10/09/08 Incentive for access to CRP

Farm and Ranch October 9, 2008 There is a new incentive for public access to lands enrolled in USDA's Conservation Reserve Program, CRP. Johnson: "USDA will be providing a $3 an acre incentive payment to CRP contract holders who enroll their land in a state public access program. " That is Farm Service Agency deputy administrator John Johnson who says CRP landowners in 21 states currently operating public access programs for hunting will be eligible for this incentive. Idaho, Washington and Oregon are among those 21 states with a program which makes CRP landowners eligible. Johnson: "So this three dollar an acre incentive payment on CRP contract acres will provide an incentive on top of any state incentive to encourage landowners to open up their land for hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities." Bird watching or wildlife viewing being among those other activities. The incentive will be available to CRP participants with new or existing CRP contracts. Johnson says the goal is to double public access by providing up to seven million acres of CRP land in the next five years. The Conservation Reserve Program is the largest public-private partnership for conservation and wildlife habitat in the nation and the USDA expects robust participation in the access incentive program. CRP is a voluntary program that helps farmers enhance environmentally sensitive land by planting long term resource conserving cover in return for which the USDA provides rental payments. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.