CRP Informational Meetings Planned

The Green County Farm Service Agency (FSA) Office is sponsoring two informational meetings on evaluating the options available to landowners and operators under the 2014 Farm Bill Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The meetings will be held on Wednesday, January 6, 2016, starting at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., in the Lower Level Multi-Purpose Rooms of the Green County Justice Center located at 2841 6th Street, in Monroe.
Participants in CRP establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees (known as “covers”) to control soil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat. In return, FSA provides participants with annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish those covers. At times, when commodity prices are low, enrolling land in CRP can be especially attractive to farmers. Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years depending on the cover enrolled. The long-term goal of the program is to re-establish native plant species on agricultural lands for the primary purpose of preventing soil erosion and improving water quality and related benefits of improving wildlife habitat.
CRP General Sign-up 49 started in early December and offers will continue being accepted for enrollment into the Conservation Reserve Program through February 26, 2016. Under the CRP General Sign-up, all bids nationwide will be evaluated and the highest-ranking offers will be accepted.  If accepted, the new contract will become effective on October 1, 2016.
Farm owners and operators are encouraged to call and make an appointment to meet and look at all of the different options available with CRP.  Landowners may want to enroll an entire field, install a grass waterway, place a small part of the farm in pollinator habitat, create a wildlife scrape, or choose from many more environmentally-friendly practices.  The eligibility requirements will be reviewed during the office visit.
This meeting is free and open to the public. No pre-registration is required to attend.  For more information about the CRP informational meetings, please contact the Green County FSA Office at (608) 325-4195.