USDA announced a new conservation initiative to protect up to 750,000 acres of the most highly erodible croplands in the United States. The new initiative will assist producers with targeting their most highly erodible cropland (land with an erodibility index of 20 or greater) by enabling them to plant wildlife-friendly, long-term cover through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said, “This announcement will strengthen CRP by focusing on protecting the most environmentally sensitive land. It targets limited resources where they can make the most difference for farmers, ranchers and to drive economic growth.”
Producers can enroll land on a continuous basis beginning this summer at their local FSA office. Currently, 29.7 million acres are enrolled in CRP. The current farm bill authorized up to 32 million acres.