Release No. 0018.97

Tom Amontree (202) 720-4623
tamontree@usda.gov
Dann Stuart (202) 690-0474
Dstuart@wdc.fsa.gov

GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES NEW CRP PRIORITY AREA

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman announced today that the Prairie Pothole Region of the upper Great Plains Region will be added to the national conservation priority areas for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

"Adding this region to our CRP program demonstrates USDA's commitment to transform the CRP from a supply management program into one that targets the most environmentally sensitive acreage. Our focus is clearly to conserve and improve our natural resources," Glickman said.

Cropland located within a conservation priority area is most likely eligible to be enrolled in CRP, however, only those acres that provide significant environmental benefit will be accepted.

Conservation priority area designations are based on a judgement that retiring agricultural lands in these specific areas offers the potential for significant water quality or wildlife habitat benefits. Enrolling these lands will help achieve objectives of other federal or state environmental laws. Farm Service Agency state committees also may recommend that regions within a state be designated as conservation priority areas.

Today's announcement of priority areas is being made before the announcement of the final rule for CRP so state officials can recommend state designations of priority areas. The final CRP rule will be announced soon.

Benefits obtained from land enrolled in a conservation priority area include significant reductions of water pollutants, restoration of proper land drainage, improvement of soil and air quality, and enhanced wildlife habitats. Using CRP in these environmentally sensitive areas may also assist water quality managers in achieving pollution reduction goals.

Previously, the Long Island Sound, Chesapeake Bay, and Great Lakes Regions were designated as national conservation priority areas. The next general sign-up will include the Prairie Pothole Region in the upper Great Plains.

"CRP enrollment in the Prairie Pothole Region has contributed significantly to remarkable wildlife benefits in that area and in many other regions of the nation. This year's waterfowl population was the highest since the early 1970's. Much of this increase has been attributed to the prime waterfowl nesting area provided by CRP acreage in the Prairie Pothole Region," said Glickman. "CRP has also contributed to the recovery of a number of bird species to such an extent that listing them as a threatened or endangered species has been avoided."

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