Dates to Remember
Originally from Wichita, KS, I attended Emporia State University where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Ecology and Biodiversity. Previously I had worked as a wildlife technician, assisting seasonally in field work including plant monitoring and game bird research in several western states. I also spent time as an intern for the Great Basin Institute working on invasive plant removal at Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Idaho.
I have always had a love of the outdoors and enjoy camping, hiking, bowling, and reading in my spare time. I work out of the Sublette field office and will cover Haskell, Stanton, Grant, Grey, Ford, Morton, Stevens, Seward, Meade, and Clark counties. I am looking forward to helping landowners and their goals. Clients can contact me at eeney@pheasantsforever.org with all their wildlife and CRP questions.
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will conduct a General CRP Signup 60 from February 27, 2023, through April 7, 2023.
CRP is one of the largest private lands conservation programs in the United States, offering a range of conservation options to farmers, ranchers, and landowners. CRP is a federally funded voluntary program that contracts with ag producers to establish long-term resource-conserving cover on environmentally sensitive land to control soil erosion, improve water quality, and develop wildlife habitat. In return, FSA provides participants with rental payments and cost share assistance.
Land not currently enrolled in CRP may be offered during this general signup, provided all eligibility requirements are met. Additionally, current CRP producers whose contracts expire on Sept. 30, 2023, may submit offers. There are currently 23 million acres enrolled in CRP, with 1.9 million set to expire this year. USDA’s FSA is aiming to reach the 27-million-acre cap statutorily set for fiscal year 2023.
Fact Sheets available for CRP General Signup 60 & Environmental Benefits Index
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Land Eligibility
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CRP Payments
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Land must be cropland and both of the following:
- Been planted or considered planted to an ag commodity 4 of the 6 years from 2012 to 2017.
- Physically and legally capable of being planted in a normal manner to an ag commodity, (no planting restrictions due to an easement or other legally binding instrument).
In addition to the eligible land requirements, cropland must meet one of the following criteria:
- Have a weighed average erosion index of 8 or higher;
- Be expiring CRP acres or;
- Be located in a national or state CRP conservation priority area.
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Rental payments
- Rental payments are calculated for each offer based on the soil types of the land offered. Rental rates are based on the relative productivity of the soils within the county and the average dryland cash rent subject to a statutory 85% proration.
Cost-Share Assistance
- Cost share assistance for establishment of approved cover on eligible cropland, not to exceed 50% of the participant’s costs to establish approved cover.
- Climate-Smart Practice Incentive 3%, 5%, or 10% incentive included in the annual rental payment based on the estimated benefits for each CRP practice.
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Producer Eligibility
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EBI Index and Ranking
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Producer must have owned or operated the land for 12 months prior to the end of this general signup period, unless:
- Acquired land due to the previous owner’s death;
- Ownership change occurred due to foreclosure or;
- The circumstances of the acquisition presents adequate assurance to FSA the new owner did not acquire the land for the purpose of placing it in CRP.
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Offers submitted during General signup will be ranked according to the Environmental Benefit Index (EBI). EBI score is primarily based on location, soils, and selected conservation practice.
Offers are ranked in comparison to all other offers nationwide. An EBI cutoff will be decided. Producers who have met previous EBI thresholds are not guaranteed a contract under this signup period.
Accepted contracts for this signup will become effective October 1, 2023.
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USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages producers to report failed acres in order to establish or retain FSA program eligibility for some programs.
Failed acreage is acreage that was timely planted with the intent to harvest, but because of disaster related conditions, the crop failed before it could be brought to harvest.
To request failed acreage credit, you must report acreage on the FSA-578 and submit form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, prior to destruction or disposition of the crop.
Farm loan borrowers who have pledged real estate as security for their Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct or guaranteed loans are responsible for maintaining loan collateral. Borrowers must obtain prior consent or approval from FSA or the guaranteed lender for any transaction that affects real estate security. These transactions include, but are not limited to:
- Leases of any kind
- Easements of any kind
- Subordinations
- Partial releases
- Sales
Failure to meet or follow the requirements in the loan agreement, promissory note, and other security instruments could lead to nonmonetary default which could jeopardize your current and future loans.
It is critical that borrowers keep an open line of communication with their FSA loan staff or guaranteed lender when it comes to changes in their operation. For more information on borrower responsibilities, read Your FSA Farm Loan Compass.
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