Haying and grazing can be performed under CRP in certain situations where it either improves the quality and performance of the land or provides emergency relief to livestock. While it can be beneficial for CRP contract holders to utilize haying and/or grazing on their CRP acres, they need to be authorized to do so, and they must follow the rules. There are two types […]
Understanding Haying and Grazing in CRP Read More »
America’s farmlands are shrinking. Between 1997 and 2018, the US lost 98,000 square miles (627,200,000 acres) of farmland. While some of this is due to development and urban expansion, some of it is simply because farmland is abandoned. Farmland is abandoned for a number of reasons. It may suffer from damaged soil, resulting in low crop yields that simply aren’t’ worth the
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All CRP contracts come to an end, but that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to the program. Even if your initial plan was to return to crop production after you contract expires, you may come to realize it isn’t the best idea for your situation. After all, reverting CRP back to crop production is a very involving process with no guarantees.
Reenrolling in CRP After Your Contract Expires Read More »
There’s no question that CRP is a long-term commitment, with contracts lasting 10-15 years. This timeframe is necessary for the restorative measures of CRP to take effect. Still, as far out as it might seem, there will come a day when your CRP contract reaches its end. The question at this point becomes what will you do now? To continue generating profit from the
Should You Return to Crop Production After CRP? Read More »
With one–third of the US’s farmers over the age of 65, a lot of farmland will likely be changing hands throughout the next decade. In many cases, this farmland will be passed on to another member (or members) of the farmer’s family. Farmland is generally a very valuable asset. Not only is the land itself worth money, but it’s capable of generating on-going revenue should you continue to farm
What to Do with Inherited Farmland Read More »
Hunting and conservationism are often shown to be at odds with one another. Stories of trophy hunters traveling around the world to hunt endangered species are regularly shared on news and social platforms. However, trophy hunters are not a proper representation of the North American hunting community. The large majority of hunters are licensed and law-abiding people who target local wildlife that have healthy populations. They hunt for food, general sport, and in cases, land/livestock protection. These hunters tend
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Since launching with the 1985 Farm Bill, the Conservation Reserve Program has set out to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and restore wildlife habitat. It does so by paying farmers and landowners to take marginal farmland out of active production. In place of traditional farm crops, which can deplete soil health and fertility overtime, farmers establish
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Looking to enroll or just recently enrolled land in CRP? If you’re new to the program, it’s natural to have a few questions. The Conservation Reserve Program has a number of specific requirements that contract holders must follow, including what seed is used, how it’s planted, and how it’s maintained. Before you get too far along in
What Do I Need to Plant CRP? Read More »
Farmers have long employed various methods to disrupt soil, using sticks, hoes, ards, rakes, and plows to turn the ground and prepare farmland. This is process is known as tillage. Tillage serves a number of purposes including seed bed preparation, burying crop residue, leveling soil, spreading nutrients, mixing in fertilizer, and activating pesticides. It’s also very helpful with
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Growing the same crops in the same spot year after year can take a toll on soil, depleting it of certain nutrients and leaving it unbalanced. As the soil’s health decreases, water runoff and erosion increases, damaging the soil further. Ultimately, this results in weaker crop yields. Farmers have long employed techniques to combat this. One of the more aggressive methods of keeping soil balanced
CRP vs. Crop Rotation – What’s Best for My Land? Read More »