CRP Contract Extension or Renewal is Good Time to Review Land Use Choices

April 18, 2006

Hundreds of Iowa farmers are facing the decision whether to extend or renew their Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts. Conservationists at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) encourage landowners and farmers with expiring CRP contracts to visit their local NRCS office to discuss land use options for ground enrolled in expiring contracts.

To help CRP contract holders walk through the decision process, NRCS recently produced a booklet called “CRP Land: It’s In Your Hands.” Copies of the book are available at all NRCS field offices and from the NRCS website at www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov/brochures/publications.html.

“CRP ground is considered cropland, but not all cropland is created equal in terms of erosion and yield potential,” said Brian Peterson, NRCS State Grassland Specialist.

“Depending on soil types, there may be better economic and environmental uses for ground coming out of CRP,” Peterson stated.  “In many cases the best option may be a mix of land uses, including CRP.”

Time is running out for many producers to visit an NRCS office to review land use options and begin looking at a conservation plan for their CRP acres. USDA recently announced a two-week extension for those landowners with contracts expiring in 2007. Those people with contracts expiring in 2008, 2009 and 2010 will have until June 30, 2006, to decide what to do with their contract, based on the options available to them from the Farm Service Agency.

For more information contact your local USDA Service Center.

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USDA-NRCS: Helping People Help the Land
www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov

Contact:
Brian Petersen, NRCS State Grassland Specialist
Phone: 515-323-2216