The Transition Incentives Program
Washington Ag Today July 26, 2010 A program included in the 2008 Farm Bill that provides incentives for retired or retiring farmers to transition their land to beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers is being implemented by the USDA. As Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan explained for reporters, the Transition Incentives Program or TIP, focuses on lands with expiring Conservation Reserve Program contracts. Merrigan: “So, this is how it works. As an incentive to participate in the program the retired or retiring land owner will be eligible to receive up to two additional CRP annual rental payments after the contract expires, provided that he or she transitions the land to a non-family member who is a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher. The program sign up begins Monday, May 17th so interested producers should contact their local FSA for detailed information and the opportunity to enroll in the Transition Incentives Program.” Leasing expiring CRP land to a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer for at least five years also qualifies under the TIP program. Another TIP requirement; Merrigan: “In this program the land transitioned under TIP must be returned to production using sustainable grazing or crop production methods.” I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net. ?
