Enrollment of 2.8 Million Acres for Conservation Reserve Program Announced;

You are subscribed to VA - Press Releases for USDA Farm Service Agency.

This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USFSA-8ee75

Enrollment of 2.8 Million Acres for Conservation Reserve Program Announced;

06/15/2011 02:35 PM EDT

For Immediate Release
June 15, 2011

Contact:
Linda L. Cronin
804-287-1537
linda.cronin@va.usda.gov

Enrollment of 2.8 Million Acres for Conservation Reserve Program Announced;
Eight Additional States and one Tribe Approved for Voluntary Public Access Program

Washington, D.C., ST, June 13, 2011 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced developments in two popular USDA programs that will support conservation of working lands for the benefit of wildlife, water quality, and recreation.

The Secretary announced that USDA will accept 2.8 million acres offered by landowners under the 41st Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up. The selections preserve and enhance environmentally sensitive lands while providing payments to property owners.

Additionally, USDA has approved eight additional states and one tribal government to participate in the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP), which encourages private landowners to provide public access to their lands for wildlife-dependant recreational opportunities, including fishing and hunting.

"USDA is committed to enhancing the great conservation legacy of our nation's hunters and anglers to benefit current and future generations," said Vilsack. "VPA-HIP and the CRP not only help achieve conservation goals, but also increase opportunities for hunting, fishing and other wildlife-dependant recreational activities by providing additional access to privately held lands. CRP assists private landowners and producers as they voluntarily protect their most environmentally sensitive lands."

..

Under CRP, farmers and ranchers plant grasses and trees in crop fields and along streams or rivers. The plantings reduce soil and prevent nutrients washing into waterways, reduce soil erosion that may otherwise contribute to poor air and water quality, and provide valuable habitat for wildlife.

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.

With today's VPA-HIP announcement, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming join Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin as states participating in the program. Also participating are the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.

..

The VPA-HIP program expands existing efforts or develops new initiatives to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch and forest land to voluntarily provide public access for the enjoyment of wildlife-dependent recreation, including hunting or fishing, in exchange for financial incentives or other assistance under programs implemented by state or tribal governments.

VPA-HIP is a competitive grants program that is only available to state and tribal governments. Funding may be used to expand existing public access programs, create new public access programs or provide incentives to improve wildlife habitat on enrolled lands.

To learn more about CRP, visit your FSA county office or online at www.fsa.usda.gov/crp.

..

For more information on VPA-HIP, visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/vpa.

…

…

…

…

…

 

STAY CONNECTED:

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:

Manage Preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Help

QUESTIONS? Visit AskFSA for assistance

This email was sent to ahmedalaa214.ahmed@blogger.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: USDA Farm Service Agency · 1400 Independence Ave., S.W. · Washington, DC 20250 · 800-439-1420