Wisconsin Ag Connection - FSA Has New Conservation Incentives for Grass, Pasture Lands

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FSA Has New Conservation Incentives for Grass, Pasture Lands
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 09/02/2015

Beginning September 1, farmers can apply for financial assistance to help conserve working grasslands and pastureland while maintaining the areas for livestock grazing. The initiative is part of the voluntary Conservation Reserve Program, a federally funded program that for 30 years has assisted agricultural producers with the cost of restoring, enhancing and protecting certain grasses, shrubs and trees to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and reduce loss of wildlife habitat. In return, the USDA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance.

The CRP-Grasslands initiative will provide participants who establish long-term, resource-conserving covers with annual rental payments up to 75 percent of the grazing value of the land. Cost-share assistance also is available for up to 50 percent of the covers and other practices, such as cross fencing to support rotational grazing or improving pasture cover to benefit pollinators or other wildlife. Participants may still conduct common grazing practices, produce hay, mow, or harvest for seed production, conduct fire rehabilitation, and construct firebreaks and fences.

FSA will accept applications on an ongoing basis, with those applications scored against published ranking criteria, and approved based on the competitiveness of the offer. The ranking period will occur at least once per year and be announced at least 30 days prior to its start. The end of the first ranking period will be November 20.

To learn more about participating in CRP-Grasslands or SAFE, consult your local Farm Service Agency county office.

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