The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting more than 1 million acres for enrollment in this year's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). This includes 295,000 new acres and 891,000 expiring acres re-enrolled, contributing to the program's efforts to enhance environmental and wildlife benefits.
According to USDA reports, approximately 1.9 million acres are scheduled to expire from the CRP by the end of September. As of April, the total enrollment for the program stood at slightly over 23 million acres. The 2018 farm bill allows for a maximum enrollment of 27 million acres in the CRP.
FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux highlighted that the recent announcement is part of a broader range of enrollment and partnership opportunities within the CRP. This includes the working lands Grassland CRP, Continuous CRP, and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). USDA remains committed to providing producers and landowners with the necessary information to make informed decisions for their operations.
In the coming weeks, the total number of CRP acres is expected to increase further as FSA accepts acres from the Grassland CRP signup, which recently concluded. Additionally, FSA has received 761,000 offered acres for the Continuous CRP signup this year, as applications for this program are accepted year-round.
It is important to note that the number of accepted acres enrolled in the General CRP will be confirmed later this year. Producers and landowners should remember that accepting a CRP offer is just the first step, as they are still required to develop a conservation plan before contracts become effective on October 1, 2023. It is not uncommon for some producers to decide against enrolling certain accepted acres during the window between offer acceptance and land enrollment without facing any penalties.
Alongside the CRP announcement, USDA also revealed its plans to award $700 million for new broadband projects in rural areas. This initiative aims to bridge the digital divide and improve internet access, allowing rural communities to fully participate in the digital economy.
Photo Credit: USDA
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