U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Grant Herfindahl announced that up to 50,000 acres can be enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program in Minnesota for critical wildlife in addition to the 2,137 acres of CRP Grasslands announced earlier in the month, according to a press release.

“Over the past 30 years, CRP has helped farmers to offset the costs of restoring, enhancing and protecting certain grasses, shrubs and trees that improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and strengthen wildlife habitat,” Herfindahl said. “Given the national cap of 24 million acres, it is more important than ever to pursue multiple benefits on each acre of CRP such that many acres are providing erosion prevention, water conservation, recreation for sportsmen, habitat for pollinators and protection of grazing land.”

Nationwide, farmers and ranchers now can enroll up to 1.1 million acres to restore high-priority wildlife habitat through the CRP State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement program, wetlands restoration or pollinator habitat improvements. In Minnesota, up to 50,000 acres are now available to enroll in the CP38E Rare and Declining Habitat Tall Grass Prairie SAFE that improves pheasant habitat, in addition to soil erosion prevention and water quality improvements.

With the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, high-priority regional conservation goals first are identified by local, state or tribal governments or non-governmental organizations, after which the federal funds and resources of CRP are supplemented with the non-federal funds and resources to achieve those goals.

“In Minnesota, FSA is also in the final stages of partnering with the state to establish CREP that could protect up to 60,000 acres of a 54 county area to help protect water quality,” Herfindahl said. “Additional details are expected to be announced early next year.”

USDA recently accepted more than 504,000 acres into the CRP Grasslands program, bringing the total to more than 600,000 acres. In Minnesota, FSA accepted 2,137 acres in the program, providing participants with financial assistance for establishing approved grasses, trees and shrubs on pasture and rangeland that can continue to be grazed. Nationally, over 70 percent of the acres are from beginning farmers, veterans and underserved producers. About two-thirds of the acres are in counties with the highest threat for conversion. Additionally, nearly 60 percent of the acres are in wildlife priority areas and nearly three-fourths of the acres will have a wildlife-focused conservation plan as part of the operation.