USDA began today to enroll producers in a new Highly Erodible Land Initiative aimed at conserving the most erodible soil across the country.  The sign up period will last until the Initiative’s 750,000-acre enrollment cap has been met.

The Initiative will be administered through the Conservation Reserve Program’s continuous sign up, meaning that producers can enroll at any time.

According to USDA’s press release, participating landowners will “receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource conserving covers on eligible cropland for a period of 10 years.  Croplands with an Erodibility Index of 20 or greater are eligible for enrollment.”  An erodibility index of 20 signifies a very high rate of erosion.  For comparison, land must only meet an erodibility of 8 to qualify as Highly Erodible Land (HEL).

We first reported on this new initiative in February.  Producers with very highly erodible land should reach out to their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office for more information.