USDA announces results for Montana CRP sign-up

Bruce Nelson, executive director for the Montana Farm Service Agency (FSA), announced July 23, 2013, that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) accepted 151,614 acres in Montana under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general signup 45.

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. Offers with an EBI score of 209 or greater were determined acceptable.

Landowners whose offers were rejected or accepted into CRP will be notified by email, if on file, or by regular mail. CRP sign-up 45 contracts will become effective on Oct. 1, 2013.

Montana FSA received 976 offers on more than 186,376 acres of land, demonstrating CRP’s continuing appeal as one of our nation’s most successful voluntary programs for soil, water, and wildlife conservation. Currently, there are more than 26.9 million acres enrolled on 700,000 contracts nationwide.

CRP is a voluntary program that allows eligible landowners to receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving covers on eligible farmland throughout the duration of their 10 to 15 year contracts.

For more information on CRP or other FSA programs, visit your local FSA office or visit online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/mt. F

–Montana FSA