Agricultural News
USDA Announces Results for 45th Conservation Reserve Program General Sign-Up
Mon, 22 Jul 2013 16:56:49 CDT
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will accept 1.7 million acres offered under the 45th Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up. The Department received nearly 28,000 offers on more than 1.9 million acres of land, demonstrating CRP's continuing appeal as one of our nation's most successful voluntary programs for soil, water, and wildlife conservation. Under Vilsack's leadership, USDA has enrolled nearly 12 million acres in new CRP contracts since 2009. Currently, there are more than 26.9 million acres enrolled on 700,000 contracts.
Francie Tolle, executive director for the Oklahoma Farm Service Agency (FSA), said 55,867 of those acres were accepted in Oklahoma. Oklahoma FSA received 567 offers on more than 59,000 acres of land, demonstrating CRP's continuing appeal as one of the nation's most successful voluntary programs for soil, water, and wildlife conservation. Since 2009, USDA has enrolled nearly 12 million acres in new CRP. Currently, there are more than 26.9 million acres enrolled on 700,000 contracts nationwide.
"For 27 years, lands in CRP have helped to conserve our nation's resources by protecting water quality, reducing erosion and creating habitat for a diverse mix of wildlife," said Tolle. "Oklahoma farmers and ranchers continue to recognize the importance of protecting our most environmentally sensitive land by enrolling in CRP. This program is critically important to preserving the land in rural Oklahoma for future generations."
CRP is a voluntary program that allows eligible landowners to receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving covers on eligible farmland throughout the duration of their 10 to 15 year contracts.
Under CRP, farmers and ranchers plant grasses and trees in fields and along streams or rivers. The plantings prevent soil and nutrients from washing into waterways, reduce soil erosion that may otherwise contribute to poor air and water quality, and provide valuable habitat for wildlife. In 2012, CRP helped to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous losses from farm fields by 605 million pounds and 121 million pounds respectively. CRP has restored more than two million acres of wetlands and associated buffers and reduces soil erosion by more than 300 million tons per year. CRP also provides $2.0 billion annually to landowners-dollars that make their way into local economies, supporting small businesses and creating jobs.
In addition, CRP sequesters more carbon dioxide than any other conservation program in the country, and also reduces both fuel and fertilizer use. Yearly, CRP results in carbon sequestration equal to taking almost 10 million cars off the road.
USDA selected offers for enrollment based on an Environmental Benefits Index (EBI) comprised of five environmental factors plus cost. The five environmental factors are: (1) wildlife enhancement, (2) water quality, (3) soil erosion, (4) enduring benefits, and (5) air quality.
Click here for a complete state-by-state breakdown of CRP acres.
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