WASHINGTON, April 22, 2021 ----- The Izaak Walton League of America welcomes the Department of Agriculture's announcement today that it would boost incentives for landowners to enroll farmland in the Conservation Reserve Program.
The CRP payment structure needed an overhaul, and this is exactly that.
The League warned USDA more than a year ago that the huge soil conservation, water quality and fish and wildlife benefits provided by the Conservation Reserve Program would only continue if USDA offers rental rates and incentives high enough to convince landowners to enroll in the program.
The League congratulates USDA for responding by making substantial improvements in the program, including increasing incentive payments and adding a new climate-smart incentive payment.
Current CRP enrollment is at the lowest level since 1987, when the program was first getting started. 2020 marked the 13th straight year of declining enrollment in the program.
CONTACTS
Duane Hovorka, Agriculture Program Director, Izaak Walton League of America, DHovorka@iwla.org, (402) 804-0033 (cell)
Michael Reinemer, mreinemer@iwla.org, 703-966-9574