U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Floyd Gaibler recently announced that more than 14,000 agricultural producers and landowners may be eligible to re-enroll their land in the Conservation Reserve Program's (CRP) continuous sign-up provision if their contracts expire on September 30, 2007.

"More than 300,000 acres enrolled under these contracts are scheduled to leave the program at the end of September," said Gaibler. "Re-enrolling these acres is an important conservation decision because continuous sign-up contracts involve some of the nation's most environmentally sensitive land."

Farmers and ranchers with general sign-up CRP contracts that expire on September 30, 2007, and that did not take advantage of the last year's re-enrollment or extension offer also may be eligible for the continuous sign-up. Farm Service Agency officials at USDA Service Centers began notifying general sign-up CRP contract holders last month of this possibility.

In addition, producers with land eligible for the continuous sign-up, in some cases, may be eligible for the special incentives of the CRP's Farmable Wetlands Program. This is an important program for breeding and wintering waterfowl habitat throughout the entire Mississippi Flyway.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the beginning of the continuous sign-up for the CRP. Environmentally desirable land devoted to certain conservation practices may be enrolled in the CRP at any time under the continuous sign-up. Offers are automatically accepted provided the land and producer meet certain eligibility requirements. Offers for continuous sign-up are not subject to competitive bidding. Continuous sign-up contracts range from 10 years to 15 years in length.

The CRP is a voluntary program that helps farmers, ranchers and other landowners plant long-term, resource-conserving covers in exchange for rental payments, cost-share and technical assistance. These practices reduce erosion and improve fish and wildlife habitat, water and air quality, especially in the form of carbon sequestration.

For more information about the CRP, visit your local USDA Service Center or online at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov, or contact Wildlife Mississippi. You can also visit them online at www.wildlifemiss.org, specifically their Financial Assistance section on the CRP and its benefits.