Developed by the USDA as a part of CRP, the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program is a federally funded initiative designed to preserve grasslands across the country. Specifically, the program was established to ensure that environmentally sensitive grassland, or other land of significant value, is conserved rather than farmed. In 2022, over 3.1 million acres of …
What is the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program? Read More »
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced recently that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin applying for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup starting February 27 through April 7, 2023. What is the CRP? The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that helps agricultural producers …
As the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues into 2023, the effects on the agricultural industry are daunting. Along with the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, the global economy and food supply have taken a major hit. In this post, we’ll look at some of the most significant agricultural consequences, as well as ways …
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In 2022, the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) returned to the state of Illinois. As part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), CREP identifies the highest-priority conservation goals in the state. From there, participants are provided with federal and non-federal funds to carry out Conservation Practices (CPs) to fulfill those goals. Since 2015, enrollment in …
What’s New in CREP for Illinois Landowners in 2022 Read More »
In August 2022, bioenergy producer Restoration Bioproducts announced plans to build the first-ever biochar production facility in Sussex County, Virginia. With an investment of $5.8 million, the company will be creating a number of new jobs and buying over 34,000 tons of wood products grown within the state. By establishing this new facility, biochar and …
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The USDA recently announced a $197 million investment in local conservation projects through the partner-driven Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). We’re proud to announce that FDCE was one of the recipients of this award and can’t wait to get started with our RCPP project. With the goal of advancing new, innovative conservation projects including efforts …
FDCE Awarded USDA Funding Through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Read More »
On June 14, 2022, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced the return of the Illinois Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The restoration of this incentive-based program provides an excellent opportunity for Illinois farmers to take advantage of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) benefits on their land. While …
What is the Illinois Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)? Read More »
Chances are, if you’re a landowner participating in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), you don’t have much time to stay up to date on the most recent CRP news. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the latest updates, improvements, and initiatives of CRP to keep you in the loop. 2022 Enrollment As of May 13, …
If you’re planning to enroll in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) this year, be sure to submit your application soon! This year’s deadline to apply for General CRP is March 11, 2022. By enrolling in the program, landowners and farmers can establish conservation practices on their land to protect vulnerable soil from erosion, enhance water …
Each year, FDCE conducts a customer survey to gain feedback on the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) services we provide. For our 2021 survey, we were thrilled to receive overwhelmingly positive results. Over 82% of our customers reported that they were satisfied or very satisfied with our services, while 85% of respondents stated they were likely …