Grundy Center Iowa News

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News Now is the Time - Consider the Conservation Reserve Posted 7 July 2010 Now's the time to think about putting that wet area, steep side slope or other unproductive land into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). "With a general sign-up coming sometime this year, producers and landowners have time to do the math and figure out if those hard-to-farm areas are really paying off," said John R. Whitaker, state executive director of the Iowa Farm Service Agency. "Our agency has increased rental rates since the last general sign-up, making CRP a more attractive alternative. "When you pencil it out, sometimes the cost of planting and replanting, or high costs and low yields, means putting land in CRP is your best dollar return per acre - good farm management is finding the best return per acre," Whitaker said. Take aim at those problem areas. Use precision CRP to address erodible areas, reduce the risk of being out of compliance on your conservation plan and increase average yields. "The important point is to plan now," said Rich Sims, state conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. "Although the general sign up was announced in February, we don't know the exact date of this sign up. But it's the first one since 2006 and the available acreage is limited. So producers and landowners who want to sign a CRP contract need to be ready to go when the sign up dates are announced." The sign up is welcome news for both producers and landowners seeking to improve their cropland management. It's also important to all people because they benefit from better water quality as the erosion and runoff is controlled. Both game and nongame wildlife benefit as cropland acres are converted to grassland or forest. "Selectively using CRP can work for the crop producer while providing cleaner water for all Iowans and quality habitat for wildlife," said Richard Leopold, director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "CRP habitat is critical for species like ring-necked pheasant, especially following a winter like the last one," he said. FSA and NRCS, along with DNR, suggest producers stop by the USDA service centers to talk to the experts about how to determine where fields should be subdivided to provide the most erosion control benefit and yet still be easy to farm. Staff from FSA, along with the NRCS and DNR, can help you find a CRP practice and planting mix that will increase your eligibility for the program and match your management goals for wildlife habitat and erosion control. Take Aim at erosion with Precision CRP. More information is available in county USDA service centers, and DNR wildlife and forestry offices. Or, check the news, USDA or DNR websites frequently for sign up announcements.

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