Conservation Corner: June 26, 2000

Payments Increase For CRP
by James L. Cummins

Mississippi landowners can receive more money for participation on the Conservation Reserve Program's (CRP) continuous signup.

The new financial incentives, totaling up to $350 million in the next three years, include signing bonuses and more money for installing and maintaining conservation practices.

According to Secretary of Agriculture, Dan Glickman, "Higher payments should persuade more landowners to participate, protecting ever more environmentally sensitive land along streams, rivers, wetlands and public water supplies."

"In difficult economic times for farm country, this additional $350,000 million will mean more cash in farmers' pockets." The continuous signup enhancements strengthen the farm safety net and consist of additional economic and updated rates.

Included is an up-front signing bonus of $10 per acre for every year the contract covers. This amounts to $100 to $150 per acre at the start of the contract to help defray up-front installation costs for filter strips, riparian buffers, grassed waterways, filed windbreaks and shelter belts.

A payment equal to 40 percent of the practice installation cost, in addition to the 50 percent cost-share paid by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for establishing certain approved practices, is now available. Increases have also occurred in the maintenance rate incentives for certain practices involving tree planting, fencing or water development.

Between $2 to $5 per acre may be added to existing maintenance rate incentives. Marginal pastureland rental rates have increased to better reflect the market value of these lands. In many cases, rental rates increased with the update. The rule changes and incentives apply only to certain CRP continuous signup practices that generally include small acreages that provide high environmental benefits because of their impact on much larger areas.

Up to $100 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 and $125 million in FY 2001 will be provided in signing and practice bonuses for those who participate.

Unlike the regular CRP, the continuous signup allows producers to enroll eligible highly environmentally sensitive land at anytime, without waiting for a sign-up period or competing against other offers. Conservation practices protect streams and rivers by keeping sediment and nutrients from entering the water, providing cleaner drinking water, enhancing recreation and improving wildlife habitats.

For more information on participating in the CRP continuous signup, contact your local USDA Service Center.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.