USDA grassland CRP signup - Conservation opportunities for producers

Jun 05, 2024

Voluntary enrollment open for grassland conservation program

By Farms.com

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the opening of enrollment for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP), providing agricultural producers and private landowners with the opportunity to participate in voluntary conservation efforts.

Running until June 28, 2024, the Grassland CRP, administered by USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA), aims to preserve grasslands while supporting wildlife, soil health, and carbon sequestration, all while allowing grazing and haying activities to continue.

According to Blong Xiong, FSA State Executive Director in California, Grassland CRP aligns with USDA's priorities of agricultural sustainability and grassland preservation. The program has seen significant interest from producers, with over 6.8 million acres enrolled in the past three years, demonstrating the compatibility of agricultural productivity and conservation goals.

The success of the Grassland CRP is evident from the acceptance of more than 2.3 million acres through the 2023 signup, contributing to a total participation of 8.64 million acres. These figures underscore the value of voluntary conservation programs in maintaining working lands and promoting sustainable practices.

The recent extension of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 ensures the continuation of programs like CRP, allowing landowners and producers to continue their participation in conservation initiatives.

Interested individuals can contact their local USDA Service Center for more information or to apply for the Grassland CRP before the June 28 deadline.

Additionally, FSA offers other CRP options, including Continuous CRP signup for year-round enrollment and financial assistance programs like the Forest Management Incentive (FMI) and the Transition Incentives Program (TIP) for producers with expiring CRP acres.

Video: Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.