Pheasants Forever will be hosting a workshop Thursday, May 8, for landowners who would like to learn more about the upcoming Conservation Reserve Program signup.
The meeting will be at 1 p.m. in the basement of Marion City Hall. Pheasants Forever will serve refresh?ments.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture?s Farm Service Agency will have its CRP general signup from May 20 through June 14. CRP is a voluntary program that helps agricultural producers use environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits.
Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resource-conserving ground cover to control soil erosion, improve water and air quality and develop wildlife habitat.
In return, FSA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Con?tract duration is between 10 to 15 years. Accepted contracts will kick in Oct. 1.
The landowner workshop meeting, which is free and open to the public, will offer information about increased rental rates, how to increase contract acceptance rates, options for landowners with expiring CRP contracts and other available conservation programs.
To be eligible for placement in general-signup CRP, land must be cropland, including field margins, that is planted or considered planted to an agricultural commodity four of the six crop years from 2002 to 2007. The land also must be physically and legally capable of being planted?no planting restrictions due to an easement or other legally binding instrument?in a normal manner to an agricultural commodity.
Alfalfa or other multi-year grasses and legumes grown in a rotation not to exceed 12 years may be eligible for this year.
?CRP continues to be a good option for producers to ensure income on the tough-to-farm and lowest producing acres,? said Dave Nomsen, Pheasants For?ever?s vice president of government affairs.
?This general signup?s allotment is likely to fill up quickly, so it?s critical that landowners get to these meetings or their local USDA service centers immediately to examine CRP options on their land,? he added.
Since its formation in 1985, Pheasants Forever has been one of the nation?s strongest supporters of CRP. One of the program?s benefits is to increase wildlife populations?including pheasants and quail?in many parts of the country.
