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USDA asks public for comments, schedules public meeting on CRPKansas Adrian J. Polansky, state executive director of USDA's Farm Service Agency in Kansas recently announced that USDA will hold a public meeting in Manhattan to obtain comments on the Conservation Reserve Program. Topics to be discussed at the meeting include provisions dealing with cropping history requirements, crop rotation practices, contract incentives, program enrollment terms and the Conservation Reserve Program enrollment authority of 32 million acres established for the remainder of the 2008 farm bill. "This workshop will be important to receive feedback about how USDA can make the Conservation Reserve Program more effective for producers as well as increase the environmental benefits of the program," said Polansky. USDA will consider each comment received at the public meeting 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. Kansas currently has 3,098,401.6 acres enrolled on 49,443 CRP contracts. Of those, 8,640.5 acres are enrolled on 46 contracts under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. Kansas has approximately 1.5 million acres expiring in the next three years. This meeting will be held at the Clarion Hotel, 530 Richards Drive, Manhattan, KS, PH 785-539-5311, on Wednesday, Sept. 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. Public comments are due by Oct. 19, 2009, to be considered in the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. You can submit comments online at: http://public.geo-marine.com; or Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov; or e-mail comments to: CRPcomments@tecinc.com; or mail 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.
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