01/24/08 Projects approved in Washington for new CRP wildlife practice

Washington Ag January 24, 2008 Four projects in Washington state are among the first 45 nationwide to be approved by the USDA for a new Conservation Reserve Program practice called SAFE, which stands for State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement. The projects in Washington cover from 500 to 52-hundred acres and are the Columbia Basin, The Palouse Prairie, the Shrub-Steppe and Coastal Elk, which will benefit numerous wildlife species including some at risk such as the burrowing owl, sharp tailed and sage grouse and Olympic Roosevelt Elk. John Johnson of USDA's Farm Service Agency says the SAFE program has special incentives for landowners. Johnson: "Plain old generic CRP gives you a 50% cost-share on whatever it costs you to establish a practice, plus an annual rental payment. Under SAFE, and certain other continuous practices, you get that same 50% cost-share, plus a 40% of the practice cost incentive payment. That takes you up to 90%. Plus a one time payment of $100 per acre signing incentive payment, which basically should take you over 100% of your costs. And then you get your annual rental payments on top of it." You can't sign up for SAFE yet, however. Software for the program won't get out to the state's until March. State offices will then announce sign ups. I'm Bob Hoff.