The Conservation Reserve Program is nearing its cap of 27 million acres as USDA’s Farm Service Agency accepts offers for more than 2.2 million acres in the latest grassland, general and continuous signups.
In a press release, the agency said Monday it has accepted 1.44 million acres in the grassland signup in 2024, bringing total acres enrolled in that program to 10 million.
Producers with acreage enrolled under the grassland signup can still graze and cut hay from the land, but the payment rate is lower than for the general and continuous signups.
According to a notice provided to FSA county offices, landowners applied to enroll more than 3 million acres through the grassland signup. The national average annual payment for the land that was accepted will be $16.63 per acre.
Nebraska had the largest amount of land accepted under the grassland signup at 237,853 acres, followed by Colorado at 218,145.
The FSA notice notes that the agency's authority to conduct a CRP signup expires Sept. 30 unless extended by Congress. The 2018 farm bill was extended for a year last fall.
Some 200,000 acres were accepted in the general CRP signup this year, bringing total enrollment in that program to 7.9 million acres.
More than 565,000 acres have been enrolled under the continuous signup so far this year. Enrollment can continue throughout the year. Some 8.5 million acres are currently enrolled under the continuous signup, according to the release.
