News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2000

CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM SIGNUP PERIOD ANNOUNCED

COLUMBUS, OH -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the next sign-up period for the Conservation Reserve Program will be January 18 through February 11, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

This four-week period will allow landowners not currently participating in the program to apply for land enrollment contracts. Landowners who have existing contracts due to expire in the fall may also renew them during this time. Congress established the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. It is the federal government's single largest environmental improvement program and one of its most productive and cost-efficient farm programs. The CRP encourages landowners and operators to plant grass and trees on highly erodible croplands that are removed from agricultural production. Such plantings are made to act as windbreaks, protect highly erodible soils, and to help provide food and habitat for wildlife.

"What is often overlooked is how land set aside through the CRP improves the quality of water flowing in Ohio's creeks and rivers. Sediment loads and pesticide runoff from surrounding farm fields can be greatly reduced from the established ground cover, thus improving the quality of drinking water downstream and also benefiting local fish populations and mussel beds," said Pat Ruble, executive administrator of wildlife management and research for the ODNR Division of Wildlife.

Landowners and farm operators enter into land contracts with the USDA lasting for 10 to 15 years. In return, they receive annual rental payments, incentive payments for certain activities and cost-share assistance to establish protective vegetation cover. The average annual payment in Ohio is approximately $77 per acre. Each land enrollment application is scored through the Environmental Benefits Index that factors the location of the land and amount of benefits attained for erosion, water quality, and wildlife habitat. The wildlife habitat factor recognizes the benefits attributable to the vegetative cover planted and to address the habitat needs of certain wildlife species.

The state wildlife agency recognizes this program as the most effective tool for providing grassland habitat on privately owned land. Currently in Ohio, there are more than 8,500 farms with 280,680 combined acres enrolled in the CRP. This is approximately 120,000 acres more than all land owned and administered by the ODNR Division of Wildlife.

"The Conservation Reserve Program has been and will continue to be a priority in our agency's Private Lands Habitat Management Program. But for the CRP to benefit wildlife, the vegetative cover and other plantings that are made must be able to provide quality food sources and habitat for a diversity of wildlife species," said Ruble.

Landowners, organizations, and other conservation-minded individuals are needed to make this next CRP enrollment period a priority in their land-use planning. No other program has the potential to impact vast acreage and provide quality habitat while offering landowners monetary incentives.

Those who are interested in participating in the Conservation Reserve Program should contact their local Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Division of Wildlife district office. Wildlife district offices are located in Columbus, Athens, Akron, Findlay, and Xenia.

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For Further Information Contact:
Luke Miller, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6907
-or-
Jeff Burris, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(419) 424-5000