If you’re planning to join general CRP in 2021, it’s time to get your bid ready. FSA has officially announced that 2021 enrollment for general CRP will open on January 4th. During this time, interested parties can submit bids for enrolling in a specific Conservation Practice under the program. Enrollment will run until February 12.
Alternatively, enrollment for Continuous CRP is already open and will remain so as long as there are acres available. Both general CRP and Continuous CRP follow the same general premise. Contract holders are paid market-based rental payments in exchange for taking farmland out of active production and establishing permanent vegetation. This helps restore soil health while combatting erosion, protecting local water supplies, and providing habitat for wildlife.
Arguably the biggest difference between the two sets of programs is the enrollment process. Let’s take a look at each.
Enrollment in General CRP
Enrollment for general CRP happens periodically and for a set window of time. While enrollment is open, farmers and landowners may submit bids for entrance into the program. These bids are scored according to the Environmental Benefits Index (EBI).
EBI considers factors such as wildlife habitat benefits, water quality benefits, erosion reduction, long-term impact, and overall cost. FSA uses the EBI to give your bid an overall score. This score will determine whether or not you’re accepted into the program.
If you’re planning to enroll in general CRP, it’s critical that your bid is created to maximize your EBI score. One of the most important decisions is choosing which conservation practice (CP) to enroll in. You should choose a CP that makes sense for your surrounding environment, the current condition of your land, the goals you wish to accomplish, and what your plans are after your initial CRP contract expires.
Enrollment in Continuous CRP
Continuous CRP, also known as CCRP or CRP Continuous, focuses on land that is particularly sensitive. Unlike general CRP, CCRP doesn’t have a bidding system. If you meet the necessary qualifications, and acres are still available for CCRP, you may enroll directly into the program.
As with General CRP, you will still need to choose a conservation practice to enroll in. Once you’ve selected a CP, and you’ve enrolled in the program, you can begin establishment.
Where Do I Start?
Regardless of what route you go, enrolling in the Conservation Reserve Program isn’t as simple as filling out a form and purchasing some Pheasants Forever CRP seed. Joining CRP is a multi-step process that can be a little overwhelming for those who aren’t familiar with how it works. Your local FSA office can help answer some questions and guide you along. However, some additional assistance from an experienced professional can make things much simpler.
Our parent company FDCE provides turn-key CRP services that handle the entire establishment and reporting process for you. They can even help with choosing a CP and enrolling in the program. With CRP’s cost-sharing incentives, FDCE’s services practically pay for themselves. If you’d like to enjoy the benefits of CRP without headaches and confusion, visit FDCE’s website here.
If you’re already set to enroll in CRP, and you simply need to purchase quality CRP seed mix, we can help with that. All Native Seed provides some of the best CRP seed mixes available. All of our seed has been reprocessed for enhanced purity and tested for harmful weeds such as Palmer amaranth. If you need help putting together a seed plan, our CRP experts can assist with that as well.
For all of your CRP seed needs in 2021 and beyond, you can trust in All Native Seed.