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Long lines expected for general CRP signup

There’s speculation Conservation Reserve Program acreage could expand to levels not seen in at least a decade.

Minnesota Farm Service Agency director Joe Martin tells Brownfield he expects producers to consider less productive land that’s been losing money the past several years.

“The general program is a bidding process. With the new farm bill, there’s some lower payment rates, so I think that’ll be the true test of (whether) the payment rates are enough for individuals to enroll those lands.”

For the first time in four years, producers and landowners can sign up for general CRP beginning in December.

Martin points out the program requires a ten to fifteen-year commitment.

“For the general CRP program, the payment rates are capped at 85 percent of county land rents, while the continuous program is capped at 90 percent of county land rents. So that gives you some numbers to think about as you look at (CRP).”

Under the 2018 Farm Bill, the acreage cap will grow to 27 million acres by 2023.