WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2012 – Without passage of a new farm bill, USDA’s Farm Service Agency alerted state and county offices that the agency will not process any new enrollments for Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts after the current farm bill expires on Sept. 30, 2012.
As of July 2012, there were 29.6 million acres enrolled in the nation’s largest land retirement program. A general signup (#43) was held March 12 through April 13, with 3.88 million acres determined acceptable out of 4.54 million acres offered.
However, contracts covering 6.5 million acres are due to expire on Sept. 30.
According to a document obtained by Agri-Pulse,effective October 1, 2012, FSA shall:
• not approve any CRP contracts for all signup types
• not process offers for enrollment in CRP for all signup types
• continue to pay all SIP, PIP, annual rental, and cost-share payments for contracts approved before October 1, 2012.
A USDA spokesperson confirmed that no new acres can be enrolled if new farm legislation is not passed, and noted that the program will lose up to 750,000 acres dedicated to high priority practices to restore vital habitat.
#30
For more news, go to: www.Agri-Pulse.com
