FSA Announces New Conservation Initiative to Restore Species

News Date April 02, 2007

USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) on March 22 announced a new 500,000-acre Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) practice to improve habitat for high-priority wildlife species throughout the United States. 

The State Areas for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative will enable the public, producers, state and federal agencies, non-profit conservation organizations and others to propose areas where new CRP acreage may be established to address the habitat needs of endangered, threatened or high-priority fish and other wildlife species. SAFE seeks to enroll 500,000 acres in new CRP contracts. In addition, conservation practices currently offered under CRP can be fine-tuned under SAFE to improve, connect or create higher-quality habitat to promote healthier ecosystems. 

FSA state offices will accept proposals beginning August 2007. FSA will consider SAFE proposals through a review process that includes FSA and the USDA state technical committees. Later this year, FSA state offices will begin to announce approved SAFE proposals and sign-up periods. 

Eligible producers in these areas may enter into new CRP contracts with USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). CCC will offer participants an annual CRP rental rate equivalent to soil rental rates for the county plus an annual maintenance payment. Also, the producer is eligible for cost-share assistance of up to 50 percent of eligible practice installation costs. In addition, producers will be eligible for a one-time payment of $100 per acre Signing Incentive Payment. Producers may also receive a Practice Incentive Payment equal to 40 percent of the eligible establishment costs of the practice. More information about FSA's conservation programs is available at local FSA offices and online at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)