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Local News

Conservation Program Changes Target Highly Erodible Soils and Habitat

By NCBI
Aug 03, 2012

Changes to the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) could result in less soil erosion, cleaner water and more wildlife habitat in Washington according to Gary Breiler, Farm Service Agency County Executive Director in Okanogan. The agency is offering non-competitive enrollment of the most highly erodible soils in CRP. It has also added non-competitve enrollment for contracts which include various habitat related initiatives. Most land is bid into the program competitively during a general signup he explained.

CRP allows agricultural producers to enroll land in 10 to 15-year contracts that help preserve environmentally sensitive land. In exchange for voluntarily managing the land for environmental benefits, producers receive annual rental payments and up to 50 percent of the cost to establish approved practices. Land enrolled under the habitat provisions may include additional incentive payments.

The change allows producers to non-competitively enter land with an Erosion Index of 20 or greater into CRP. An Erosion Index of 20 means, on average, this land has the potential to erode at 20 tons of soil per acre per year. Producers may sign a CRP contract with the Farm Service Agency at any time under this new provision and not have to wait for a general signup period. This type of signup is called Continuous CRP. The agency is authorized to accept up to 750,000 acres with an Erosion Index of 20 into Continuous CRP. Enrollment in Washington will be limited to 10,300 acres and will be approved on a first come, first served basis.


"Erosion from these soils significantly reduces water quality and in some cases affects air quality (dust storms)," said Breiler. "The program change makes it easier for producers to protect these erosive soils. Producers should contact their local FSA office to determine if their land has an Erodibility Index of 20 or greater."

Other changes include a new practice emphasizing a mix of plants that flower throughout the growing season for pollinators, and 20 to120-foot wide field borders for upland birds. Both of these initiatives include a $150 per acre signing incentive and compensation on up to 90 percent of establishment costs.

In general, no other income, besides the rental rates, can be derived from the land while under contract. Rental rates are based on the relative productivity of the soils within each county and the average dryland cash rent or cash rent equivalent.

As with the general CRP, eligibility is based on several factors. Eligible land must have been planted to an annual crop or conserving use in at least four years between 2002 and 2007. Land currently in CRP and within one year of the contract expiration date may be enrolled under the new provision.

"Leaving the most highly erodible soils in CRP and farming the rest of the land may be an option for some producers with expiring CRP contracts," said Breiler.

Numerous resources are available to help producers make informed decisions on General or Continuous CRP eligibility and benefits. FSA county office staff can answer questions on program rules, application procedures and possible benefits. Additional information is available online at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/wa.


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