HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230860.tiffUSDA
United States Department of Agriculture
RECEIVED
Farm
Production
and
Conservation
Farm
Service
Agency
1400 Independence
Ave, SW
Washington, DC
20250
Mail Stop 0513
February 16, 2023
Dear CRP Participant:
MAR 21 2023
WELD COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
Thank you for being part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Farm
Service Agency records show that one or more of your CRP contracts expire on
September 30, 2023.
To ensure CRP continues to include the most environmentally sensitive land, the
erosion tools used in the offer ranking process have been updated for use in 2023.
This may result in a different ranking score from your original offer that resulted in
your existing contract.
In this last year of your CRP contract, you may be eligible for the following
options:
General Signup: All or a portion of your CRP contract acres may be eligible for re -
enrollment in CRP through the CRP general signup from February 27, 2023,
through April 7, 2023. If FSA accepts your offer for such enrollment, you will be
eligible to receive a 10- to 15 -year CRP contract that would become effective on
October 1, 2023. You will be required to have a new conservation plan and meet
other eligibility requirements before the CRP contract can be approved.
Continuous Signup: All or a portion of your CRP contract acres, including acreage
expiring from SAFE may be eligible for re -enrollment in CRP through continuous
CRP signup. Expiring water quality practices such as filter strips, grass waterways,
and riparian buffers may be eligible to be re -enrolled under CLEAR30. If you plan
to return a portion of your land to production, important conservation benefits may
still be achieved by enrolling sensitive acres such as buffers or wetlands. Offers for
continuous enrollment will be considered on a first come -first serve basis from
April 1, 2023, through July 31, 2023. If FSA accepts your offer for enrollment,
you will be eligible to receive a 10- to 15 -year CRP contract or for CLEAR30, a 30 -
year contract, that will become effective on October 1, 2023. You will be required
to have a new conservation plan and meet other eligibility requirements before the
CRP contract can be approved.
Grasslands Enrollment: All or a portion of your CRP contract acres may be
eligible for re -enrollment in CRP through CRP Grasslands signup. If FSA accepts
your offer for such enrollment, you will be eligible to receive a 10- or 15 -year CRP
contract that would become effective on October 1, 2023. You will be required to
have a new conservation plan and meet other eligibility requirements before the
CRP contract can be approved. The sign-up period for Grasslands CRP will be
announced later.
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USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider, Employer, and Lender.
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03/22/23
2023-0860
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CRP Participant
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Transition Incentives Program (TIP): If you are not planning to farm the land from your
expiring CRP contract, TIP may provide you two additional annual rental payments after
your contract expires on the condition that you sell or rent your land to a beginning or
veteran farmer or rancher or a member of a socially disadvantaged group. New landowners
or renters are required to use sustainable grazing or farming methods as they return the land
to production. TIP offers a way to create new farming opportunities while continuing
conservation efforts. If you are interested in TIP, contact your local FSA office no later than
August 15, 2023.
Conservation Easements or Working Lands Programs. Land currently under a CRP
contract may be eligible to transition into conservation easements to provide longer -term
benefits. The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS') Agricultural
Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), or state or private easement programs, may be
such an option. If you are planning to convert your CRP land to agriculture use, USDA's
working lands programs, including NRCS' Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) or
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), may be available to address your
resource needs. In many cases, a combination of approaches can be taken on the same
parcel. For example, riparian areas or other sensitive parts of a parcel may be enrolled in
continuous CRP and the remaining land that is returned to farming can participate in CSP
and even receive additional ranking points.
Do Nothing/Contract Expiration. If you do nothing, your CRP contract will expire as
planned. You will receive your final payment in October of 2023. You may plant, graze,
or hay the acreage after September 30, 2023. Since CRP land typically does not have a
recent history of pesticide or herbicide application, the land may be valuable for organic
production. Prior to your CRP contract expiration, you should visit your local FSA office
and review the current crop acreage base re -instatement provisions. Before planting, check
with FSA or NRCS to see if your land may be subject to conservation and wetland
compliance provisions.
Please contact your local FSA Office or visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/crp for more
information about CRP.
Sincerely,
61O —
W. Scott Marlow
Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs
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