ACREAGE FOR ENROLLMENT IN CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM 

                                              Release No. 0166.97

Media Advisory
                                   Jim Petterson (202) 720-4623
                                   Wayne Baggett (202) 720-4623

GLICKMAN TO ANNOUNCE ACCEPTANCE OF ACREAGE FOR ENROLLMENT IN CONSERVATION
RESERVE PROGRAM 

     WASHINGTON, May 21, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman Thursday
will hold a media availability to announce the final number of acres of
environmentally-sensitive land that will be accepted into the new Conservation
Reserve Program (CRP) as a result of the latest sign-up.  Glickman also will
discuss notification deadlines and the regional distribution of the acreage
offered and accepted into the new CRP.

     The CRP is the largest federal environmental improvement program in
terms of acreage.  Today, some 32.9 million acres are enrolled in the CRP. 
The program protects millions of acres of American topsoil from erosion; and
by reducing water runoff and sedimentation, it protects groundwater and helps
improve countless lakes, rivers, ponds and streams.  Vegetative cover
established by the CRP results in increased wildlife populations. 

     The CRP media availability will be held Thursday, May 22, 1997 at 10
a.m. in Room 104-A of USDA's Jamie Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Ave,
S.W.
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