The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced today a new usda program that will help new, minority and military veteran farmers get their start in agriculture. Farmers, ranchers and landowners committed to protecting and conserving environmentally sensitive land may now sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). In addition, retiring farmers enrolled in CRP could receive incentives to transfer a portion of their land to beginning, disadvantaged or military veteran farmers through the Transition Incentives Program (TIP).
CRP is one of the largest voluntary conservation programs in the country. It helps farmers and ranchers prevent soil erosion, improve water quality and restore wildlife habitat, all of which will make a difference for future generations.
The average age of a farmer in Virginia is 59.5 years, and twice as many are 65 or older compared to those 45 or younger. The state needs new farmers, but the cost of buying land is one of the biggest barriers to many interested in getting started in agriculture. The Transition Incentives Program is a useful tool to help new farmers get started.
The Conservation Reserve Program provides incentives to producers who utilize conservation methods on environmentally-sensitive lands. For example, farmers are monetarily compensated for establishing long-term vegetative species, such as approved grasses or trees (known as covers) to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat.
CRP consists of a continuous and a general sign-up period. Continuous sign up for the voluntary program starts June 9, 2014. Under continuous sign-up authority, eligible land can be enrolled in CRP at any time with contracts of up to 10 to 15 years in duration. In lieu of a general sign-up this year, usda will allow producers with general CRP contracts expiring this September to have the option of a one-year contract extension. usda will also implement the 2014 Farm Bill’s requirement that producers enrolled through general sign-up for more than five years can exercise the option to opt-out of the program if certain other conditions are met. In addition, the new grassland provisions, which will allow producers to graze their enrolled land, will enable producers to do so with more flexibility.
The Transition Incentives Program provides two additional years of payments for retired farmers and ranchers who transition expiring CRP acres to socially disadvantaged, military veteran or beginning producers who return the land to sustainable grazing or crop production. Sign up will also begin June 9, 2014. TIP funding was increased by more than 30 percent in the 2014 Farm Bill, providing up to $33 million through 2018.
As part of the 2014 Farm Bill, participants meeting specific qualifications may have the opportunity to terminate their CRP contract during fiscal year 2015 if the contract has been in effect for a minimum of five years and if other conditions are also met.
The usda Farm Service Agency (FSA), which administers CRP, will coordinate the various CRP program opportunities. For more information on CRP and other FSA programs, visit a local FSA county office or go online to www.fsa.usda.gov.
Share
Contributors
