WASHINGTON, D.C. —
Senator John Thune today reminded South Dakota producers that the general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup will end Friday, April 15th. Participation in the general CRP signup, which began March 15th, will determine how many acres remain enrolled in CRP at the end of the year. Land owners and operators interested in enrolling land in the general CRP signup for up to 15 years should contact their local Farm Service Agency office before close of business, Friday, April 15th.
"CRP is a land stewardship tool utilized on nearly 15,000 South Dakota farms," said Thune. "Because thousands of acres of South Dakota farmland are considered marginal, fragile, or subject to flooding, many farmers have wisely enrolled their less productive land in CRP, which enables them to plant their crops and apply costly fertilizer and chemicals on their most productive land."
South Dakota currently has 1,156,920 acres enrolled in CRP, a program critical to South Dakota's pheasant and other wildlife populations, and to the state's economy. CRP rental rates vary by county and are based on the productivity of the land and other factors, as determined the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
On September 30th of this year, approximately 123,000 acres of enrolled land will expire from CRP in South Dakota, and in 2012 more than 224,000 acres will expire. This means that South Dakota may see CRP enrollment drop below 1 million acres. South Dakota needs approximately 1.5 million acres enrolled in CRP to sustain a pheasant population that generates more than $200 million for the state's economy.
CRP was first authorized in the 1985 Farm Bill and enrollment began in 1986. Current CRP authority expires in 2012, along with most other 2008 Farm Bill programs.
"CRP is a land stewardship tool utilized on nearly 15,000 South Dakota farms," said Thune. "Because thousands of acres of South Dakota farmland are considered marginal, fragile, or subject to flooding, many farmers have wisely enrolled their less productive land in CRP, which enables them to plant their crops and apply costly fertilizer and chemicals on their most productive land."
South Dakota currently has 1,156,920 acres enrolled in CRP, a program critical to South Dakota's pheasant and other wildlife populations, and to the state's economy. CRP rental rates vary by county and are based on the productivity of the land and other factors, as determined the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
On September 30th of this year, approximately 123,000 acres of enrolled land will expire from CRP in South Dakota, and in 2012 more than 224,000 acres will expire. This means that South Dakota may see CRP enrollment drop below 1 million acres. South Dakota needs approximately 1.5 million acres enrolled in CRP to sustain a pheasant population that generates more than $200 million for the state's economy.
CRP was first authorized in the 1985 Farm Bill and enrollment began in 1986. Current CRP authority expires in 2012, along with most other 2008 Farm Bill programs.