Montana Workshops Present Options for Expiring CRP Acres

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There are currently more than 1.4 million acres of cropland enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in Montana.  At the close of fiscal year 2017, nearly 400,000 of these contracted acres will expire, which impacts approximately 2,254 CRP contracts.

The 2014 Farm Bill capped CRP enrollment at 24 million acres nationwide, the lowest allotment since the inception of the program in the Food Security Act of 1985.  The acre cap means many producers will not have the option to re-enroll acreage in CRP and will be faced with a monumental decision. 

A partnership of federal and state agencies and resource groups have organized meetings to inform landowners of their options once the CRP contracts expire. The informational workshops will be held in locations with the largest number of expiring 2017 CRP acres as listed below. 

  • Feb. 8, 2017, Ryegate, Ryegate Fire Hall, contact Ronelia Parry at 406-568-2221 x 2
  • Feb. 9, 2017, Billings, Red Lion Convention Center, contact Julie Winters at 406-657-6135 x 2
  • Feb. 22, 2017, Scobey, Catholic Church Center, contact Jamie Zumbuhl at 406-487-5366 x 2
  • Feb. 23, 2017, Froid, Froid Community Center, contact Jill Davidson at 406-787-6262 x 2
  • Feb. 24, 2017, Glasgow, Cottonwood Inn & Suites, contact Mike Hagfeldt at 406-228-4321 x 2
  • March 1, 2017, Choteau, Stage Stop Inn, contact Lacey Orcutt at 406-466-5351 x 2
  • March 2, 2017, Shelby, Shelby Civic Center, contact Robert Hermance at 406-434-5234 x 2
  • March 8, 2017, Havre, MSU Northern Ag Research Center, contact Leslie Rispens at 406-265-6792 x 2
  • March 9, 2017, Great Falls, Montana Expo Park, contact Rusty Cowan at 406-727-7580 x 2

The workshops run from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Please RSVP to the contact listed as lunch will be provided.

Meeting participants will hear from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, Pheasants Forever, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and others regarding CRP options, cropland conversion, livestock operations, wildlife conservation, and easements.

Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to participate in a meeting should contact the local meeting contact listed above or Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339, and jennifer.cole@mt.usda.gov no later than two business days prior to the meeting.


Source:  Montana FSA

 

Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS.

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