02/02/06 CRP contract extensions for 2007

There are more than 528 thousand acres of Conservation Reserve Program land in Idaho set to expire next year. But the government is going to give those contract holders an opportunity to re-enroll that land or extend the current contract. Farm Service Agency's John Johnson says the type of deal you get depends on the EBI, that's the Environmental Benefits Index that was used originally when the land went into CRP. JOHNSON "We're breaking all the expiring contracts up into five groups. The top 20 percent on the EBI score get an opportunity to re-enroll for a full new contract of ten years. The second 20 percent tier will get a five year extension offer of their existing contract terms. The third quintile will get a four year extension, the fourth will get a three year extension and the fifth and bottom quintile will get a two year extension offer." From March 27th through April 14th there will be a signup period for new land to go into CRP. JOHNSON "Producers, landowners will be able to make offers and all of the offers will be evaluated on the basis of their environmental benefits for wildlife, water quality, soil, erosion, air quality and enduring benefits and the cost of their offer." In all, Idaho has more than 804 thousand acres of CRP land under nearly 58 hundred contracts. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott