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Conservation Reserve Program (Deadline March 11)

• Farmers and landowners can sign up now through March 11 for General CRP to establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species such as approved grasses or trees to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. From April 4 to May 13, growers can also enroll in Grassland CRP to help maintain grasslands as working grazing lands. Alongside these programs, producers and landowners can enroll acres in Continuous CRP under the ongoing sign-up, which includes projects available through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE). 
• Landowners and producers interested in CRP should contact their local USDA Service Center to learn more or to apply for the program. Additionally, fact sheets and other resources are available at fsa.usda.gov/crp.

Pandemic Cover Crop Program (Deadline March 15)

• The PCPP provides premium support to eligible producers who insured their spring crop with most insurance policies and planted a qualifying cover crop during the 2022 crop year with cover planted after June 15, 2021. The premium support is up to $5 per acre but no more than the full premium owed.
• To receive the benefit for this program, producers must file a Report of Acreage form (FSA-578) with their cover crops identified with USDA’s Farm Service Agency by March 15, which is distinct from the normal acreage reporting date. The cover crop fields reported on the Report of Acreage form must match what the producer reported to their insurance company for crop insurance policies. This form should be filed with your local FSA county office/USDA Service Center.

Post-Application Coverage Endorsement

• For those soy producers who also grow corn, USDA’s Risk Management Agency announced a new insurance option, Post Application Coverage Endorsement (PACE) for non-irrigated corn, providing coverage for producers in 11 states who “split-apply” nitrogen. This practice can lead to lower input costs and helps prevent runoff and leaching of nutrients into waterways and groundwater.
• To learn more about PACE, visit RMA’s Conservation webpage, which has frequently asked questions, a fact sheet and other resources. Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. 

Conservation Stewardship Program (Applications Accepted Year-round)

• USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service updated CSP to allow farmers to immediately re-enroll in the program following an unfunded application to renew an existing contract. Previously, if a CSP participant did not re-enroll the year their contract expired, they were ineligible for the program for two years. This ineligibility was imposed on CSP participants even if their failure to sign a renewal contract was due to the unavailability of funds, which is beyond their control. USDA is now waiving this two-year ineligibility restriction for all CSP applications.
• NRCS accepts applications for working lands conservation programs (including CSP and EQIP) year-round, however producers and landowners should apply by state-specific sign-up dates to be considered for each year’s funding. To apply, producers should contact their local USDA Service Center.