USDA Accepts Over 2,000 Michigan Acres in Offers Through Conservation Reserve Program General Signup

EAST LANSING, Mich., May 3, 2022 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting more than 2 million acres in offers from agricultural producers and landowners through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup, which included over 2,000 acres in Michigan. This is the first of the program’s multiple signups occurring in 2022. With about 3.4 million acres expiring this year, Vilsack encourages producers and landowners to consider the Grassland and Continuous signups, both of which are currently open.  

“Our conservation programs are voluntary, and at the end of the day, producers are making market-based decisions as the program was designed to allow and encourages,” said Tim Boring, FSA State Executive Director in Michigan. “More CRP signup options - including additional incentives through the Michigan Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program and State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement programs - are still available as important tools to help agricultural producers implement voluntary practices on their land to mitigate climate change, conserve natural resources, and protect the natural beauty of Michigan.” 

It is important to note that submitting and accepting a CRP offer is the start of the process, and producers still need to develop a conservation plan before enrolling their land on October 1, 2022. Each year, during the window between offer acceptance and land enrollment, some producers change their mind and ultimately decide not to enroll some accepted acres without penalty.

Michigan agriculture producers offered just over 3,000 acres for CRP General Signup 58. USDA accepted over 100 Michigan offers, totaling nearly 2,200 acres in the state.

It's not too late for Michigan farmers to sign up for conservation programs. Four other types of CRP are still available for either working-lands or targeted, often smaller sub-field, offers. CRP Grassland signup closes May 13, 2022. Continuous CRP Signup, for conservation practices on smaller acreage or strips of land, is ongoing. There are also opportunities for agriculture landowners to participate in USDA partnership programs with the State of Michigan, including the Michigan Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) Pollinator Habitat, SAFE Pheasant and Monarch Recovery, and CRP Clean Lakes, Estuaries and Rivers Program (CLEAR30).

Producers and landowners can still apply for the Continuous and Grassland signups by contacting their local USDA Service Center. 

General CRP Signup 

The General CRP Signup 58 ran from Jan. 31 to March 11, 2022.  

Through CRP, producers and landowners establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve soil health and water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat on agricultural land. In addition to the other well-documented benefits, lands enrolled in CRP are playing a key role in climate change mitigation efforts across the country.  

In 2021, FSA introduced improvements to the program, which included a new Climate-Smart Practice Incentive to increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This incentive provides a 3%, 5% or 10% incentive payment based on the predominant vegetation type for the practices enrolled – from grasses to trees to wetland restoration.  

More Information 

While the General Signup is closed, producers and landowners can still apply for the Continuous and Grassland signups by contacting their local USDA Service Center.  

Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest voluntary private-lands conservation programs in the United States. It was originally intended to primarily control soil erosion and potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production. The program has evolved over the years, providing many conservation and economic benefits. Learn more at fsa.usda.gov/crp.   

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov. 

Media Contact:
savannah.halleaux@usda.gov