Annual enrollment for general CRP officially opened on January 4th of this year. Originally, enrollment was scheduled to close on February 12. However, the USDA has officially announced that enrollment will remain open for an unspecified period of time. This means that farmers and landowners still have a chance to submit proposals and earn a contract for general CRP […]
General CRP Enrollment for 2021 Has Been Extended Read More »
Enrollment for general CRP is currently open until February 12. However, this isn’t the only way to join the Conservation Reserve Program. Two other popular programs within CRP are Continuous CRP and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). General CRP, CCRP, and CREP are very similar for the most part. All of them are conservation programs overseen
General CRP, CCRP, and CREP: What’s the Difference? Read More »
Enrollment for general CRP in 2021 is currently open until February 14th, which means there’s still time to enroll. To enter general CRP, interested parties need to submit a bid. This bid is then scored and ranked according to the Environmental Benefits Index (EBI). The EBI is a ranking system used to determine how environmentally beneficial a general CRP submission is. During
Understanding and Improving Your EBI Score for CRP Read More »
The Conservation Reserve Program can be complicated, especially for those new to it. The enrollment process alone can raise a lot of questions. Once you’ve successfully enrolled, the real work begins. You will need to prepare the land, create an herbicide plan, select and purchase CRP-approved seed, plant it, submit documentation for cost-share reimbursement, and more. This might sound relatively straight forward, but CRP comes with
Hiring Contractors for CRP Read More »
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.
2021 Enrollment for General CRP Starts Soon Read More »
Enrolling in the Conservation Reserve Program is a great way to restore health to marginal land while protecting local wildlife and water supply. However, it comes with a fair amount of upfront work. Establishing CRP is a multistep process that includes land prep, herbicide application, mowing, mid-contract management, and more. But it starts with buying quality CRP seed.
Deciding Where to Buy CRP Seed Read More »
Recently, Cargill announced a new initiative set to drastically reduce water usage and improve water quality in critical areas around the world. By 2030, they plan to restore 159 billion gallons of water to priority watersheds. As one of the largest US-based ag companies, Cargill is hoping these changes can inspire similar actions across the industry. Agriculture is currently responsible for 80% of water use in the US. While much of this water ultimately returns
Improving US Water Conditions Through CRP Read More »
The Conservation Reserve Program is a great way to make a profit on marginal farmland while also restoring it back to health. However, it comes with a number of regulations and requirements that need to be followed. Some of these are fairly straight forward, while others can be a little confusing, especially when you’re initially joining the program. Many
Tips for CRP Reporting Read More »
Even for the seasoned farmer, establishing CRP for the first time can prove to be tricky. The types of seed and equipment used in CRP are different from traditional crop seed and farming equipment. The end goal is different as well. Rather than planting farm crops that you’ll be harvesting in a few months, you’re establishing native perennial (and biennial) vegetation that will remain in place for at least
Common Mistakes Made When Establishing CRP Read More »
As with traditional farming, the first step to planting CRP is land preparation. With CRP, however, you’re not planting row crops that will be harvested in a few months. You’re establishing native vegetation that will stay in place for at least 10-15 years. Land prep is critical to long term success. The key to preparing land for
Preparing Land for CRP Read More »