Expiring Conservation Reserve Program contracts eligible for an incentive plan

Conservation Reserve Program contracts that are set to expire in Sept. 30 are eligible for consideration under the Transition Incentive Program.

The Transition Incentive Program is designed to provide opportunities to bring expiring CRP acreage back into commodity production or sustainable grazing by bringing beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers together with retired or retiring farmers.

Under an approved Transition Incentive Program contract, the retiring farm owner and operators are entitled to two years of TIP annual payments and the same level as CRP annual rental payments.

A beginning farmer is defined under the TIP as persons who have owned and operated a farm for less than 10 years.

Retiring farmers must have either ceased active labor or intend to do so within the next five years to qualify.

Socially disadvantaged farmers are farmers belonging to groups who have historically been subject to racial or ethnic prejudice but does not include gender as an eligibility basis.

The program requires transfer of land to the beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer through either a long-term lease with a minimum five years or through sale of the land.

To apply both parties must file application with the Farm Service Agency. After filing then they can complete lease or sales agreements.

The beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer must then work with Natural Resources Conservation Service to build a conservation plan for the land.

Finally the county committee must approve the conservation plan and TIP agreement by Sept. 30 in order to be eligible for TIP.

More information is available through the Farm Service Agency, which can be contacted at 509-659-1761.