The first general sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) since 2006 currently is underway, according to the Wildlife Management Institute. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began taking CRP enrollment applications on August 2 and will continue accepting them through August 27.

USDA expects to enroll more than 4 million acres in the program as a result of this sign-up. Demand to participate is expected to be strong and will be enhanced because USDA updated soil rental rates since the 2006 sign-up, which, in most cases, will increase payments to program participants. Timing of this enrollment period is very good as contracts on 4.4 million acres of CRP are due to expire on September 30, 2010. These lands will be eligible to be re-enrolled, along with farmlands not currently covered by a CRP contract. Contracts awarded during this enrollment period will go into effect on October 1, 2010.

In addition to being the single most important federal program to enhance populations of grassland-dependent wildlife, CRP is critical to controlling soil erosion and maintaining good water quality in many parts of the country. The 2008 Farm Bill authorized USDA to maintain a CRP enrollment level of up to 32 million acres nationwide.

View more details on the program and current enrollment opportunities. (pmr)