USDA SETS NEXT CRP SIGNUP 20 FOR JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2000
                                            Release No. 0380.99
                                                               
                                                               
                   Media Contact: Andrew Kauders (202) 720-4623
                                        andrew.kauders@usda.gov
                     Public Contact: Dann Stuart (202) 690-0474
                                    Dan_Stuart@wdc.fsa.usda.gov

USDA SETS NEXT CRP SIGNUP 20 FOR JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2000

     WASHINGTON, SEPT. 28, 1999--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
announced that the next Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general signup will
be held during a 4-week period from January 18 through February 11, 2000, in
USDA local service centers across the nation.

     "This is an opportunity for farmers and landowners to participate in a
cost-effective, voluntary program to improve their land, water, and wildlife
resources and lock in a multiyear payment based on local rental rates,"
Glickman said. "It is also an opportunity for participants with contracts
expiring next fall to make new contract offers."

     USDA will continue to evaluate and rank eligible CRP offers using an
Environmental Benefits Index (EBI), which is based on the potential
environmental benefits gained from enrolling the land in the CRP. Decisions on
the EBI cutoff will be made after signup 20 ends. The EBI cutoff used in
previous signups may not be used for this one. The cutoff is decided after
analyzing the EBI numbers of all the offers. Those who would have met previous
signup EBI thresholds are not guaranteed a contract under signup 20.  

     "CRP is a highly successful and competitive program," said Glickman. "I
encourage all landowners to find out about the EBI before the February 11,
2000, deadline, and to consult with local USDA experts on steps they can take
to maximize EBI points and increase the likelihood that their bid will be
accepted."

     The EBI in place for the 20th signup is very similar to the EBI used for
last year's signup. 

     The Farm Service Agency is authorized to maintain CRP enrollment up to
36.4 million acres.  Approximately 31.5 million acres will be enrolled in CRP
contracts as of October 1, 1999. About 400 thousand acres currently subject to
CRP contracts will expire on September 30, 2000.   The contracts awarded under
signup 20 will become effective on October 1, 2000.

     "Producers can avoid the highly competitive EBI under the general 
signup by enrolling the most environmentally desirable land under CRP's
continuous signup program," Glickman said.  Under the continuous signup,
relatively small amounts of land serving much larger areas, such as filter
strips, riparian buffers, and grass waterways, can be enrolled at any time.

.  Normal eligibility requirements apply, but the competitive nature of the
EBI is waived because of the highly environmentally-desirable nature of the
practices available.   

     The CRP is designed to improve the Nation's natural resource base.
Participants voluntarily enter into contracts with USDA to enroll erodible and
other environmentally sensitive land in long-term contracts for 10 to 15
years. In exchange, participants receive annual rental payments and a payment
of up to 50 percent of the cost of establishing conservation practices. 

     The program protects millions of acres of American topsoil from erosion.
By reducing water runoff and sedimentation, it also protects groundwater and
helps improve the condition of lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams.  Acreage
enrolled in the CRP is planted to resource-conserving (vegetative) covers,
which make the program the major contributor to increases in wildlife
populations in many parts of the country.
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