CRP signup set for May 20-June 14

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack recently announced a general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup will be conducted May 20 through June 14, 2013.

There are currently about 27 million acres enrolled in the program throughout the country. Contracts on 3.3 million acres of CRP nationwide and 254,000 acres in Washington are set to expire on Sept. 30, 2013.

During the offer process, cropping years 2002 through 2007 will be used to determine cropping eligibility and the Environmental Benefits Index (EBI) method of calculating a score will remain the same. Contracts accepted and approved would begin Oct. 1, 2013, and will remain in effect for 10 years. Information concerning continuous CRP signup provisions has not been announced but is expected to be released soon. For more information about the program, call the Whitman County FSA Office.