The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced commencement of the Transition Incentives Program (TIP), reports the Wildlife Management Institute. TIP was authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill "to encourage retired or retiring owners or operators to transition their land to beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers," according to USDA.

To be eligible, TIP requires that the retired or retiring farmer/operator have land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in the last year of the contract. In addition, the owner or operator must make conservation and land improvements and agree to sell, have a contract to sell or agree to long-term lease (minimum of five years) the land under CRP contract to a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer by October 1 of the year of CRP contract expiration.

TIP provides annual rental payments to the retired or retiring owner/operator for up to two additional years after the date of the expiration of the CRP contract, provided the transition is not to a family member. Enrollment opportunity in the program began May 17 and is open on a continuous basis.

Beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers participating in TIP may return the land to production or re-enroll eligible tracts in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program or the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, provided all eligibility requirements are met.

Download a fact sheet containing more details on the program, including definitions of retired/ retiring owners, and beginning/ disadvantaged farmers. (pmr)