12-12 NWR CRP Opportunity

This is your Northwest report for Monday, December 12, I'm David Sparks and if you are a rancher or farmer in the Northwest, the USDA has announced that they will accept more than 504,000 acres that were offered by producers during the recent ranking period for the Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands enrollment. Through the voluntary CRP Grasslands program, grasslands threatened by development or conversion to row crops are maintained as livestock grazing areas, while providing important conservation benefits.

 

FSA Public Relations/Outreach Specialist Polly Hoyt told me

"USDA will accept more than 2,100 offers totaling more than 504,000 acres across 34 states." About two-thirds of the acres are in counties with the highest threat for conversion. Additionally, nearly 60 percent of the acres are in wildlife priority areas and nearly three-fourths of the acres will have a wildlife-focused conservation plan as part of the operation. 

 

USDA is also reminding producers that it is still accepting additional offers for CRP Grasslands. The current ranking period that closes on Dec. 16, also includes a new CRP Grasslands practice specifically tailored for small-scale livestock grazing operations to encourage broader participation. Small livestock operations with 100 or fewer head of grazing dairy cows (or the equivalent) can submit applications to enroll up to 200 acres of grasslands per farm. USDA's goal is to enroll up to additional 200,000 acres. The new practice for small-scale livestock grazing operations encourages greater diversity geographically and in all types of livestock operation. Small livestock operations are encouraged to contact their local Farm Service Agency office to learn more about this program before Dec. 16, to be considered as part of the current ranking period.

 

Elsewhere, an early Christmas present for Washington. According to mynorhwest.com, Many lowland areas of Western Washington got the first measurable snow in years.

For example, Sea-Tac Airport received at least an inch of snow. Though it's not much, the total snowfall makes it the snowiest December there since 2013, according to the National Weather Service.