From the Farm Service Agency
Douglas County may accept up to 2,364.8 acres under the general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) sign up 56 which runs through Feb. 12, 2021. Contracts accepted in this sign up will have an effective start date of Oct. 1, 2021 (Fiscal Year 2022). Previously, the Douglas County office had been informed that due to current CRP acres enrolled, it was not able to enroll any additional acres under this sign up. However, after further review and confirmation from a national CRP specialist, Douglas County will fall below the county CRP cropland limit when CRP acres expiring Sept. 30, 2021, are removed from the total CRP acreage currently enrolled.
For land to be eligible to be enrolled in CRP the following criteria must be met:
- Cropping History – Land planted or considered planted to an agriculture commodity during four of the six crops years from 2012 through 2017
And meet at least one of the following- Erodibility – Weighted average of 3 predominant soils of the new land has an Erodibility Index (EI) of 8 or greater.
- Expiring CRP – Current CRP contracts that expire Sept. 30, 2021.
- Located in State Conservation Priority Area (CPA).
*Any acreage currently under NRCS ACEP-WRE, CSP or EQIP contract is ineligible to be signed up*
New with the 2018 Farm Bill, cost share for Mid-Contract Management (MCM) is not offered, however the requirement to perform MCM is still a requirement to remain in compliance with program provisions. No additional cost share is authorized for stand establishment for expiring CRP contracts that are re-enrolled unless the cover is being enhanced.
For signup 56, the 2021 average Douglas County Soil Rental Rate (SRR) is calculated at 85 percent of a $47/acre county average, or $40/acre.
Additional information can be found on the Washington State Conservation Reserve Program page.
If you would like to sign up or have questions, please contact the Douglas County FSA office. The sign up deadline is Feb. 12, 2021. As a reminder, due to COVID-19, the office is still closed to in-person meetings at this time.