Glickman Announces up to $350 Million Increased Payment for the Conservation
Reserve Program's Continuous Signup
                                                               
                                           Release No.  0118.00
                                                               
                                                               
                            Mary Beth Schultheis (202) 720-4623
                                  mary_beth.schultheis@usda.gov
                                     Dann Stuart (202) 690-0474
                                    Dan_Stuart@wdc.fsa.usda.gov

GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES UP TO $350 MILLION IN INCREASED PAYMENTS FOR THE
CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM'S CONTINUOUS SIGNUP 

            WASHINGTON DC, April 13, 2000   Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman
today announced that landowners can receive more money for participation in
the Conservation Reserve Program continuous signup.   The new financial
incentives  -- totaling up to $350 million in the next three years -- include
signing bonuses and more money for installing and maintaining conservation
practices.

     "Higher payments should persuade more landowners to participate,
protecting ever more environmentally sensitive land along streams, rivers,
wetlands, and public water supplies," Glickman said, speaking to the
Agriculture Earth Day celebration on the National Mall. "In difficult economic
times for farm country, this additional $350 million will mean more cash in
farmer's pockets."
  
     The continuous signup enhancements, part of the Clinton-Gore plan to
strengthen the farm safely net, consist of additional economic incentives and
updated rates including:
                    An up-front signing bonus of $10 per acre for every year the
          contract covers.  This amounts to $100 to $150 per acre at the
          start of the contract to help defray up-front installation costs
          for filter strips, riparian buffers, grassed waterways, field
          windbreaks, shelter belts and living snow fences.
                    A payment equal to 40 percent of the practice installation cost,
          in addition to the 50 percent cost-share paid by USDA for
          establishing certain approved practices.
                    Increases in maintenance rate incentives for certain practices
          involving tree planting, fencing, or water development.  Between
          $2 to $5 per acre may be added to existing maintenance rate
          incentives.
                    Updated marginal pastureland rental rates nationwide to better
          reflect the market value of these lands.  In many cases, rental
          rates increased with the update.
     
     The rule changes and incentives apply only to certain CRP continuous
signup practices that generally include small acreage that provide high
environmental benefits because of their impact on much larger areas.  Up to
$100 million in FY2000 and $125 million in FY 2001 and 2002 will be provided
in signing and practice bonuses.
     
     Unlike the regular CRP program, the continuous signup program allows
producers to enroll eligible highly environmentally sensitive land at anytime,
without waiting for a sign-up period or competing against other offers. 
Conservation practices protect streams and rivers by keeping sediment and
nutrients from entering the water, providing cleaner drinking water, enhancing
recreation, and improving wildlife habitats. 
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