolved over the years, providing many conservation and economic benefits. The
program marked its 35-year anniversary this past December. |