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USDA's Farm Service Agency has begun issuing $139,882,022 in Conservation Reserve Program payments to eligible producers in Texas, according to a news release.
More than $1.7 billion payments are being made on 34.7 million acres across the country.
"The Conservation Reserve Program works cooperatively with America's farmers and ranchers to conserve and preserve the soil and water that we, and numerous wildlife species, depend on for survival," Butler said. "These payments represent an investment in the nation's land that will pay dividends in the form of a cleaner environment today and for our grandchildren."
The payments are annual rental payments earned on the 3.9 million acres enrolled in the program for fiscal year 2008 in Texas, including acres enrolled in the Continuous Sign-Up Program. Texas currently has 24,974 program contracts on 18,132 farms. The number of contracts is higher than the number of farms because producers may have multiple contracts on a single farm.
Other program payments are made throughout the year, including a 50 percent reimbursement of expenses for establishing cover and incentive payments for enrolling eligible conservation practices, such as wetland restorations and conservation buffers.
This voluntary program helps agricultural producers safeguard environmentally sensitive land. Producers enroll in the program and plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve water quality, control soil erosion and enhance habitats for waterfowl and wildlife. In return, USDA provides producers with rental payments. The program contract duration is from 10 to 15 years.
Land to be enrolled must be either highly erodible, contribute to a serious water quality problem, provide important wildlife habitat or provide substantial environmental benefits if devoted to certain specific conservation uses.
For more information on the program, producers should contact their Victoria County Farm Service Agency office at 361-576-1129 Ext. 2 or visit FSA's Web site at www.fsa.usda.gov.