FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2002
USDA TO OFFER CRP CONTRACT EXTENSIONS
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2002---The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that Conservation Reserve Program contracts expiring this year may be extended for another year. Participants with contracts expiring on September 30, 2002 have from January 14 to May 31 to apply for the one-year extension. Some 30,000 contracts are affected.
“The expiration affects 1.8 million rural acres now protected by the CRP. This action will help ensure the continued safeguarding of this sensitive land as a new farm bill is developed,” said USDA Secretary Ann M. Veneman.
Local offices of USDA”s Farm Service Agency are currently notifying eligible CRP participants of their option to modify and extend their CRP contracts. The deadline to apply for an extension is May 31, 2002.
The extension option applies to CRP participants with contracts scheduled to expire on September 30, 2002. The original contract with extension must not exceed 15 years. The extension will not change participants’ rental rates.
All or a portion of the acreage under contract may be included in an extension, but no new acreage may be added. Obligations and responsibilities under the original contract continue to apply to contracts that are modified and extended.
USDA is not planning to offer a general CRP signup in fiscal year 2002. However, producers may continue to enroll relatively small, highly desirable acreage, such as filter strips and riparian buffers, in the continuous CRP at any time at their local FSA office.
Producers enrolled in CRP receive rental payments and other financial incentives to remove lands from agricultural production for a period of 10 to 15 years. CRP participants plant native grasses, trees, and other vegetation to improve water quality, soil, and wildlife habitat. About 34 million acres are currently enrolled in CRP.
For more information on the CRP program, contact the local FSA office listed in the phone directory or visit the FSA web site at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/crp.htm.