CRP enrollment results

The first Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign up in four years was completed on Aug. 27. Bourbon County had several contracts expiring this year, as well as some "new" acres with owners interested in enrolling. Statewide, the number of expiring contracts was substantial. Interest in enrollment or re-enrollment for the state, then, was potentially large.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the results of that enrollment period. He stated that USDA will accept 4.3 million acres offered by landowners under the CRP general sign-up. The selections preserve and enhance environmentally sensitive lands, including wetlands, while providing payments to property owners.

"Interest in this open enrollment period was high, and I'm pleased that producers and landowners across the nation continue to realize the environmental benefits of enrolling land in the CRP," said Secretary Vilsack.

For this 39th general sign-up more than 50,000 offers were received on more than 4.8 million acres, nationwide. Enrollment of the 4.3 million acres will keep the program enrollment close to the 32 million acre statutory cap, which will maintain and enhance the significant environmental benefits the program has already achieved.

CRP's 39th signup will bring the total enrollment in the program to 31.2 million acres, leaving sufficient room under the 32 million acre cap to continue enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, continuous signup and other CRP initiatives through FY 2011.

In Kansas, 7,699 offers were made for program participation representing 631,323.9 acres. In most counties, upwards of 95 percent of all offers were accepted. This included 30 out of the 31 offers made in the county. Rental rates locally (based on soil type productivity and producer option) ranged from approximately $40 to $59 per acre.

Under CRP, farmers and ranchers plant grasses and trees in crop fields and along streams or rivers. The plantings reduce 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. Plant cover established on the acreage accepted into the CRP will reduce nutrient and sediment runoff in our nation's rivers and streams. The CRP has restored more than two million acres of wetlands and associated buffers and reduced soil erosion by more than 400 million tons per year.

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. The minimal acceptable EBI level for this signup is 200.

The national average rental rate per acre for this signup is about $46. USDA implemented a number of measures including using additional EBI point incentives for producers to submit cost-effective offers, and producer outreach activities to encourage competitive offers on the most environmentally sensitive lands. These measures will maintain the high environmental benefits while decreasing the historic cost of the program.

Under CRP, there are more than 31.3 million acres enrolled on more than 473,000 contracts. These 10 to 15 year contracts provide long term enduring conservation benefits in return for an annual rental payment.

Editor's Note: Doug Niemeir is the County Executive Director for the USDA/Farm Service Agency. He can be reached by emailing him at Douglas.Niemeir@ks.usda.gov