NEWS RELEASE

NACD Applauds Conservation Reserve Program Announcement

WASHINGTON – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is accepting offers of up to more than two million acres in program enrollment.  CRP is a voluntary conservation program that authorizes USDA to provide annual rental payments to producers enrolled in the program who agree to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and agree to plant species that will improve environmental health and quality.  Contracts for land enrolled in CRP last from 10 – 15 years in length.

“NACD applauds USDA and commends them for their leadership in continuing to administer this critical program,” said NACD President Michael Crowder.  “CRP is a significant component to conservation that, over the years, has played a key role in restoring the environment and ensuring the sustainability of our agricultural lands.  I thank Secretary Vilsack and Administrator Ducheneaux for their work in continuing to administer this important program.”

CRP is a critical tool in USDA’s conservation program efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, bolster soil health, prevent erosion, restore wildlife habitats, and improve air and water quality.  In the past, NACD has applauded USDA’s efforts to encourage participation in CRP by increasing payment rates and introducing a variety of incentive payments, including a climate incentive payment.

“NACD is pleased more than 2 million acres have been accepted through CRP and looks forward to USDA continuing its excellent stewardship of this program,” said NACD CEO Jeremy Peters.  “CRP plays a key component to conservation, and we are excited to see enrollment options become available to as many eligible producers as possible, particularly those who manage vulnerable lands.”

Contracts for land enrolled in CRP last from 10-15 years.  Producers and landowners can still apply for the Continuous and Grassland CRP by contacting their local USDA Service Center.

About the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)

The National Association of Conservation Districts is the nonprofit organization that represents the nearly 3,000 conservation districts across the United States, their state and territory associations, and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For more than 75 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. For more information about NACD, visit www.nacdnet.org.