Agricultural and Food Policy
 Agri Outlook
Radio
Number 84
Policy/Noteworthy: USDA will distribute approximately $1.8 billion in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) rental payments. (2:56 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
Dr. Bobby Coats
Extension Economist
University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture
USDA will distribute approximately $1.8 billion in Conservation Reserve
Program (CRP) rental payments. I’m Bobby Coats Extension Economist University of
Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
USDA will distribute approximately $1.8 billion in Conservation Reserve
Program (CRP) rental payments to participants across the country for fiscal year
2008 for completed performance in the prior fiscal year.
Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner said. "By participating in CRP,
producers and other landowners throughout the nation are improving air and water
quality, enhancing wildlife habitat and reducing erosion. These practices are
making a real difference today and promoting a healthier environment for the
next generation."
Producers on 441,000 farms will receive an average of $49.49 per acre. The
payments allow producers to earn an average of $4,130 per farm enrolled in the
program.
Included in the totals are 355,000 contracts on 3.9 million acres for CRP's
continuous sign-up and 427,000 contracts on 32.9 million acres for general
sign-up. Under continuous sign-up, producers may enroll high priority
conservation practices such as filter strips and riparian buffers at any time
without competition.
Currently, enrollment stands at 36.8 million acres, making CRP the largest
public-private partnership for conservation and wildlife habitat in the United
States. Under this voluntary program producers enroll in CRP and plant
long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve water quality, control soil
erosion and enhance habitats for wildlife and waterfowl. In return, USDA
provides producers with rental payments. CRP contract duration is from 10 to 15
years.
Arkansas has 5,365 CRP contracts on 3,068 farms for a total enrolled acreage
of 237,287 acres. Total CRP rental payments for Arkansas are $12,295,152.
This has been Bobby Coats Extension Economist University of Arkansas Division
of Agriculture.
The table, located at
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/crptable07.pdf , lists, by state, acreage enrollments, number of contracts, number of farms,
acres enrolled and the projected amount of upcoming CRP rental payments.
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