Iowa farmers who agree to use sustainable grazing practices may be eligible to take part in the updated Conservation Reserve Program, or C-R-P, for grasslands. Katie Olthoff, spokeswoman for the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, explains how the familiar program has been switched up. “This program is a change to the federal CRP,” Olthoff says. “It now includes a grasslands program nationally. That means farmers can use their grasslands areas for grazing, as long as they agree to certain conservation practices on that land.”

Farmers who are interested can sign up immediately. “You can participate by applying at your local FSA office,” she says. “The application period is open right now through November 20th, but there will be more application periods after that.” While the C-R-P has been around for years, this is the first time the new extension has been around.

“The CRP Grasslands program was created in the 2014 Farm Bill but there have been some changes just this summer in the July 2015 edition of the Federal Register, so this is the first time it’s been available for Iowa’s farmers.” Learn more about the program at the Iowa Cattlemen’s website. www.iacattlemen.org

(Radio Iowa)