Peterson Applauds USDA CRP and Beginning Farmer Announcement

Press Release

House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson today made the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced sign up dates for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Transition Incentives Program (TIP). Continuous sign up for CRP and sign up for TIP begins June 9. Producers with existing CRP contracts expiring in September have the option of a one-year extension.

"This announcement is good news in that the one-year extension will allow producers at the end of their contract a chance to get in the general signup next year if they want to. And with an aging farm population, the TIP Program will help to expand opportunities for beginning, socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers looking to get started in agriculture."

CRP provides incentives to producers who utilize conservation methods on environmentally-sensitive lands. TIP provides two additional years of payments for retired farmers and ranchers who transition expiring CRP acres to socially disadvantaged, military veteran or beginning producers who return the land to sustainable grazing or crop production. Both programs were reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.

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