Consider Conservation Programs for Extra Income Potential

USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator, Zach Ducheneaux reminds producers and operators that the deadline to sign up for the next general Conservation Reserve Program is on April 7.

“Thinking about changing the nature of production for your farmland? Thinking about other income streams for your farmland? Taking some of that marginal farmland out of production for a rental rate. Come in and take a look and see if you qualify for CRP.

He adds that the CRP program is important for emergency forage sources the grasslands. CRP, signup will follow the general CRP signups. He says they will pay a minimum of $13 per acre for producers to adopt a grazing system that stimulates soil health. Ducheneaux explains that the program is incentive-based.

“I'm really excited about that. As a former rancher myself, it's a incentive-based program where you can really dig into the innovations that are happening in grazing systems and take advantage of cost-share opportunities that have a little different pathway than NRCS and equip you if you are enrolled in grassland, CRP, the practices that you need to do that plan, become part of your plan and the cost share becomes available that way. It's a really interesting program.”

Once again, the signup deadline for general CRP is April 7. And for more information on signup deadline dates for grassland CRP, see your local county Farm Service Agency office