USDA-Farm Service Agency Dallas/Lowndes County Executive Director Perry Woodruff has announced that the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) sign-up deadline has been extended to Friday, April 13, 2012.

During this extended signup period, landowners may offer eligible land for CRP’s competitive general signup at their county FSA office.

CRP is a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them use environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion and develop wildlife habitat.

In return, USDA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years.

Producers with expiring contracts and producers with environmentally sensitive land are encouraged to evaluate their options under CRP. Contracts awarded under this signup are scheduled to become effective October 1, 2012.

Producers are encouraged to contact their local FSA service center or visit FSA’s website at http://
www.fsa.usda.gov/crp for additional information regarding CRP.