Agricultural producers and landowners can apply for the Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands signup through August 20. This year, the USDA updated signup options to provide greater incentives for producers and increase the program's conservation and climate benefits, including setting a minimum rental rate and identifying two national priority zones.
The CRP Grassland signup is competitive, and the Farm Service Agency will provide for annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.
"We are excited to roll out our new and improved CRP Grasslands signups," said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. "Bottom line, CRP now makes more financial sense for producers while also providing a bigger return on investment in terms of natural resource benefits. The Grasslands signup is part of a broader suite of tools available through CRP to integrate key conservation practices on our nation's working lands."
CRP Grasslands helps landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland, and pastureland and certain other lands, while maintaining the areas as working grazing lands. Protecting grasslands contributes positively to the economy of many regions, provides biodiversity of plant and animal populations, and provides important carbon sequestration benefits.
FSA has updated the Grasslands Signup to establish a minimum rental rate of $15 per acre, which will benefit 1,300 counties.
Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest voluntary private-lands conservation programs in the United States.
Categories: Wisconsin, Sustainable Agriculture