Conservation Reserve Program Aimed at Helping Small Livestock Grazing Operations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is offering a new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) - Grasslands practice specifically tailored for small-scale livestock grazing operations. Small livestock operations with 100 or fewer head of grazing dairy cows (or the equivalent) can submit applications to enroll up to 200 acres of grasslands per farm.

In addition to dairy cattle, other eligible livestock include, beef cattle, sheep, goats, llamas and buffalo. Horse operations are also eligible if the horses are used as part of the farming operation for breeding purposes and/or used in the operation for the production of livestock. Producer must be able to report to IRS that the horses are used for agricultural purposes on Schedule F or similar form required by IRS.

Participants in CRP Grasslands establish or maintain long-term, resource-conserving grasses and other plant species to control soil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat on marginally productive agricultural lands. CRP Grasslands participants can use the land for livestock production (e.g. grazing or producing hay), while following their conservation and grazing plans in order to maintain the cover. A goal of CRP Grasslands is to minimize conversion of grasslands either to row crops or to non-agricultural uses. Participants can receive annual payments of up to 75 percent of the grazing value of the land and up to 50 percent to fund cover or practices like cross-fencing to support rotational grazing or improving pasture cover to benefit pollinators or other wildlife.

CRP Grasslands recognizes the conservation value of well-managed, working grazing lands and pasturelands. This new opportunity for small livestock operations will help ensure that livestock operations of varying scales and across the country have an opportunity to achieve environmental and economic benefits. This opportunity will close on Dec. 16, 2016. Offers selected this fiscal year will be enrolled into CRP Grasslands beginning Oct. 1, 2017.

USDA will select offers for enrollment based on six ranking factors: (1) current and future use, (2) new farmer/rancher or underserved producer involvement, (3) maximum grassland preservation, (4) vegetative cover, (5) environmental factors and (6) pollinator habitat.

Small livestock operations interested in participating in CRP Grasslands should contact their local FSA office. Producers in Franklin County are encouraged to contact the Franklin County FSA office at 151 Finney Boulevard in Malone or calling 518-483-2850, option 2 for more information. Clinton & Essex County farmers can contact the Clinton-Essex FSA office by calling 518-561-4616, option 2 or visiting the office at 6064 Route 22, Plattsburgh. To learn more about FSA’s conservation programs, visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation.