CRP enrollment deadline Feb. 26

The deadline for competitive enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is next Friday, Feb. 26.

According to a USDA news release, this will be one of the largest enrollment periods in CRP history.

“This will be one of the most competitive general sign-up periods in history, in part due to a statutory limit on the number of acres that can be enrolled in the program,” the release said. “The most competitive applications will be those that combine multiple conservation benefits, such as water quality and wildlife habitat.”

As of January, 23.6 million acres were enrolled in CRP nationwide, with more than 830,000 of those acres enrolling in 2015. The cap on acres which can be enrolled is 24 million acres, and 1.6 million acres of the currently-enrolled 23.6 million are set to expire this fall.

Enrollment submissions will be ranked according to environmental benefits in comparison to all other offers nationwide. USDA will announce accepted offers after the enrollment period concludes and offers are reviewed.

To enroll in CRP, contact the Colfax FSA office or visit http://offices.usda.gov.