CRP SIGN-UP EXTENDED
Friday, April 14th, 2006 -- 9:44 AM
Today was supposed to be the final day landowners could sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program, but Ag Secretary Mike Johanns announced Thursday an extension: now producers have until April 28th to enroll, or re-enroll.Karen Johnson with the Clark County FSA office says around 200 area landowners are enrolled in CRP, which pays producers to set aside their land for 10 to 15 years.
?Producers can plant trees, shrubs, there are different cost-share projects they can do,? Johnson explains. ?They receive an annual rental payment just for leaving (the land) idle.?
Producers are paid $50 to $90 annually per acre of eligible land, Johnson says.
Sign-up starts with a phone call to FSA. ?We will check out the crop history to make sure it?s had regular crop rotations and row crops four of the last six years,? Johnson says.
FSA evaluates land based on cost and the Environmental Benefits Index (EBI), which considers wildlife, water, soil, air and enduring benefits. For more information, contact your local FSA office.
On the Web:
[url=http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/crp.htm]Conservation Reserve Program[/url]
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.