CRP LAND:CRP LAND:It’s in your handsIt’s in your hands

Many Contracts Set to ExpireMany Contracts Set to Expire

More than 1 million acres of CRP More than 1 million acres of CRP contracts are set to expire bycontracts are set to expire byOctober, 2009October, 2009

Some of these contracts may be Some of these contracts may be renewed or extendedrenewed or extended

Critical Decision Time Critical Decision Time

Many options to weighMany options to weigh Re-enroll into CRPRe-enroll into CRP Return to croppingReturn to cropping Forage productionForage production Grazing land managementGrazing land management Biomass productionBiomass production

Things to Think AboutThings to Think About Will it really pay to farm Will it really pay to farm

my less productive my less productive ground?ground?

How can I best use the How can I best use the less productive areas?less productive areas?

Do I know where the less Do I know where the less productive soils are productive soils are located on my farm?located on my farm?

What Is My Conservation Plan?What Is My Conservation Plan?

Currently, land in CRP is planned as Currently, land in CRP is planned as CRP.CRP.• Some of these plans are 10 to 20 years Some of these plans are 10 to 20 years

old.old. Land brought back into production Land brought back into production

from CRP needs a revised from CRP needs a revised conservation plan.conservation plan.

Don’t Forget About ComplianceDon’t Forget About Compliance

Whether leaving Whether leaving land in CRP or land in CRP or changing to a new changing to a new land use, don’t land use, don’t forget about forget about conservation conservation planning and planning and compliance.compliance.

Conservation Compliance Conservation Compliance is still alive and well!is still alive and well!

• All federal farm program participants All federal farm program participants must be actively applying an must be actively applying an acceptable conservation system.acceptable conservation system.

• Must meet soil loss standards as Must meet soil loss standards as established by the 1985 Farm Bill, as established by the 1985 Farm Bill, as amended.amended.

• This is reflected in the conservation This is reflected in the conservation plan.plan.

Best to Plan to “T”Best to Plan to “T”

Even though it is not a requirement, Even though it is not a requirement, NRCS promotes applying systems NRCS promotes applying systems with soil loss no greater than “T”. with soil loss no greater than “T”.

In X County, “T” equals In X County, “T” equals X/ton/acre/year.X/ton/acre/year.

Alternative Conservation SystemAlternative Conservation System

An Alternative An Alternative Conservation Conservation System (ACS) can System (ACS) can be applied to all be applied to all land expiring from land expiring from CRP.CRP.

This systems allows This systems allows soil loss to exceed soil loss to exceed “T” or tolerable “T” or tolerable limits.limits.

ACS Soil Loss LimitsACS Soil Loss Limits

Since land enrolled in CRP maintains Since land enrolled in CRP maintains its cropland status certain soil loss its cropland status certain soil loss limits apply:limits apply:

(List soil types and limits)(List soil types and limits)

Most Popular Producer QuestionMost Popular Producer Question

Can I plant a Corn Soybean Can I plant a Corn Soybean Rotation on my expiring CRP?Rotation on my expiring CRP?

And the Answer Is…..And the Answer Is…..

YES!YES!

However, there are additional However, there are additional requirements that have to be met.requirements that have to be met.

Alternative Conservation System Alternative Conservation System

Soil loss based on a Corn Soybean Soil loss based on a Corn Soybean crop rotation may include the crop rotation may include the following requirements:following requirements:

All No-till system. Fall anhydrous application All No-till system. Fall anhydrous application is included as part of this system.is included as part of this system.

No Row CultivationNo Row Cultivation Contour Farming – Average 2% row gradeContour Farming – Average 2% row grade Grassed Field BordersGrassed Field Borders Ephemeral gully erosion controlledEphemeral gully erosion controlled

Things to Consider…..Things to Consider…..

Contour farming can be difficult to Contour farming can be difficult to achieve.achieve.

End Rows exceeding 2% row grade End Rows exceeding 2% row grade are required to be seeded as grassed are required to be seeded as grassed field borders.field borders.

Ephemeral gully erosion must be Ephemeral gully erosion must be controlled. controlled.

Grassed Field BorderGrassed Field Border

Grassed WaterwayGrassed Waterway

Before making your final decision,Before making your final decision,consider this…. consider this….

• Farming the more productive, less erosive Farming the more productive, less erosive soils and leaving the highly erodible soils soils and leaving the highly erodible soils in CRP or some type of permanent cover--in CRP or some type of permanent cover--either as a grazing system or in forage either as a grazing system or in forage production.production.

Help Is AvailableHelp Is Available

No matter your land No matter your land use choice, technical use choice, technical and financial and financial assistance is assistance is available from a available from a variety of sources.variety of sources.

Environmental Quality Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)Incentives Program (EQIP)

• 50% cost share50% cost share• Two (2) to ten (10) year contractsTwo (2) to ten (10) year contracts• Single or multiple practicesSingle or multiple practices• Can apply for EQIP in last year of CRP Can apply for EQIP in last year of CRP

contractcontract

EQIP continuedEQIP continued

Erosion control practices:Erosion control practices: TerracesTerraces Grade Stabilization structuresGrade Stabilization structures Water and Sediment control basinsWater and Sediment control basins Grassed WaterwaysGrassed Waterways

EQIP continuedEQIP continued

Grazing system practicesGrazing system practices• Interior fenceInterior fence• Ponds for livestock waterPonds for livestock water• PipelinePipeline• TanksTanks• Heavy Use ProtectionHeavy Use Protection• SeedingSeeding• $50,000 cost-share limit per contract$50,000 cost-share limit per contract

Iowa Financial Incentives ProgramIowa Financial Incentives Program

50% State cost-share funds50% State cost-share funds For erosion control practicesFor erosion control practices $4000 cost-share limit per funded $4000 cost-share limit per funded

application in Appanoose Countyapplication in Appanoose County

Low Interest Loan ProgramLow Interest Loan Program

Apply at local SWCD officeApply at local SWCD office SWCD approves applicationSWCD approves application Minimum $5,000 loan amountMinimum $5,000 loan amount Loan can be combined with cost-Loan can be combined with cost-

share programsshare programs Current interest rate is 3%Current interest rate is 3%

SummarySummary

Still undecided? Still undecided? NRCS can provide you with some NRCS can provide you with some planning options.planning options.

If not re-enrolling or extending CRP, If not re-enrolling or extending CRP, schedule appointment with NRCS to schedule appointment with NRCS to revise your conservation plan!revise your conservation plan!

USDA is an equal opportunity USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.employer and provider.

Helping PeopleHelp the Land