Quail Group Pleased With CRP Signups

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the acceptance of more than 3.4 million acres into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for 2020. Encouraging news for agriculture, wildlife and water resources nationwide, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever acknowledges that USDA is well on its way to fulfilling an overall goal of 8 million acres this year to keep CRP at full enrollment levels.

“We’re encouraged by landowner demand for the general CRP signup despite the confusion and technical problems encountered during the first six weeks of the opportunity. These new acres will provide critical conservation and wildlife habitat benefits throughout the nation,” explained Jim Inglis, director of governmental affairs for Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever. “From our perspective, we still have 4.6 million acres available toward an overall 8-million-acre goal of full CRP enrollment by October 1st, 2020. Our attention now turns to enrolling acres into the Continuous and Grassland CRP practices, as well as the new Soil Health and Income Protection Program.”

“The Habitat Organization” is particularly pleased that the acceptance rate for this signup was 89 percent nationwide. Overall, it’s a win for wildlife and rural economies. However, the fact remains that with 5.3 million acres expiring this year, CRP lands throughout the United States have the potential to experience a net loss of acreage unless we keep pushing for enrollment opportunities through the fall months. Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever will be conducting a state-by-state analysis of enrolled/accepted general CRP acres in the coming days to ensure pheasant, quail and rural economic goals are being met nationally.

“It was encouraging that Secretary Perdue recently testified in front of the House Agriculture Committee in support of his goal to reach full CRP enrollment, and that he was amenable to an additional general signup this year if needed,” added Inglis. “America’s wildlife, hunters, farmers, ranchers and landowners need CRP more than ever right now.”

Source: Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever