CRP Ground Needs Mid-Contract Management

*A native prairie in a CRP field in Madison County, Iowa, restored by burning the year prior to this photo being taken produces numerous prairie plants with new life.*

USDA officials with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are encouraging farmers with land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to complete their required mid-contract management reviews at their local USDA Service Center early.

Larry Beeler, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist (Programs), says, “Taking the time to do the required plans before the due date will enable decision makers to thoughtfully consider all the options, costs and benefits involved in conservation planning for their ground. This will allow farmers the necessary time to work with both agencies and any needed technical service providers to develop and implement the best plan for their fields in CRP.”

Mid-contract management activities started as a result of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 which modified CRP rules and elevated wildlife habitat to equal status with soil erosion and water quality. To help achieve optimal wildlife benefits, mid-contract management activities are required with all new CRP contracts starting with CRP sign up 26 in the fall of 2003.

Generally, mid-contract management is required in years four, five, and six of most ten-year contracts and years five, seven, and nine of many contracts longer than 12 years. However, Mike Musel, FSA Conservation Specialist, strongly encourages CRP contract holders to review their contracts and conservation plans in order to properly schedule the operation and remain in compliance with mid-contract management activities.

Reasons for Mid-Contract Management
Mark Lindflott, NRCS Biologist, says “CRP ground occasionally must be disturbed to prevent fields from becoming thatch bound. Disturbing the ground creates open areas within the stand and helps preserve brood rearing areas for birds and small game wildlife. Mid-contract management activities are also designed to open up grass stands and allow room for forbs and planted legumes and wildflowers to grow. This restores the habitat’s wildlife value to grassland birds.”

Mid-contract management practices may include spraying herbicides, disking, interseeding and using prescribed fire. These practices must be completed according to NRCS technical standards and are applied to no more than one-third of the CRP land in any one year.

Livestock Options
If a farmer has livestock, the producer may use CRP land for grazing one year out of every three with a CRP payment reduction. While grazing CRP land is not an approved mid-contract management practice prior to completing a mid-contract management plan, cattle grazing on CRP ground helps wildlife habitat by reducing thatch prior to using the spray, disk, or interseeding options.

NRCS Grasslands Specialist Brian Peterson says, “I think the split option for grazing, where operators graze around birds’ primary nesting season, may be perfect for some operations. Grazing cattle on CRP ground can be a cost effect way to get additional value from the land and feed cattle while preparing the ground for a mid-contract management practice.”

With the split grazing option, which reduces CRP payments by 25 percent, a producer is allowed to graze cattle on the CRP ground from April 1 to May 14 and from August 2 to September 30. This schedule works around birds’ primary nesting season of May 15 to August 1.

Besides the split grazing option, Peterson notes there are also the Managed Haying and a Managed Grazing Late options that may benefit producers and their CRP land. He recommends cattle producers visit their local USDA Service Center for information on how the haying and grazing options may specifically benefit them.

Know Your CRP Contract
NRCS District Conservationist Lori Altheide, in the Wapello County Field Office, wants landowners to know what’s in their CRP contract and to know what they are required to do each year. This is especially true, she says, for absentee landowners, semi-retired farmers and new landowners that assumed the CRP contract along with the land title. If in doubt, Altheide encourages producers to check with FSA on contract requirements.

This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the CRP. Iowa currently has about 96,500 CRP contracts covering more than 1.9 million acres on 50,300 farms.

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CRP Ground Needs Mid-Contract Management