USDA Asks Public for Comments and Schedules Nine Public Meetings on Conservation Reserve Program

USDA Release No. 0393.09

Contact:
Jonathan Groveman (202) 720-4178

USDA Asks Public for Comments and Schedules Nine Public Meetings on
Conservation Reserve Program

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2009 - The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), on
behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), today asked the
public for comments on the Conservation Reserve Program and scheduled
nine public meetings from Sept. 15 through Oct. 8 to solicit comments
on the program.

The meetings will be held in Washington, Montana, Minnesota, Kansas,
Illinois, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Topics to
be discussed at the public meetings include provisions dealing with
cropping history requirements, crop rotation practices, contract
incentives, program enrollment terms and the Conservation Reserve
Program (CRP) enrollment authority of 32 million acres established
for the remainder of the 2008 Farm Bill.

"These workshops will be important to receive feedback about how we
can make the Conservation Reserve Program more effective for
producers as well as increase the environmental benefits of the
program," said Farm Service Agency Administrator Jonathan Coppess.

USDA will consider each comment received at the public meetings and
during the comment period when preparing a Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement. This statement will help USDA decision-makers and
the public with an analysis of the environmental benefits and
potential impacts associated with implementing various changes to CRP
consistent with the 2008 Farm Bill.

CRP is a voluntary program that supports the implementation of
long-term conservation measures designed to improve the quality of
ground and surface waters, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife
habitat on environmentally sensitive agricultural land. In return,
CCC provides participants with rental payments and cost share
assistance under contracts extending from 10 to 15 years. CRP is a
CCC program administered by the FSA with the support of other federal
and local agencies.

The nine public meetings are scheduled for:

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1. Sept. 15, 2009, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn Spokane Airport
Spokane, Wash.
(509) 244-5866

2. Sept. 17, 2009, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Hampton Inn Great Falls
Great Falls, Mont.
(406) 453-2675

3. Sept. 21, 2009, from 5 – 7 p.m.
AmericInn Lodge and Suites
Moorhead, Minn.
(218) 287-7100

4. Sept. 23, 2009, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Clarion Hotel
Manhattan, Kan.
(785) 539-5311

5. Sept. 25, 2009, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn, Springfield
Springfield, Ill.
(217) 529-7171

6. September 29, 2009, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Oklahoma City Marriott Hotel
Oklahoma City, Okla.
(405) 879-7042

7. Oct. 1, 2009 from 5 – 7 p.m.
La Quinta Inn and Suites
Clovis, NM
(575) 763-8777

8. Oct. 6, 2009 from 5 – 7 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn
Albany, Ga.
(229) 888-1590

9. Oct. 8, 2009 from 5 – 7 p.m.
Courtyard by Marriott
Harrisburg, Pa.
(717) 558-8544

Public comments are due by Oct. 19, 2009, to be considered in the
Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. You can submit
comments online at: <https://public.geo-marine.com/>http:
//public.geo-marine.com; or Federal eRulemaking Portal:
<https://www.regulations.gov/>https://www.regulations.gov; or E-mail
comments to: <mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask];
or Mail or hand deliver comments to: CRP SEIS, c/o TEC Inc., 8 San
Jose Dr., Suite 3-B, Newport News, VA 23606, Fax comments to: (757) 594-1469

More information is
at<https://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=crp>:
FSA’s CRP Web site .

For more information on CRP please visit your FSA county office or at
<https://www.fsa.usda.gov/>www.fsa.usda.gov.