Business : USDA Announces CRP results and reminds farmer to submit committee nominations

Administrator Garcia Reminds Producers of Nearing Deadline to Submit Nominations for Farm Service Agency County Committees

Juan M. Garcia, Administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), today reminded farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers that they have until Aug. 1, 2013, to nominate eligible candidates to serve on local FSA county committees.

"The last day to file your nomination form is about a week away," Garcia said. "Please get involved this year and nominate the candidate of your choice or nominate yourself to serve on your local county committee. I especially encourage the nomination of beginning farmers and ranchers, as well as women and minorities. This is your opportunity to have a say in how federal programs are delivered in your county.”

FSA county committees help local farmers through their decisions on commodity price support loans, conservation programs and disaster programs, and by working closely with county executive directors.

To be eligible to hold office as a county committee member, individuals must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and live in the local administrative area where they are running. A complete list of eligibility requirements, more information and nomination forms are available at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections

All nominees must sign the nomination form FSA-669A. All nomination forms for the 2013 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDAServiceCenterby close of business on Aug. 1, 2013. Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters by Nov. 4 and are due back to the local USDA Service Centers on Dec. 2. The newly elected county committee members will take office Jan. 1, 2014.

For more information on the CountyCommitteeelections and programs administered by FSA, please contact your local FSA office or the website at www.fsa.usda.gov/ia.

USDA Announces Results for 45th Conservation Reserve Program General Sign-Up

John R. Whitaker, State Executive Director for Iowa Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will accept 1.7 million acres offered under the 45th Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up that ended in June. In Iowa, FSA accepted 1815 offers for nearly 50,000 acres of land, demonstrating CRP’s continuing appeal as one of our nation’s most successful voluntary programs for soil, water, and wildlife conservation. Since 2009, USDA has enrolled nearly 12 million acres in new CRP. Currently, there are more than 26.9 million acres enrolled on 700,000 contracts nationwide.

“CRP continues to help conserve our nation’s resources,” said Whitaker. “Iowafarmers chose to protect environmentally sensitive land over high commodity prices, showing their commitment to the environment, clean water, and wildlife habitat. This demonstrates the importance of this conservation program and others administered under the current farm bill set to expire on September 30, 2013.”

In addition to today’s announcement, over the last four years, USDA has set aside significant acreage under CRP’s Continuous enrollment programs to target habitat conservation on especially important lands. For example, in March, 2012, President Obama dedicated 1 million acres of CRP to Continuous Enrollment Programs to conserve wetlands, grasslands and wildlife. This year, farmers and ranchers have already offered more than 370,000 acres under Continuous CRP signup

CRP is a voluntary program that allows eligible landowners to receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving covers on eligible farmland throughout the duration of their 10 to 15 year contracts.

Under CRP, farmers and ranchers plant grasses and trees in fields and along streams or rivers. The plantings prevent soil and nutrients from washing into waterways, reduce soil erosion that may otherwise contribute to poor air and water quality, and provide valuable habitat for wildlife.

In 2012, CRP helped to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous losses from farm fields by 605 million pounds and 121 million pounds respectively. CRP has restored more than two million acres of wetlands and associated buffers and reduces soil erosion by more than 300 million tons per year. CRP also provides $2.0 billion annually to landowners—dollars that make their way into local economies, supporting small businesses and creating jobs.

In addition, CRP sequesters more carbon dioxide than any other conservation program in the country, and also reduces both fuel and fertilizer use. Yearly, CRP results in carbon sequestration equal to taking almost 10 million cars off the road.

USDA selected offers for enrollment based on an Environmental Benefits Index (EBI) comprised of five environmental factors plus cost. The five environmental factors are: (1) wildlife enhancement, (2) water quality, (3) soil erosion, (4) enduring benefits, and (5) air quality.

For more information on the Conservation Reserve Program and other programs administered by FSA, please contact your local FSA office or the website at www.fsa.usda.gov/ia.