WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) are encouraging Minnesota producers and landowners to enroll in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) by the Feb.12 deadline. The CRP is one of the largest private-lands conservation programs in the United States. Participants receive an annual payment in exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and planting species that will improve its condition.

Klobuchar and Smith said that for decades CRP has helped improve water quality, reduce soil erosion and improve wildlife habitat on private lands in Minnesota and across the country.

“The Conservation Reserve Program is key to supporting Minnesota producers and landowners who help ensure the health of our state’s water, soil, and wildlife,” Klobuchar said. “This is why I worked to increase the acreage in the program to 27 million acres in the 2018 Farm Bill. I am proud to continue supporting this important program to protect our state’s private lands.”

“For decades, the Conservation Reserve Program has provided income to Minnesota producers and landowners who have taken actions to improve water quality, soil health, wildlife habitat and more,” Smith said. “In October I pressed the USDA to increase incentive payments to help more producers and landowners participate. I encourage interested Minnesotans to contact their local USDA offices during the sign-up period.”

The 2018 Farm Bill, which was signed into law in December 2018, includes Sen. Klobuchar’s provision to increase the number of acres in the CRP to 27 million acres, based on Sen. Klobuchar and Sen. John Thune’s (R-S.D.) Conservation Program Improvement Act.

In 2020, Smith said she pressed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to increase incentive payments for the Conservation Reserve Program. In 2018, Smith’s SOIL Stewardship Act to expand efforts to reduce carbon emissions, prevent soil erosion, improve water quality and reform the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) was included in the 2018 Farm Bill.