Conservation Reserve Program Sign-Up Benefits Wisconsin

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Conservation Reserve Program Sign-Up Benefits Wisconsin

06/15/2011 08:59 AM EDT

Susan Butler
608.662.4422 x114
Susan.butler@wi.usda.gov

Cally Ehle
608.662.4422 x141
Cally.ehle@wi.usda.gov

Conservation Reserve Program Sign-Up Benefits Wisconsin

(MADISON, WISCONSIN), June 15, 2011 – USDA announced that it will accept 2.8 million acres offered by landowners under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up that was completed last April. The selections preserve and enhance environmentally sensitive lands, while providing payments to property owners.

"This is an important program for all Wisconsin residents. It provides important wildlife benefits as well as, land, water, and air quality benefits," said USDA Wisconsin Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Brad Pfaff.

For this 41st general sign-up, Wisconsin had 1,009 offers which totaled 22,067 acres. Eighty-six percent of the offers were accepted for a total sign-up enrollment of 19,345 acres.

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 national average rental rate per acre is about $46 and the average Wisconsin rental rate per acre for this signup is about $90. 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.

Additional information about CRP is available at www.fsa.usda.gov.

 

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