The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is currently seeking public comments on the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). To help solicit comments, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) has scheduled nine public meetings to take place from September 15 through October 8, 2009.
The USDA hopes that comments will cover several topic areas of concern. These areas include crop rotation practices, program enrollment terms, and the CRP “enrollment authority of 32 million acres established for the remainder of the 2008 Farm Bill.” The comments received at the meetings will be used to help prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.
The environmental impact statement aims to help the USDA and the public by providing an analysis of the environmental benefits, as well as potential impacts, with implementing the CRP according to the 2008 Farm Bill. According to the USDA news release, “CRP is a voluntary program that supports the implementation of long-term conservation measures designed to improve the quality of ground and surface waters, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat on environmentally sensitive agricultural land.”
The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) provides rental assistance and cost share assistance under their contracts for the program, which can extend from 10 to 15 years. CRP is a CCC program, but is administered by the FSA with the help of other local and federal agencies. “Public comments are due by October 19, 2009 to be considered in the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.”
To read the USDA news release or to see where the public meetings will be held, or how to submit public comments, click here.
The USDA hopes that comments will cover several topic areas of concern. These areas include crop rotation practices, program enrollment terms, and the CRP “enrollment authority of 32 million acres established for the remainder of the 2008 Farm Bill.” The comments received at the meetings will be used to help prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.
The environmental impact statement aims to help the USDA and the public by providing an analysis of the environmental benefits, as well as potential impacts, with implementing the CRP according to the 2008 Farm Bill. According to the USDA news release, “CRP is a voluntary program that supports the implementation of long-term conservation measures designed to improve the quality of ground and surface waters, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat on environmentally sensitive agricultural land.”
The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) provides rental assistance and cost share assistance under their contracts for the program, which can extend from 10 to 15 years. CRP is a CCC program, but is administered by the FSA with the help of other local and federal agencies. “Public comments are due by October 19, 2009 to be considered in the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.”
To read the USDA news release or to see where the public meetings will be held, or how to submit public comments, click here.
Posted: 08/20/09
