For Immediate Release

Contacts:

John R Whitaker, State Executive Director

(515) 254 1540, Ext. 1000

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Des Moines, Iowa, March 1, 2012: John R. Whitaker, State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Iowa, announced that FSA will conduct several Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) informational meetings across the state. Iowa currently has 1,658,024 acres enrolled in CRP with an estimated 231,672 acres expiring September 30, 2012. A General CRP signup is scheduled to begin March 12, 2012 and end April 6, 2012. Environmentally desirable land devoted to certain conservation practices may be enrolled in CRP at any time under continuous sign-up. Producers wanting to re-enroll continuous CRP practices expiring September 30, 2012, must do so prior to contract expiration.

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Landowners with expiring CRP land or land that is not currently enrolled in CRP are encouraged to attend an informational meeting.

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“Our local county offices have done a great job scheduling meetings throughout the state,” said Whitaker. “This will give interested participants more options to attend a meeting at a convenient location.”

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Information on the meetings listed below and other programs administered by FSA can be found at www.fsa.usda.gov/ia

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Adair 3/15/12 5:30 pm Adair County Fairgrounds 4-H Building, Greenfield, Iowa

Allamakee 3/1/12 10:00 am Basement of the Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank, Waukon, Iowa

Allamakee 3/7/12 1:00 pm Basement of the Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank, Waukon, Iowa

Cherokee 3/7/12 1:00 pm Cherokee County Conservation, 629 River Rd, Cherokee, Iowa

Clayton 3/6/12 1:30 pm Johnson’s Reception Hall, 918 High St. NE, Elkader, Iowa

Delaware 3/8/12 10:30 am Pizza Ranch, 1100 West Main St, Manchester, Iowa

Fayette 3/13/12 6:00 pm Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank, 205 N Vine, West Union, Iowa

Harrison 3/8/12 9:00 am Harrison County Extension Office, 304 East 7th St, Logan, Iowa

Howard 3/20/12 5:00 pm Cresco Bank and Trust Co., 126 2nd Ave SE, Cresco, Iowa

Iowa 3/13/12 10:00 am Lower level of the Williamsburg Public Library, 214 W State St. Williamsburg, Iowa

Jackson 3/14/12 6:30 pm Community Room of the Hurstville Interpretive Center north of Maquoketa, Iowa

Jackson 3/19/12 5:30 pm Jackson Building at the Madison County Fairgrounds

Jefferson 3/14/12 10:00 am Jefferson County Fairgrounds Activity Building, 2606 W Burlington Ave, Fairfield, Iowa

Johnson Numerous Dates 9:30 am or 1:30 pm Call the Office at 319-354-1074 to reserve a spot. Meetings will be held at the Office

Jones 3/5/12 11:00 am and 6:00 pm Jones County FSA Office, 300 Chamber Dr, Anamosa, IA

Keokuk 3/22/12 6:00 pm Sigourney Public Library, 720 E Jackson St, Sigourney, Iowa

Lyon 3/13/12 12:00 pm USDA Service Center Conference Rm, 710 N. 2nd Ave East, Rock Rapids, Iowa. Meal provided by the Soil and Water Commissioners, RSVP to: jared.elbert@ia.nacdnet.net

Lee 3/7/12 10:00 am Pilot Grove Community Center, 507 Elm St, Donnellson, Iowa

Mitchell 3/14/12 10:30 am Mitchell County Conservation Office, 18793 Hwy 9, Osage, Iowa

Poweshiek 3/5/12 5:30 pm Manatt Community Center, Brooklyn, Iowa

Poweshiek 3/6/12 5:30 pm Country Inn and Suites, Grinnell, Iowa

Poweshiek 3/7/12 5:30 pm Foster Care, Montezuma, Iowa

Pottawattamie 3/14/12 9:00 am East Pott Service Center, 321 Oakland Ave, Oakland, Iowa

Pottawattamie 3/13/12 9:00 am West Pott Service Center, 305 McKenzie Ave, Council Bluffs, Iowa

Sioux 3/6/12 1:30 pm Hawarden Conference Center (same building as City Offices), 1150 Central Ave, Hawarden, Iowa (Use east entrances)

Tama 3/20/12 6:00 pm Civic Center, 305 Siegel St, Tama, Iowa

Van Buren 3/6/12 6:30 pm Roberts Center, 20497 Hwy 1N, Keosauqua, Iowa RSVP REQUIRED to 319-293-3371

Winneshiek 3/8/12 1:00 pm Lower Level of the USDA Service Center, 2296 Oil Well Rd, Decorah, Iowa

Woodbury 3/15/12 10:00 am Woodbury County Service Center, 204 1st St, Ste. C2, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa