WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will allow Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants who are in the final year of their CRP contract to request voluntary termination of their CRP contract following the end of the primary nesting season for fiscal year 2022. Participants approved for this one-time, voluntary termination will not have to repay rental payments, a flexibility implemented this year to help mitigate the global food supply challenges caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other factors. Today, USDA also announced additional flexibilities for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).


U.S. flag
    An official website of the United States government
     Here’s how you know Here’s how you know **Official websites use .gov**  A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
 Farm Service Agency
 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 About FSA
  Ask USDA
  Contact Us
  Forms
 Menu
  close
   Home
    Programs & Services
     ARC/PLC Program
         Civil Rights
         Certified Mediation Program
         Climate Adaptation Plan
         Conservation Programs
         Cooperative Agreements
         Dairy Margin Coverage Program
         Disaster Assistance Programs
         Economic & Policy Analysis
       Emergency Relief 
         Environmental & Cultural Resource Compliance
         Farm Bill Home
         Farm Labor Stabilization & Protection Pilot Grants
         Farm Loan Programs
         Financial Management Information
         Increasing Land Access
         Initiatives
       Laws and Regulations
         Margin Protection Program for Dairy
         Market Facilitation Program
         MIDAS
         Organic Certification Cost Share Program
         Outreach & Education
         Payment Eligibility
         Price Support
         Rice Production Program
    State Offices
    Online Services
     LDP
         eARC/PLC
         Farmers.gov (FSA Farm+)
         FSA Online Data Resources
         Loan Assistance Tool
    Newsroom
     Fact Sheets
         News Releases
         Emergency Designations
         Stakeholder Information
         eFOIA
       Meetings & Events
         Public Service Announcements
         County Committee Elections
         Fence PostSearch small Search
 USDA to Allow Producers to Request Voluntary Termination of Conservation Reserve Program Contract  Contact:FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov *USDA Announces Additional Flexibilities to Help Address Threats to Global Food Security* WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will allow Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants who are in the final year of their CRP contract to request voluntary termination of their CRP contract following the end of the primary nesting season for fiscal year 2022. Participants approved for this one-time, voluntary termination will not have to repay rental payments, a flexibility implemented this year to help mitigate the global food supply challenges caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other factors. Today, USDA also announced additional flexibilities for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). “Putin’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine has cut off a critical source of wheat, corn, barley, oilseeds, and cooking oil, and we’ve heard from many producers who want to better understand their options to help respond to global food needs,” said Zach Ducheneaux, Administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). “This announcement will help producers make informed decisions about land use and conservation options.” FSA is mailing letters to producers with expiring acres that detail this flexibility and share other options, such as re-enrolling sensitive acres in the CRP Continuous signup and considering growing organic crops. Producers will be asked to make the request for voluntary termination in writing through their local USDA Service Center. If approved for voluntary termination, preparations can occur after the conclusion of the primary nesting season. Producers will then be able to hay, graze, begin land preparation activities and plant a fall-seeded crop before October 1, 2022. For land in colder climates, this flexibility may allow for better establishment of a winter wheat crop or better prepare the land for spring planting. **Organic Considerations**Since CRP land typically does not have a recent history of pesticide or herbicide application, USDA is encouraging producers to consider organic production. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial assistance to help producers plan and implement conservation practices, including those that work well for organic operations, such as pest management and mulching. Meanwhile, FSA offers cost-share for certification costs and other fees. **Other CRP Options**Participants can also choose to enroll all or part of their expiring acres into the Continuous CRP signup for 2022. Important conservation benefits may still be achieved by re-enrolling sensitive acres such as buffers or wetlands. Expiring water quality practices such as filter strips, grass waterways, and riparian buffers may be eligible to be reenrolled under the Clean Lakes, Estuaries, and Rivers (CLEAR) and CLEAR 30 options under CRP. Additionally, expiring continuous CRP practices such as shelterbelts, field windbreaks, and other buffer practices may also be re-enrolled to provide benefits for organic farming operations. If producers are not planning to farm the land from their expiring CRP contract, the Transition Incentives Program (TIP) may also provide them two additional annual rental payments after their contract expires on the condition that they sell or rent their land to a beginning or veteran farmer or rancher or a member of a socially disadvantaged group. Producers interested in the Continuous CRP signup, CLEAR 30, or TIP should contact FSA by Aug. 5, 2022. **NRCS Conservation Programs**USDA also encourages producers to consider NRCS conservation programs, which help producers integrate conservation on croplands, grazing lands and other agricultural landscapes. EQIP and CSP can help producers plant cover crops, manage nutrients and improve irrigation and grazing systems. Additionally, the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), or state or private easement programs, may be such an option. In many cases, a combination of approaches can be taken on the same parcel.  For example, riparian areas or other sensitive parts of a parcel may be enrolled in continuous CRP and the remaining land that is returned to farming can participate in CSP or EQIP and may be eligible to receive additional ranking points. **Other Flexibilities to Support Conservation**Additionally, NRCS is also offering a new flexibility for EQIP and CSP participants who have cover cropping including in their existing contracts. NRCS will allow participants to either modify their plans to plant a cover crop (and instead shift to a conservation crop rotation) or delay their cover crop plans a year, without needing to terminate the existing contract. This will allow for flexibility to respond to market signals while still ensuring the conservation benefits through NRCS financial and technical assistance for participating producers. **More Information**Producers and landowners can learn more about these options by contacting FSA and NRCS at their local USDA Service Center. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.
 USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
 Return to the list of News Releases
 Placeholder
 Recent News USDA Announces 2024 Wool and Mohair Marketing Assistance Loan Rates
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced Marketing Assistance Loan rates for 2024-crop graded wool by micron class. Loan rates for ungraded wool and mohair are unchanged and remained the same from the prior crop year.
USDA Appoints New Members to the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2023 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed four new members to the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Federal Advisory Committee (Committee). The new members are replacing four members whose terms are expiring and rotating off the Committee. The Committee is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) efforts to support urban agriculture and innovative production, creating a network for feedback.
Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs Receive 2018 Farm Bill One Year Extension, Farmers Can Now Enroll for the 2024 Crop Year
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that agricultural producers can now enroll in the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2024 crop year. Producers can enroll and make election changes for the 2024 crop year starting Dec. 18, 2023. The deadline to complete enrollment and any election change is March 15, 2024.
 Home
   Programs & Services
   State Offices
   Online Services
   Newsroom
 Farmers.gov
          USA.gov
          USDA.gov
          Whitehouse.gov
       Accessibility Statement
          Common Questions
          Freedom of Information Act
       No FEAR Report
          Information Quality
          Non-Discrimination Statement
       Policies and Links
          Privacy Policy
          Sitemap
    Sign up for updates
      Subscribe
 Farm Service Agency
 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 facebook-loFacebook
 youtube-loYouTube
 twitter-loTwitter
 gov-delivery-loTwitter
 rss-loRSS