USDA Farm Service Agency

Conservation Reserve Program

Questions and Answers on General CRP Sign-up

February 13, 2020

1. Is there a minimum number of EBI points needed in order for an offer to be

accepted?

There is not a minimum number per se. This is because the EBI cut off will drive the points

different point values are. The three things that a producer can do to affect their EBI score is:

adjust their rental payment, choose different cover mixes, and/or choose some enhancement

opportunities.

Offering below the maximum payment rate is always an area that can get you some additional

EBI points. And your local county office can help you to understand that EBI a little bit better.

3. Does the cropping history requirement include marginal pastureland?

It does not apply to marginal pastureland. Both cropland and marginal pastureland that are

once USDA announces the EBI cutoff, FSA can determine how many offers they can accept, and

there will be a national news release announcing there have been a certain number of offers

received, and of the offers received a certain amount of offers have been accepted into the CRP

general sign-up.

After that announcement, producers that have submitted an offer will be mailed a letter. The

letter will either say their offer has been accepted, and they need to contact their county office to

notify us if they wish to proceed. Or their letter will tell them their offer has been rejected and

will note why their offer was rejected. Their letter may suggest other CRP opportunities. For

example, their letter may suggest the producer to submit an offer under continuous sign up if

6. What are other ways that a producer can keep aware of the announcement for EBI

cut-off scores and number of CRP general offers received and accepted?

GovDelivery is a good way for producers to get national and local county announcements.

They can go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USFSA/subscriber/new/ to sign up for

emails or text message alerts for news on the CRP program.

7. What if a landowner decides to sell their land within that 10 year contract that

complete a contract revision to remove the previous owner and add the new owner to the

contract. The contract will then continue with the new owner. If that new owner decides they do

not want to succeed to that contract, the contract is terminated and the previous owner must

refund all annual rental payments and cost share payments for all the years that they were in the

CRP contract.

8. Are there any special programs for beginning farmers and ranchers for producers

in their first or second year of farming?

Yes, we have the transition incentive program or TIP, which is set up for beginning farmers and

9. Where can producers find additional resources for new and beginning farmers and

ranchers?

The https://newfarmers.usda.gov/ website e is a website that has a lot of information on

conservation programs that USDA has. It contains special incentives for limited resource

producers beginning farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged producers, tribal producers, as

well as military veteran producers.

10. What are the outreach plans and goals for Socially Disadvantage (SD) farmers and

ranchers in FSA? Will there be any funding attached to programs?

CRP SHIPP has provisions for beginning, limited resource, socially disadvantaged or veteran

farmers. They are paid at a higher rental rate and they are eligible to receive cost share for

planting the cover. However, SHIPP is only applicable to producers in Iowa, Minnesota,

Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

11. How do you expect to raise the number of acres with the drastic reduction in

payments. In our area I see a reduction from $33 to projected payment of $10.

The 2018 farm bill reduces CRP rental rates to no more than 85 percent of the county rental rate

for CRP general sign-up and no more than 90 percent of the county rental rate for CRP

CRP. What are options?

Land planted to trees that was in a CRP contract that expired is no longer considered cropland. It

is not eligible for CRP if the land is not cropland or marginal pastureland. Visit with your local

FSA County office to determine the current land eligibility.

13. Does the cropping history requirement apply to forestland?

Forestland is not eligible for CRP. Only land that is cropland or marginal pastureland is eligible

for CRP. Forestland is not considered cropland or marginal pastureland.

significant conservation concerns and is a negotiated agreement between the USDA and State,

Indian Tribes or non-governmental organizations that utilizes federal and non-federal funds to

address environmental concerns. CREP is offered under continuous signup criteria so if the land

meets all eligibility criteria, the offer is automatically accepted. General CRP signup is offered

annually, during a specific period of time, to owners and operators of land that want to offer land

for enrollment in the CRP. General signup offers are ranked using an Environmental Benefits

Index against all other offers nationwide. Once signup is over an EBI cutoff score is selected

which is then used to determine what offers are accepted.

CREP enrollment began on December 9, 2019 and is ongoing; while signup for general CRP is

If the contract CRP contract expired in 2017, 2018, or 2019, and there was an opportunity in that

year to re-enroll, the land is not eligible to enroll in 2020 under the expired land criteria. Visit

your local FSA office to determine if the land meets other CRP signup enrollment criteria.

16. What is considered marginal pastureland?

Marginal pastureland is a determination made by the FSA County Committee. Marginal

pastureland is not cropland or forestland.