CRP General Sign-Up #41 Landowner Informational Meetings Being Offered In
Akron, Holyoke, Haxtun, and Sterling Colorado
Learn How to Increase Wildlife Values and Your Chances for Enrollment
- March 7, 7:00 pm – Holyoke – Phillips County Event Center
- March 8, 7:00 pm – Haxtun – Haxtun Community Center
- March 9, 7:00 pm – Akron – Washington County Fairgrounds Community Room
- March 10, 7:00 pm – Sterling – Logan County Extension Office S. 10th Ave.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up. Pheasants Forever will be hosting a Landowner Informational meeting at the locations listed to help answer questions about how to improve enrollment chances, farming efficiency and wildlife values.
The new general CRP signup #41 will run from March 14 through April 15. Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologists and personnel from the Farm Services Agency (FSA), Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW), and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will be on hand to provide a brief presentation and then answer questions. “The ranking process for enrollment offers has changed since the general sign-up #39 in August of 2010 and will be explained by FSA. With high commodity prices, the temptation to return CRP lands to production is high, so options for offering environmentally sensitive areas and difficult to farm areas into the CRP program will be discussed.” according to Jerry Miller Farm Bill Biologist NRCS/CDOW/PF. “We are providing this service to help out those who are interested. Obviously though, more and better CRP means more pheasants and other wildlife too, which is why we work so hard for this program and for producers.”
As in past CRP General Sign-ups, USDA will score offers using the Environmental Benefits Index (EBI). This formula driven system evaluates each tract of land according to its environmental values and challenges and how the landowner chooses to offer it into the program. According to Miller, there are only a few things that a landowner can offer to do that will increase the EBI score. “This landowner informational meeting is designed to specifically address what the landowner can change in their offer. Some of those “adjustable” factors are very important for wildlife, said Miller.
Those interested in participating should plan to arrive at the listed venues at 7:00 PM. There is no charge for participating and there is no need to register. According to Jerry Miller Farm Bill Habitat Biologist for NRCS/CDOW/PF, space may be limited depending upon interest, so you may want to plan to come early.
Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.
