The Conservation Reserve Program is now open for applications. There are some new changes under this signup that can be beneficial for landowners. This is a great opportunity to provide wildlife habitat, protect land from wind erosion, have opportunities for hunting, retire low yielding acres and receive regular income.

Consider signing up during this CRP continuous signup. The continuous CRP signup is a first come, first served program and there is no ranking process. Land eligibility includes land that has been farmed four out of six years from 2012-2017 or expired CRP (expired CRP ground may need to be sprayed or tilled to do a cover conversion, depending on program signed up for and current vegetative cover).

Other benefits to this CRP continuous signup may include: possible increased soil rental rates compared to 2020; increased Signup Incentive Payments and Practiced Incentive Payments from 20-50 percent on certain continuous CRP practices for new land enrolled; and one-time signing bonus for certain continuous CRP practices.

Continuous practices landowners may want to consider include:

• CP38 SAFE — SAFE or State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement provides high quality and high diversity habitat for pheasants, mule deer, greater prairie chickens and other grassland nesting birds.

• CP33 — Upland Bird Buffer is perfect for field edges and pivot corners that can be hard to farm and provide lower yields compared to other cropland acres. This program also provides high quality habitat.

• CP23A — Wetland Restoration, non-floodplain, is a great option for those areas of cropland that flood in some years. This is a chance to avoid flooded out wheat acres or acres unable to plant in spring due to the wet soil.

• CP88 – CRP Grasslands helps landowners and operators to protect grassland, including rangeland, and pastureland and certain other lands, while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. FSA has updated the Grasslands Signup to establish a minimum rental rate of $15 per acre.

Contact your local Farm Bill Biologist at the Natural Resources Conservation Service or the Farm Service Agency for more information on program options and eligibility.

CRP general signup closes July 23 and the CRP continuous signup opportunity mentioned above closes Aug. 6. CRP Grassland signup is July 12-Aug. 20.