COLUMBUS — Steve Maurer, state executive director for Ohio’s Farm Service Agency, announced that continuous sign-up for the Highly Erodible Land Initiative under the Conservation Reserve Program started July 23.
Deadline
Ohio received a total allocation of 24,300 acres to enroll in the HEL CRP program. Offers will be accepted until either the state acreage allocation limit is reached or Sept. 30, whichever occurs first.
“CRP is a voluntary program that has protected environmentally sensitive land for more than 25 years,” said Maurer.
He said the initiative will accept offers with an erosion rate of at least 20 tons per acre per year for new cropland or CRP acres that expires Sept. 30; however, existing grass stands that are not expiring CRP will not be considered eligible.
Criteria
Producers can stop by their local FSA office to determine if their land qualifies for the Highly Erodible Land Initiative and to receive additional location-specific details. Landowners enrolled in CRP receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource conserving covers on eligible farmland.
Incentive payments are not authorized under this initiative. New land contracts approved during this continuous sign-up initiative will become effective the first day of the month following the month of approval and are valid for 10 years.
CRP contracts set to expire Sept. 30 may be offered for consideration and approved contracts will become effective Oct. 1, and are also valid for 10 years.
For more information, contact your local FSA office.
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