USDA Will Open Enrollment In Conservation Reserve Program

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsac announced the USDA will open enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) with higher payment rates. In addition there will be new incentives with a more "targeted" focus on the program's role in climate change mitigation."

"Sometimes the best solutions are right in front of you. With CRP, the united States has one of the world's most successful voluntary conservation programs. We need to invest in CRP and let it do what it does best-preserve topsoil, sequester carbon, and reduce the impacts of climate change" said Vilsack.

The USDA has a goal of enrolling up to 4 million new acres in the CRP. Given the big rally in corn and bean prices it is good that the USDA is going to raise the payment rates per acre. I am sure their will be practices or incentives to fit with the Biden Administration's goals related to climate change.

No dates for submitting a bid to enroll land has been announced yet. It will take some time for the USDA to write the rules, develop the software and get all the other details organized. So, stay tuned if you have some land you may be interested in getting enrolled in the CRP Program!