The U.S. Department of Agriculture is looking to accept more than 2 million acres from agricultural producers and landowners through Conservation Reserve Program's general signup.
About 3.4 million acres already in the program are expected to expire this year and producers and landowners are being urged to consider currently open grassland and continuous signups, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the May 3 news release.
"Our conservation programs are voluntary, and at the end of the day, producers are making market-based decisions as the program was designed to allow and encourages," Vilsack said. "We recognize the Conservation Reserve Program is an important tool in helping mitigate climate change and conserve natural resources, and this announcement is just the first opportunity for producers to take advantage of the program."
Producers are considering options in grassland and continuous signups, in addition to "partnership opportunities through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program," Vilsack said.
"For farmers who have decided to return all or a portion of their land into production agriculture, USDA will also be reaching out to ensure they understand and can take advantage of options to either prepare the land for production or transition it to beginning farmers," he said in the release.
Submitting and accepting an offer is only part of the process as producers still must develop a conservation plan before they can enroll their property Oct. 1. Producers who change their mind during the process and decide not to enroll their property may do so without penalty.
