Sign up for CRP, earn money

General CRP signup to last through February

By Amie Johansen, amie@charlescitypress.com

Getting back to nature is exactly what the federal Conservation Reserve Program is geared to do.

“The CRP program is designed to take highly erodible and sensitive land out of production to reduce soil erosion and improve water quality,” District Forester Greg Heidebrink said. “It has also been a boon to wildlife throughout the state.”

A monetary incentive is offered to landowners who enroll qualifying land into CRP.

“CRP payments are based on an average of the top three soil types in the area you wish to enroll,” Heidebrink said.

Dollar values are assigned to each soil type found within a county.

“Soil rates in Floyd county range from $128 per acre to (over) $400 per acre,” the said. “The county average is $251 per acre but the general CRP signup has been capped at $240 per acre.”

Although payments per acre have been capped, there are no restrictions on how many acres are enrolled.

“You can enroll as few or as many acres as you would like, but no one landowner can receive more than $50,000 in payments per year,” Heidebrink said. “CRP land can be a great way for landowners to guarantee a long-term stable income.”

Currently landowners are able to participate in a general CRP enrollment. General signups are not always available.

“The general signup is a competitive signup and is only offered for a short time. This general enrollment period, for example, is from Dec. 1, 2015 through Feb. 26, 2016,” Heidebrink said. “This sign up period is fairly long but usually they last a month. Who knows when the next one will be, it may be next year or three years from now.”

Besides timing, competition is another reason why landowners should take advantage of this general CRP signup.

“Under the general program you can enroll whole fields or parts of fields but you are competing against everyone in the nation,” Heidebrink said.

Requirements to enroll in CRP vary.

“The CRP program is a large program with many different options,” Heidebrink said. “Generally speaking you have to own the property for one year before enrollment, meet the cropping history requirements — farmed four of six years for the period from 2008 to 2013 — and meet the eligibility requirements for each practice.”

“Landowners need to go into the Farm Service Agency office and see if the land they want to enroll is eligible,” he said. “I suggest you call ahead and make an appointment. You should also not wait until the last minute.”

Once enrolled, landowners take on the responsibility to uphold the contract agreement.

“You need to establish and maintain the practice you sign up for,” Heidebrink said. “If you plant trees you must establish the trees and make sure they are growing well for the life of the contract. This is also true with native grasses and forbs.”

Contracts are made for either 10 or 15 years. During that time period landowners can count on the CRP payment rate to stay the same and wildlife can begin to rely on safe habitat.