The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will accept 2.8 million acres into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) as a result of the 41^st general sign-up that was held this past spring. With the addition of these lands, total enrollment in CRP will be just under 30 million acres, reports the Wildlife Management Institute. The 2008 Farm Bill established a 32-million-acre cap for the program and the 2-million-acre difference will accommodate additional lands that can be enrolled through initiatives using a continuous enrollment opportunity, such as the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

Interest among landowners to participate in CRP remains high despite record or near-record prices for many crops. USDA received more than 38,000 offers on nearly 3.8 million acres during this most recent general sign-up period. Offers are selected based on an Environmental Benefits Index comprised of five factors?wildlife enhancement, water quality, soil erosion, enduring benefits and air quality?plus cost. USDA estimates that CRP reduces soil erosion by more than 400 million tons per year.

USDA also announced that eight additional states have been approved for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Improvement Program (VPA-HIP). ?California, Georgia, Hawaii, Montana New Hampshire, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming will be joining Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin as states participating in the program. VPA-HIP was established in the 2008 Farm Bill to encourage private landowners to provide public access to their lands for wildlife-dependent recreation, including hunting and fishing. VPA-HIP is operated through a competitive grants process and is only available to state and tribal governments. VPA-HIP funds may be used to expand existing public access programs or create new programs or ?provide incentives to improve wildlife habitat on enrolled lands. (pmr)